Songs about America

[Smokey]

In your opinin what is the best song written about America?

There seem to be few standards like Lee Greenwood's God Bless the U.S.A. that get heavy play on patriot holidays and occasion, but IMO that song is a real bore. Not withstanding the lyrics, the song itself is so disjointed and there is no melody to speak of.

Neil Diamond did it better with his song America, but it might have been little bit over the top and too formal.

IMO the best song I have heard about USA is Waylon Jennings' song America. A low key song that talk about race, unity, multiculturalism and a good melody to carry the tunes.

[dakatabg]

Yeah I have the record of Neli Diamond and the first track is the song " America ".

I don't know any other songs

[recoveryone]

I don't think there are many songs, but the way it can be sung makes a big differences. I.E:

Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl (Star spangle Banner)

Ray Charles at NBA Finials (America the Beautiful)

[Smokey]

I don't think there are many songs, but the way it can be sung makes a big differences. I.E:

Whitney Houston at the Super Bowl (Star spangle Banner)

Ray Charles at NBA Finials (America the Beautiful)

Or Roseanne Barr SInging the National Anthem :D

There are actually quite few songs written about America if one also include songs that explore the not-so-rosey side (Springsteen's Born in the USA).

[Swish]

In your opinin what is the best song written about America?

"Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together"
"I've got some real estate here in my bag"
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America

"Kathy," I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
"Michigan seems like a dream to me now"
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America

Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said "Be careful his bowtie is really a camera"

"Toss me a cigarette, I think there's one in my raincoat"
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field

"Kathy, I'm lost," I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
All gone to look for America


I also like James Brown's 'Living in America',

[dakatabg]

Check this out

http://www.shoutmouth.com/index.php/news/21269

[Smokey]

Swish, is that a poem or a song as it seem it got too much ambiguity. But there is not too much ambiguity about James Brown's 'Living in America' :)

Dakatabg, thanks for list. I did ran cross few song lists while putting this post together and was surprise not seeing Waylon Jennings song in any of them. That just show how much good taste is out there :D

[Mr Peabody]

How about Little Pink Houses by John Melloncamp?

Rocking In the Free World by Neil Young

A little light on lyrical patriotism but You Can Still Rock In America, according to Night Ranger

Styx's, Sweet Madam Blue sure says America enough times.

Sammy Hagar, Voice Of America

If memory serves I believe Don't Tread On Me by Damn Yankees

This Land Is Your Land

My Country Tis Of Thee

I'm not a Toby Keith fan but it seeems like he ought to have a hand full.

[Hyfi]

Swish, is that a poem or a song as it seem it got too much ambiguity. But there is not too much ambiguity about James Brown's 'Living in America' :)

Dakatabg, thanks for list. I did ran cross few song lists while putting this post together and was surprise not seeing Waylon Jennings song in any of them. That just show how much good taste is out there :D

I believe it was a Simon and Garfunkle song made popular by Yes.

[Luvin Da Blues]

Two by non Americans.....

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

Ohio -C, S, N & Y

[Hyfi]

What about Kansas - Song for America

[Swish]

Swish, is that a poem or a song as it seem it got too much ambiguity. But there is not too much ambiguity about James Brown's 'Living in America' :)

Dakatabg, thanks for list. I did ran cross few song lists while putting this post together and was surprise not seeing Waylon Jennings song in any of them. That just show how much good taste is out there :D
...and is named 'America'. Great song and I'm surprised you never heard it.

[Worf101]

Joan Armatrading - "All the Way to America"

Worf

[Stone]

Two by non Americans.....

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

Ohio -C, S, N & Y

And "America the Beautiful" by D.O.A.:


Lock your door
Lock it tight
It's the new immortal right
They wanna cleanse the home of the brave
For the master race of the USA

So Beautiful!

On the street you won't know
Like a pack of wolves in sheep's clothing
Spreading wide and spreading far
Not just another false alarm!

It's so beautiful

America!
I got my bible
America!
And I got my handgun
America!
Now I'm Ready!

America!
I got my bible
America!
And I got my handgun
America!
Now I'm Ready!

Are you?

It's so Beautiful

America!
It's the home of the brave
America!
And the home of the Slaves
America!
Are you Ready?

America!
I got my bible
America!
And I got my handgun
America!
Now I'm Ready!

It's So Beautiful (Hey!)
Home of the brave (Hey!)
So Beautiful! (Hey!)

[frahengeo]

...and is named 'America'. Great song and I'm surprised you never heard it.

