I don't think your "a couple of short decades ago" holds; Merle Haggard was singing about it in the 60s: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/merlehaggard/brandedman

I don't think your "a couple of short decades ago" holds; Merle Haggard was singing about it in the 60s: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/merlehaggard/brandedman.html http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/merlehaggard/brandedman.html