Country music star Neil McCoy debuts song mocking NFL anthem protests — and it's going viral

A country music star's song at a recent concert in Missouri is going viral because of its candid lyrics addressing NFL players' protest of the national anthem.

What happened?

Country music legend Neal McCoy debuted the song — Take a Knee, My A*s (I Won’t Take a Knee) — during a concert in Branson, Missouri, last month to a relatively small crowd. But now video of the song has gone viral and amassed millions of views. McCoy posted a video of the song on his Facebook page.

What do the lyrics say?

From the song:

When I see someone on TV take their stand by bending their knee, whether it be on astro turf or grass. I think of those whose freedom was not free, and I say: "Take a knee — my a*s!"

McCoy told the audience at the concert that a friend of his wrote the song.

Now that the song has gone viral, how did McCoy respond?

McCoy, whose family has a strong connection to the military, told KYTX the song was written in direct response to Colin Kaepernick, the NFL quarterback who initiated the anthem protests last year. Kaepernick began to peaceful protest to bring attention to police brutality and systemic racism in the U.S. McCoy said he agrees with the right to protest, but not with what the players are doing.

"People do have the right to protest on whatever it is their protesting just sometimes where you choose to do it we just thought, I just thought personally that it is wrong," he said.

He added in an interview with KETK-TV:

I’ve been on 15 USO tours. I’ve entertained our troops in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and all over the world. So, no, this is not a money grab. This is a guy that believes in our country, that does not like people kneeling, not standing with their hands over their hearts, for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. That’s what I’m about.

McCoy has recorded himself reciting the pledge of allegiance on Facebook Live nearly every day for the last two years. McCoy's song was released for purchase this week. You can find it wherever digital music is sold.