One of my favorite songs is “Humble and Kind,” popularized by country star Tim McGraw and composed by Lori McKenna (who herself performs a great version). I’ve been thinking longfully about it lately, as the tenor of our times cuts so deeply against the song’s spirit.
Of course, you have to hear it to truly appreciate it; even better, I urge you to view the McGraw version’s official video, which I share here (and which, with all due respect to country music, offers images not typical of that genre). For now, I’ll simply quote the composition and ask whether you could ever imagine the current White House occupant saying this:
Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind