Most Americans Don’t Know the Words to These Patriotic Songs

“America the Beautiful”

• Writer/Composer: Katharine Lee Bates andSamuel A. Ward
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: Written in 1895 and set to music a few months later

Did you know that Katharine Lee Bates, the writer of the patriotic song “America the Beautiful,” originally wrote it as a poem? She was so inspired by the beauty of Pike’s Peak in Colorado Springs. Shortly after, Silas G. Pratt put her words to music. After some adjustments were made, the song quickly became one of America’s “unofficial national anthems.”

“God Bless America”

• Writer/Composer: Irving Berlin
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1938

Irving Berlin, writer of “God Bless America,” stated once in an interview that this song was not a “patriotic song.” Instead, the words are a way for the citizens to express gratitude. Another unofficial national anthem, “God Bless America,” is a tune so many people can recognize. Since 1938, the words to this song have been recognizable and are part of so many functions and events throughout America. In fact, the Yankee stadium began playing this song during the seventh inning stretch after the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. While the tune is easy to pick up on, many Americans still tend to forget the words.

“This Land is Your Land”

Shortly after “God Bless America” came out in 1938, Woody Guthrie took his pen to paper and wrote his own version of a gratitude song. He was tired of the blind patriotism and wanted to express the feelings so many Americans were having during the Great Depression.

The original version of “This Land is Your Land” had the line “I stood wondering if God blessed America for me.” Also, the original title was “God Blessed America for Me.” The original line and title were meant to contradict “God Bless America” because Guthrie disagreed with the premise of that song: that God was the answer.

However, it wasn’t long before Woody Guthrie changed the title and last line so that everyone could enjoy his work and sing it without feeling conviction. Additionally, the original song also had two controversial verses (read them here) that brought to light the greed of many and the neglect of those who were (and still are) marginalized in America. Although the missing lyrics resonate with many people, those verses were also taken out of the finished product.

“My Country, Tis of Thee”

• Writer/Composer: Samuel Francis Smith
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1831

The words “My Country, Tis of Three” weren’t written until 1831. However, the song was put to a familiar tune. In fact, the tune was around for quite a while before Samuel Francis Smith wrote the song. He was asked in 1831 by Lowell Mason to translate German songbooks. When Smith came across the German song “God Bless Our Native Land,” he had an idea to write the song Americans now know and love to sing.

In 1831, a Boston children’s choir made the debut of the song “My Country, Tis of Thee.” The tune was also originally the United Kingdom anthem titled “God Save the King.”

“Born in the U.S.A.”

• Writer/Composer: Bruce Springsteen
• Singer: Bruce Springsteen
• Year Released: 1984

The song “Born in the U.S.A.” is quite catchy. However, many people may not immediately understand the song’s true meaning. Springsteen wrote the song after a benefit for Vietnam veterans. He was frustrated after seeing how many of the Vietnam veterans were suffering when coming home from war with little support and not very many options. So, Springsteen decided to write the song from a veteran’s point of view.

“Yankee Doodle”

• Writer/Composer: Dr. Richard Schuckburg
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1755

The song “Yankee Doodle” is a catchy tune that kids in America love to dance and sing to. However, the origins of this song weren’t meant as a patriotic song. Richard Schuckburg was a British doctor who thought American “Yankees” (or country hicks) were annoying. Therefore, he wrote the song “Yankee Doodle” as a way to make fun of those annoying colonists who got under his skin.

To add to the colorful history of this song, it has been said that during the Revolutionary War, the British would drum the song to “tease” the patriots they were fighting against.

However, the colonists flipped the script and often sang the song as the British soldiers began to retreat.

“Proud to be an American” (God Bless the U.S.A.)

• Writer/Composer: Lee Greenwood
• Singer: Lee Greenwood
• Year Released: 1984

When Lee Greenwood wrote “Proud to Be an American,” it was with every intention of becoming an anthem. However, it didn’t catch on right away. In 1984, President Reagan and the RNC used the song, and it quickly became associated with the 40th President of the United States. Today, the anthem has been sung by various artists but remains a song of gratitude and patriotism.

“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”

• Writer/Composer: Toby Keith
• Singer: Toby Keith
• Year Released: 2002

After the 2001 Terror Attacks on American soil, Toby Keith wrote the lyrics to what is now known as the 9/11 Anthem. After the attacks, there were several songs that came out that captured how so many across America were feeling. Songs like “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning.)” Toby Keith’s song (also known as Angry American) became the ultimate patriotic song as America grieved the lives of so many innocent Americans.

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic”

• Writer/Composer: Julia Ward Howe
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1862

Julia Ward Howe and her husband were abolitionists or anti-slavery activists. One day, when visiting Washington D.C. Howe became inspired to write new lyrics to the song “John Brown’s Body.”

By 1862 the new song, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” was published in the “Atlantic Monthly” and boy did it anger the South. The South felt like the words were an attack on them because it called for the end of slavery (and they were right.) However, another reason the song upset the South is because the lyrics indicate that God supported the North and not the South. Howe wrote lyrics that beautifully captured how every black person was feeling when freedom was finally theirs.

