You can add these songs to your playlist alongside "The Star-Spangled Banner" for your July 4 festivities.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbeque with friends and family, or watching a massive fireworks display lighting up the sky, or simply enjoying the July 4 holiday within the air-conditioned indoors, you might be looking for some patriotic tunes by country and Americana artists to go along with the traditional “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Of course, Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” stands in a class by itself. But here are some of our other favorite “alternative anthems” appropriate for America’s birthday.
Brooks & Dunn — “Only in America”
This rousingly celebratory ode to the diversity and opportunities that define America crosses all political divides “because it’s not group-oriented,” says Ronnie Dunn. Indeed, it’s hard for anyone to argue with the sentiment that this is a country “where we dream as big as we want to. We all get a chance, everyone gets to dance.”
Johnny Cash — “Ragged Old Flag”
Reportedly written and recorded by The Man in Black as a response to political turbulence that erupted in the United States during the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal, Johnny Cash’s spoken-word song is a still-relevant reminder that while politicians and protests may come and go, Americans remain resilient because there is more that unites us than divides us.
Woody Guthrie — “This Land is Your Land”
The complete version of the legendary folksinger’s signature tune is a not entirely uncritical but deeply felt view of Depression Era America. As the Kennedy Center website explains, Woody Guthrie wrote “a simple song that tried to capture his love of the American landscape. At the same time, he wanted to point out that a lot of Americans weren’t feeling blessed at all.” Again: Maybe still relevant?
Brad Paisley — “American Saturday Night”
“It's like we’re all living in a big old cup! Just fire up the blender, mix it all up!” That party-hearty lyric is typical of Brad Paisley’s rock-the-house tribute to the idioms and imports that add spice to melting pot that is America. “You know everywhere has something they’re noted for — although usually it washes up on our shores. My great-great-great-granddaddy stepped off that ship — I bet he never ever dreamed we’d have all this.”
Waylon Jennings — “America”
Appropriately enough, the Outlaw Country superstar performed this song, written by Sammy Johns, during a 1986 television special celebrating the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. For Waylon Jennings, America — all of America — was the land that he loved. As he stirringly sings: “Well I come from down around Tennessee. But the people in California are nice to me. America — it don’t matter where I may roam … It’s home sweet home, America.”
