Zach Bryan Says ICE Song Snippet Has Been ‘Misconstrued’ Amid Backlash: ‘Left Wing or Right Wing, We’re All One Bird’

After inspiring countless headlines over the past few days, Zach Bryan is looking to change the narrative around the polarizing song snippet he posted to social media over the weekend.

On Tuesday (Oct. 7), Bryan posted two Instagram Stories explaining that the song — particularly his lyrics about police (“cocky motherf—ers, aren’t they?”) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE is gonna come bust down your door”) — had been “misconstrued” and that listeners need to hear the complete song to “understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle.”

He also said he wrote the song “months ago” and even posted a snippet of it three months ago, without any fanfare.

Beginning the message with “pls f—n read this” and “On the ‘new’ song,” Bryan wrote in part: “This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.”

Since the snippet was posted, Bryan’s lyrics have been denounced by the White House, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson releasing this song-title-filled statement: “While Zach Bryan wants to Open the Gates to criminal illegal aliens and has Condemned heroic ICE officers, Something in the Orange tells me a majority of Americans disagree with him and support President Trump’s great American Revival. Godspeed, Zach!” Tricia McLaughlin — the assistant secretary of public affairs to the Department of Homeland Security — told Billboard that Bryan should “stick to ‘Pink Skies,’ dude,” referring to the artist’s Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit.

In his Tuesday post, Bryan reiterated that his song isn’t anti-American, writing: “I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a–hole, just a 29 year old man who is just as confused as everyone else. To see how much sh– it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides.”

Read the full text from Bryan’s two Instagram Stories posts below:

pls f—n read this

On the “new” song:

I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.

I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a–hole, just a 29 year old man who is just as confused as everyone else. To see how much sh– it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know I’m trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes.

Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!

The last few months of my life I’ve been scrutinized by more people than I ever thought possible. I feel like I’ve tried my hardest in so many ways and it’s so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore. Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time.

I am SO proud to have served in a country where we can all speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxxed or accosted on the internet or worse; the violence and heartbreak we’ve faced in the last few months!

God speed ol sons I’m out!

This article was first published by Billboard U.S.