Campaign Songs for the 21st Century: Unstoppable @ AMERICAN DIGEST

March 16, 2016

Campaign Songs for the 21st Century: Unstoppable

If the Trump campaign needs a theme song, it could do a lot worse than Rascal Flatts' "Unstoppable."

So, so you made a lot of mistakes
Walked down the road a little sideways
Cracked a rib when you hit the wall
Yeah, you’ve had a pocket full of regrets
Pull you down faster than a sunset
Hey, it happens to us all

When the cold hard rain just won’t quit
And you can’t see your way out of it

[Chorus:]
You find your faith has been lost and shaken
You take back what’s been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is impossible
Keep on believing, don’t give in
It’ll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable

Posted by gerardvanderleun at March 16, 2016 8:53 AM

Although this single was a big hit for Rascal Flatts... making it into the top 10 Billboard Country Music charts... it was also, and widely understood to be... a Christian praise song as well as a song that talked about getting through hard times.

The embedded Christian message is seen in the chorus starting with

"Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is impossible
Keep on believing, don’t give in
It’ll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable"

Prayer and the grace of God and Christ can easily be seen to fit on top of that lyric.

Rascall Flats: The band is composed of Gary LeVox (lead vocals) and second cousins Jay DeMarcus (bass guitar, keyboards, background vocals) and Joe Don Rooney (electric guitar, background vocals). DeMarcus is a brother-in-law of country singer James Otto, and formerly one-half of the Christian music duo East to West.

Hence some of the roots of the group touch the Christian praise song movement.

In addition, besides the chorus the second verse contains:

"Love, it wears the ring of stone
Brings you back to being born, again"

You'll note that when it is sung there is a pause after "born" and then the singer punches up the word "again."

But for all the subset of Christianity, the song does not overtly try to sell you a bible.

But it is well to remember that a Christ and Love are often interchangeable in poetry and song.

I trust that clears it up a bit.

Posted by: Van der Leun at March 16, 2016 6:26 PM

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I'm an ignoramous when it comes to poetry. But, that last line, Love is unstoppable, seems totally out of place. I expected something having to do with winning the fight. Someone enlighten me.

Posted by: BillH at March 16, 2016 5:28 PM

Here's one aimed at Donald and the Trumpettes. Eat one, 'cause millions of conservatives won't be voting for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8rCy173y7Y

Posted by: JThomas at March 16, 2016 9:16 PM

Yeah, but then they'd run afoul of the music-industry complex. Trouble getting their stage sets erected, studio rental snafu's...oddly hostile front row ticket-holders with signs about "hate" and where's security, what, we dint see nuthin'...Chicago got long arms son.

Posted by: Will at March 17, 2016 12:56 PM