Yes. A Simon and Garfunkel song made popular by Simon and Garfunkel. Nice choice.

Can't imagine Jon Anderson singing this song...

[RGA]

The song God Bless America is practically offensive but anyway.

I will go with Casino Nation from Jackson Browne


In a weapons producing nation under Jesus
In the fabled crucible of the free world
Camera crews search for clues amid the detritus
And entertainment shapes the land
The way the hammer shapes the hand

Gleaming faces in the checkout counter at the Church of Fame
The lucky winners cheer Casino Nation
All those not on TV only have themselves to blame
And don't quite seem to understand
The way the hammer shapes the hand

Out beyond the ethernet the spectrum spreads
DC to daylight, the cowboy mogul rides
Never worry where the gold for all this glory's gonna come from
Get along dogies, it's coming out of your hides

The intentional cultivation of a criminal class
The future lit by brightly burning bridges
Justice fully clothed to hide the heart of glass
That shatters in a thousand Ruby Ridges
And everywhere the good prepare for perpetual war
And let their weapons shape the plan
The way the hammer shapes the hand


Lyrics by Jackson Browne
Music by Jackson Browne, Kevin McCormick, Mark Goldenberg, Mauricio Lewak, Jeff Young
(Swallow Turn Music, ASCAP; Eye Cue Music, ASCAP; Bossypants Music/Songs of Windswept Pacific, BMI; Bateria Music, ASCAP; Glad Brad Music, Inc., ASCAP)

[Swish]

Two by non Americans.....

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

Ohio -C, S, N & Y

You can take credit for Neil Young being a Canadian, but Nash is British while Stills and Crosby are American. Now go sing 'God Bless America' and get some rest.

[Luvin Da Blues]

You can take credit for Neil Young being a Canadian, but Nash is British while Stills and Crosby are American. Now go sing 'God Bless America' and get some rest.


Maybe spend some time and see who wrote and sung "Ohio".

Now go cry to somebody that gives a dam. :sad:

[Swish]

Maybe spend some time and see who wrote and sung "Ohio".

Now go cry to somebody that gives a dam. :sad:

I was messing with you. Or, are you now messing with me? :confused5:

Anyway, Neil did indeed write the lyrics to the song, but the band helped write the music, and your post did say 'non-Americans C.S.N. & Y.', right?

I'm going to cry now. Chat with you later.

[Stone]

While you guys are pissing on each other's shoes, here's another one by some non-Americans:


Yankee soldier
He wanna shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia
But now he can't afford a bag

Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word

I'm so bored with the U...S...A...
But what can I do?

Yankee detectives
Are always on the TV
'Cos killers in America
Work seven days a week

Never mind the stars and stripes
Let's print the Watergate Tapes
I'll salute the New Wave
And I hope nobody escapes

I'm so bored with the U...S...A...
But what can I do?

Move up Starsky
For the C.I.A.
Suck on Kojak
For the USA

[Luvin Da Blues]

I was messing with you. Or, are you now messing with me? :confused5:

Anyway, Neil did indeed write the lyrics to the song, but the band helped write the music, and your post did say 'non-Americans C.S.N. & Y.', right?

I'm going to cry now. Chat with you later.


LOL, I was gunna just put Neil Young but thought I would get blasted for that. I guess it's one of those songs that's international then.

Can we agree that it's still a song 'bout 'merica?

Cheers

[Glen B]

In your opinion what is the best song written about America?
For me its America The Beautiful. This song causes a stirring in my heart anytime I hear it, regardless of which artist is performing it.

[Worf101]

"Livin' in America" - James Brown...

"All night Diners, keep you awake...."
"Black Coffee and harld roll. Heyah!!!"

Worf

[Finch Platte]

Joan Armatrading - "All the Way to America"

Worf

I love this song, and to nitpick, it's called All the Way From America, and it's more about a relationship than America, per se.

You called all the way from America
And said hang on to love girl
But the weeks and the months and the tears
Passed by
And my eyes couldn't stand the strain
Of that promised love

All the way from America

You called all the way from America
And said I'll soon be home girl
But the years and the tears and the fears
Passed by
And my heart couldn't stand the pain
Of that promised love

All the way from America
All the way from America

I stayed all alone and I waited 'round
For you to knock at my door
But the knock never came and no ring
At all
And now I sit and wonder why
You made that first call

All the way from America

I don't believe I'll stay here
I don't think I wanna wait here any more
And if you search for me baby
Better bring some more love than you declared

All the way from America