White Privilege

Album: Hypersonic Missiles (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "White Privilege" is a term used to describe the societal advantage that Caucasian people have in certain parts of the world over non-whites. Here, Sam Fender recognizes his own entitlement as he sings about being a "white male, full of shame."
  • Fender admitted to Official Charts that his white privilege has had a bearing on his success.

    "I'm a white man in a band, and there's a lot of realization about how that potentially affected my career: Would my career be different if I was black and female? Probably. I think I'm just as sick as everybody else of seeing white boys with guitars – but it's different if they've got something to say - hopefully I'm excused!"
  • Fender wrote "White Privilege" about two weeks before he finished his Hypersonic Missiles album. He explained to The Sun: "'White Privilege' is about becoming self-loathing, vacuous and self-centered after looking at pictures of yourself and people all day on Instagram while there are kids getting blown up in Gaza."
  • The song was also inspired by the duality of politics and the divisive views that the Brexit debate has spawned. Fender explained that on the right-wing, there are people pushing for Brexit as they dislike immigrants. Meanwhile, on the left-wing there are people calling out those who want to leave the EU as senseless. "You're never going to change anyone's opinion calling anyone stupid," said the singer. "There needs to be someone who can come out and speak to both sides."
  • Want a Caucasian American slant on the societal privilege that benefits white people over non-white people? Check out Macklmemore and Ryan Lewis 2016 track "White Privilege II."

Comments: 2

  • Pete Beale from LivingstonTo seek acceptance into a multicultural Britain, slagging off the past seems the rapid way to obtain it. Sam certainly is very talented, which even old guy like me can appreciate. Aye, but is this just a pop track or a protest song, being white does carry advantages for some, although for the rest of us struggling to survive or to be noticed is the norm.
    To every story there are two sides.
  • Steve White from Birmingham He says that “hopefully he is excused” because he wrote a song and repeated the lyric “Their evil is not gone” a dozen times?
    Churchill was racist, but he wasn’t.
    Kids dying in Gaza? Has he a been to have a look at exactly what is happening? It is horrible but it’s also complicated, to complicated to glance over in a 3:30sec jingle
    Thought not, he’s a middle class wannabe.
    Totally ashamed of what he is.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Rufus Wainwright

Rufus WainwrightSongwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Richard Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Psychedelic Furs lead singer Richard Butler talks about their first album since 1991 and explains what's really going on in "Pretty In Pink."

Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews

The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.