"southern pride" is just racism alllll cleaned up. so much racism.

Since you chose CDB, here is an interesting bit of trivia about that song in particular:

The song uses a clever play on words to promote Southern rock music. ... The "it" that the South is going to do again, it is implied, is to produce additional popular rock groups.

Daniels factually bristled at more nefarious interpretations of what the "it" was. ... Daniels told Billboard, "I'm damn proud of the South, but I sure as hell am not proud of the Ku Klux Klan. I wrote the song about the land I love and my brothers. It was not written to promote hate groups."

Maybe use the songs as an opportunity for discussion ... or save it for your kid-free time.

I was always surprised that all the biggest Skynyrd fans I knew seemed to know none of the lyrics, because thwy all lived the opposite of them.

RACISM IS WRONG- The Ballad of Curtis Lowe

DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ARE BAD- Needle And The Spoon, That Smell

CAPITALISM SUCKS- Working For MCA

GUNS ARE BAD - Saturday Night Special

FIGHTING IS A BAD IDEA- Gimme Three Steps

Thats all I can remember at the moment, but I should add that Alabama fucking sucks and always has. I know. Trust me.

The leftist stuff goes under the name Alt Country. Bottle Rockets, Drive by Truckers, Uncle Tupelo, Steve Earl, ...

Have you had a listen to Drive-By Truckers? Southern rock without the yee haw rebel pride.

at a certain point southern rock & country changed from actual rebellion (Cops are bastards, Vietnam was a mistake, an unjust law needs a kick in the pants) to "I'm an oppressed martyr because someone told me I'm not allowed to be a dick to other people. America is great! ~~jihad jihad jihad~~"

How about Tom Petty? Southern rocker with great lyrics and no bullshit. One of the greats as far as I'm concerned.

I feel the same way about a lot of modern hip-hop and pop music. I really enjoy the music but I just can't relate in any way to the bragging lyrics about having loads of money.

Feel like I've heard the Lamborghini Urus casually mentioned in about a dozen UK hip-hop tracks over the past 6 months..

You are underthinking it.

Check out Drive By Truckers

Check out the band Larkin Poe. Great southern sound without any of the "rise again" BS. In fact, a lot of their stuff is counter to that culture.

You sing them lullabies where babies fall out of trees.

They'll be fine

Sturgill Simpson uses a fair amount of vulgar language, but his music frequently has a better message. Sometimes hidden meanings, etc.

I’m a fan of Lucero. The lead singer definitely has a Southern accent, but I haven’t noticed any questionable lyrics or glorification of ignorant redneck bullshit. No “codes” or dogwhistles. Maybe you should check them out.

I irrationally hate the South: its music, its culture, its history, and its people.

This is tragically unfair of me and I admit that I'm embarrassed that I haven't quite shaken myself of that, but I will keep trying

That said, I'll listen to Johnny Cash all day every day

Idk how old your kids are, but if/when they're old enough to have a conversation with nuance, just talk with them about the myth of the Lost Cause. Maybe watch some Checkmate Lincolnites videos on YouTube to help. This applies to all sorts of topics of discussion, by the way. Have a fact-based conversation once they are ready, and land on your opinions and show that you arrived there based on the facts as you understand them, encouraging them to take the same sort of approach to any nuanced conflict. In this way, you can still enjoy the music you like without necessarily condoning the message. But keep in mind that unless you're pirating that music, you're still financially supporting the artist, so do with that information what you will.

If they aren't ready for such a complex discussion, you can still make it clear that you like the guitars, drums, etc but not the lyrics, and you can say that the song is about people being mean to people who don't deserve it and tease that you can talk about it more when they get a little older.

Idk if it's relevant to you at all, but I rediscovered the Southerner album by Trent Dabbs recently and it's pretty solid if you want something a little country-ish without being so problematic. Paper Trail in particular is a fucking vibe.

Headphones?

Not really Freebird but you can check out Nick Shoulders or Willi Carlisle.

So the question is: "what if that thing I said?"

What the hell is Southern Rock? You mean like midnight oil?