“American Heart”

• Writer/Composer: Jonathan Singleton and Jim Beavers
• Singer: Faith Hill
• Year Released: 2012

“American Heart” was written as a way to show the nitty-gritty of being an American. The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who continues to work hard even though life gets difficult. Her American heart continues to believe in her dreams despite the blood and the scars it has on it.

“Ragged Old Flag”

• Writer/Composer: Johnny Cash
• Singer: Johnny Cash
• Year Released: 1974

Johnny Cash was a supporter of President Richard Nixon until the Watergate Scandal came to light. During this time Cash began questioning Nixon’s policies. After Nixon resigned, Cash wrote the song “Ragged Old Flag” to encapture the American spirit and everything that the Flag stood for and had been through.

“You’re a Grand Old Flag”

• Writer/Composer: George M. Cohan and Paul Chihara
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1906

“You’re a Grand Old Flag” was written by George M. Cohan in 1906. The song was inspired by a random encounter with a Civil War Veteran. At that time, Cohan saw that the vet was carrying around a “ragged old flag.” While talking, the vet told Cohan, “She’s a grand old rag.”

“Grand Old Rag” was originally the title of the song; however, many people found the term offensive. So, to appease those who thought it offensive, Cohan switched the title and lyrics to “flag. “

“American Solider”

• Writer/Composer: Toby Keith, Chuck Cannon
• Singer: Toby Keith
• Year Released: 2003

“American Soldier” is also a patriotic song written by Toby Keith right after 9/11. He wrote the song to pay tribute to all the soldiers, men, and women who sacrificed so much. His lyrics describe a picture of soldiers’ humanity. This picture that Keith paints in his song does an excellent job of putting a person and face behind the bravery of a soldier.

It was also a song written to the critics of the 9/11 anthem, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.” After this song had come out, many called him an “ignorant redneck.” However, Keith wanted it to be difficult to criticize a song that shows the American soldier as an actual human, and he succeeded.

“Only in America”

• Writer/Composer: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
• Singer: The Drifters
• Year Released: 1963

The patriotic song “Only in America” started out as an antiracist song written by a husband and wife. The original song had lyrics like “Only in America, land of opportunity, can they save a seat in the back of the bus just for me.” However, the duo was told that the original song would not do well, so they worked with another duo. The final result was lyrics that describe all Americans’ opportunities, like being poor and maybe becoming president one day.

“Color Me America”

• Writer/Composer: Dolly Parton
• Singer: Dolly Parton
• Year Released: 2003

Country singer Dolly Parton wrote “Color Me America” as a patriotic anthem. She wrote and performed it after 9/11. The song calls for equality for everyone who lives in America, regardless of background. It also cries for every American to be proud of where they come from.

“Star-Spangled Banner”

• Writer/Composer: Francis Scott Key
• Singer: Various Artists
• Year Released: 1814

Our official national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” was written in 1814. On the morning of September 14th, 1814, Francis Scott Key watched in awe as the American Flag flew over Fort McHenry after the battle in Baltimore.

The battle lasted for around 25 hours as the British bombarded the U.S. seaport. Scott Key penned the first lyrics to the anthem that morning and finished it by November 1814. While it’s our national anthem, you may be surprised at just how many people forget the words.

“America”

• Writer/Composer: Neil Diamond
• Singer: Neil Diamond
• Year Released: 1980

The song “America,” written by Neil Diamond, is a homage to those who have immigrated to America. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants, and he has stated in interviews that he wrote this song for them. Diamond has shared that he grew up in New York surrounded by people who had immigrated to America with a dream. Furthermore, the song describes the difficult journey so many faced and still do today.

“Our Country”

• Writer/Composer: John Mellencamp
• Singer: John Mellencamp
• Year Released: 2007

John Mellencamp wrote “Our Country” as an ode to American freedom. He showcases the opportunities that so many people have here in this country. However, Mellencamp didn’t shy away from adding in the struggles that many Americans face, including poverty and discrimination.

The release of this song was unique in the sense that it was used in a commercial for the Chevrolet Silverado first.

“Red, White, and Blue”

• Writer/Composer: Johnny Van Zant, Donnie Van Zant, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
• Singer: Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Year Released: 2003

“Red, White, and Blue” is also a song written after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The lyrics capture the true heart of the song, which is American patriotism. Throughout the lyrics, words interictally piece together the idea that not one specific person is better than another in America. No matter your walk of life, in America you can still resonate with the colors red, white, and blue.

“Living in America”

• Writer/Composer: Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight
• Singer: James Brown
• Year Released: 1985

“Living in America” became one of James Brown’s top songs. This was in part because it was featured in the movie “Rocky 4.” While Brown sang this song at Sly Stallone’s request it did end up introducing a new generation to his music.

This catchy song continues to inspire those with the “American Dream.” However, it also captures the true sacrifices and difficulties that Americans face daily.

One Last Note

Patriotic songs range from the National Anthem to rock tunes that show the true American spirit. Whether the song shows the struggle for immigrants or calls for equality, these anthems can be sung proudly by those who love America. However, despite how popular they may be, many Americans do not know the words to these patriotic songs. Sometimes it comes down to never hearing these songs, other times, the song may be offensive or annoying to a person. Regardless of the reasons though, these 20 songs do an excellent job of showing the American spirit from different perspectives, which is an important part of living in a country that values freedom anyway.