'People Hatin'' by The Red Clay Strays - Lyrics & Meaning

The Red Clay Strays have built their name on a swampy mix of southern rock, bluesy soul and raw, road-worn country storytelling. With 'People Hatin’,' though, they pivot into new territory.

Instead of a gritty, barroom burner, this track feels more polished, almost designed for accessibility and reach. Thematically, it’s a direct response to the fractures of the moment: political division, anger between neighbors and a culture of constant fighting.

For a band rooted in rawness, this step toward a broader, radio-ready sound may feel like a departure, but beneath the sheen, the Strays still lean on what makes them distinctive: frontman Brandon Coleman’s unmistakable wailing vocals and a message that aims to cut through the noise.

Musically, 'People Hatin’' veers away from the Strays’ usual shadowy, southern atmosphere. The track is anchored by an angered, repeating chorus; one that’s instantly catchy and undeniably built for memory. Coleman’s vocals remain the centerpiece, carrying a grit that keeps the song from floating too far into pop gloss.

The arrangement leans heavily into accessibility–steady percussion, a long electric guitar bridge and a polished production style that smooths out some of the band’s usual rough edges.

While longtime fans may find it a little safe sonically, it’s impossible to ignore that this song is crafted to resonate beyond their core audience.

Lyrically, 'People Hatin’' is both straightforward and urgent. The opening verse frames the song as a reflection on how division has been handed down through generations:

“As a little boy, my mama told me / Better keep my politics to me.”

What begins as quiet advice blooms into frustration with today’s climate, where disagreement so quickly spirals into hostility:

“Seeing everybody going crazy / Every time they go and disagree.”

The chorus drives the message home, with repetition that feels less like poetry and more like a plea:

“Hey, people hatin’ / You’re not listening to what I’m saying / I’m sick of waiting / All this arguing is aggravating.”

By the second half, the song shifts toward resolution, offering a simple but timeless counterpoint: love. The bridge–“Oh, you know love is the only way / We gotta learn to love those that we hate”–lands like the thesis, turning the track into more sermon than story.

It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be. 'People Hatin’' is a topical anthem dressed in the Strays’ grit, a reminder that division may dominate the headlines, but unity still makes for the stronger chorus.

As a little boy, my mama told me
Better keep my politics to me
Never really bought the things they sold me
But now I'm starting to believe
Seeing everybody going crazy
Every time they go and disagree
This animosity is got me thinking
We all could use some harmony

Hey, people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm sick of waiting
All this arguing is aggravating
Hey, you people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm so sick of waiting
All this arguing gets aggravating

I'm sick of people turning on their neighbors
I'm sick of people dying in the street
Everybody giving into anger
That's not the way things ought to be

Maybe we should try to mind our business
Maybe we should turn the other cheek
The only way for us to ever end this
Is loving unconditionally

Hey, people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm sick of waiting
All this arguing is aggravating
Hey, you people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm so sick of waiting
All this arguing gets aggravating

Hey, people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm sick of waiting
All this arguing is aggravating
Hey, you people hatin'
You're not listening to what I'm saying
I'm so sick of waiting
All this arguing gets aggravating

Oh, you know love is the only way
We gotta learn to love those that we hate

––

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