Hank Williams Jr., Dinosaur | Controversial Tunes 😈🎶

In the 3^rd edition of Controversial Tunes (2023), we explore the controversy behind the song, “Dinosaur” by Hank Williams, Jr. 

BBring on the controversy! Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 is a column that provides background information and insight into songs that raised eyebrows and totally stirred the pot.  The records that grace Controversial Tunes are old and new alike, with all genres of music welcome.  In the 3^rd edition of Controversial Tunes (2023), we explore the controversy behind the song, 🎵 “Dinosaur” by 🎙 Hank Williams, Jr. 

“‘Cause you see I’m a dinosaur / I should have died out a long time before,” 🎙 Hank Williams, Jr. asserts in the chorus of 🎵 “Dinosaur”, continuing, “Have pity on a dinosaur / Hand me my hat, excuse me man, but where’s the door?” From those lines alone, you get the idea where the country musician is going with this highlight from his 1980 album, 💿 Habits Old and New.  It’s sort of like,  you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  Also, someone who comes from a certain generation (he was born in 1949) – who is old-fashioned and set in their ways – wants no part of the these changing, more progressive modern times.  Musically, “Dinosaur” is an example of sweet music to the ears – a classic.  However, lyrically and thematically, there is no shortage of controversy.  How so?

First and foremost, it should be made clear that there is nothing wrong with liking old songs.  Personally, oldies are some of my very favorites – they are enduring.  Williams Jr. asking the question, “Do you happen to know any ol’ Hank Williams songs?” isn’t criminal.  For one thing, that’s his daddy! And, also, it’s good, classic country music.  Where things get bad for Hank Jr. is the homophobia. That is where the controversy comes alive and it is NOT a good look, especially revisiting this song in the 2020s. It starts early on with the shade: “Hey man, them ain’t high heel sneakers / And they sure don’t look like cowboy boots.”  In the forthcoming lines, it is clear he’s not into the gays: “You’re singin’ a song about makin’ love to your drummer / Well, gay guitar pickers don’t turn me on.” Yikes! That is the most glaring example of homophobia, and the narrow-minded view some country musicians had and still currently have.  Also, don’t let his disdain for disco be simply a stylistic preference. Disco, after all, was and still is extremely popular with the LGBTQ+ population.  “And you know these flashin’ lights sure make me dizzy,” Hank Jr. asserts, “And this disco’s very strange to my ears.” To his credit, Williams admits who he is. Had “Dinosaur” dipped less into homophobia and focused more on old fashioned tendencies, it would be far less controversial.  You know it’s sketch when there is a concert where Mr. Williams Jr. utters a gay slur (cocksuckers).

🎙 Hank Williams, Jr. • 💿 Habits Old and New • 🏷 Curb • 🗓 1980

 Hank Williams, Jr., “Dinosaur”: Controversial Tunes 😈🎶 No. 3 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner/ The Musical Hype; Curb; Tazz Vaughn via Pexels; Darkmoon_Art,  TheDigitalArtist via Pixabay]