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American Badass is about the current struggle with guns and gun violence in America.

The lyrics are purposely contradictory and hold no solid political view outside the use of sarcasm and irony. It is merely a statement and is not meant to be convincing of any moral or ethical opinion.
The reference to John Wayne examines his characterization used by types of media and films to promote a way to be hard and tough in America. There’s also a reference to John Wayne’s actual name, Marion. It was changed to make his Hollywood persona appear tougher and carried over in his real life.
The mention of Liberace is a subtle acknowledgement that marketing tactics are not always honest. Liberace was a popular musician that was boldly promoted as highly available to women to boost his record sales. He was actually Homosexual. That would seem obvious to us now due to his flamboyant style, but apparently, it wasn’t so apparent in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
The lyrics “Arm the teachers…” is a reference to the N.R.A.’s official suggestion to stop violent school shootings across America, shortly after the killings of small children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The United States Congress also officially took no action when revised gun laws were presented to a vote. The Republican controlled Senate claimed they were protecting the 2nd amendment and were influenced by lobbyists for the NRA.
The song’s opening lines refer to the response of an armed security guard and parishioner inside a Texas church after a murder took place in which he killed the shooter. After the incident, he ran for public office with the campaign slogan,“Your vote is on target.”
The dialog at the end of the song was taken from a found footage tape recording of Sid’s Dad, Raymond, and older brother, Samuel in 1967.
The artwork for the album cover was created by Sidney Stephens and his oldest child, Jay Stephens. Jay has expressed his dis-satisfaction with the design. Sidney has optimistically pointed out that it was a good learning experience.

American Badass – Sidney Stephens © BMI

Never been one to run, a good guy with a gun
Just out here having fun, til somebody wants to hurt someone
I stand up for my rights, pray to Jesus every night
God blessed the bullets in my gun, cause’ I’m a good Christian

You can run, you can hide from a shotgun blast
You can live in the future holding on to the past
Conceal Carry Train and pull that trigger fast
You can be John Wayne, you can be – Bad Ass

Nobody ever said it has to be true
Just gotta be Red, White, and Blue
Arm the teachers, duck and cover, like the boss man said
Problem solved when everybody’s dead

You can run, you can hide, From an AK attack
Business in the front, party in the back
Fuck em'(*hit em’) bury em’, And pull that hammer back
Like good ol’ Marion, You can be – Bad Ass

Everybody gun up, cause’ we don’t bleed blood
Everybody act tough, should be good enough
Ain’t no crying in the kitchen when the kids didn’t make it
Just the price we paid for being liberated

Can’t hide a pink pistol cap in your ass
Make rules for the future waving flags from the past
God bless Liberace and pull it cocked back
All the girls love and want him, he’s a dream

You can run, you can hide from a shotgun blast
You can live in the future holding on to the past
Conceal Carry Train and pull that trigger fast
You can be John Wick, you can be – Bad Ass

I never been one to run, a good guy with a gun
Just out here having fun, til somebody wants to hurt someone
I stand up for my rights, pray to Jesus every night
God blessed the bullets in my gun, cause’ I’m a good Christian