Give this pig ignorant European some clues as to songs to buy for July 4th Picnic. I already have a Bruce Springsteen CD but that’s about it. Suggestions please!
Oddly, it seems the tune most commonly associated with celebrating our Independence from Britain (well, except the anthem) is about Napoleon invading Russia.
I guess it doesn’t make any less sense then an egg laying rabbit represent the holiday celebrating the Resurrection.
Here’s a great July 4th song. OK, the content is somewhat questionable, but still a great song. As always, YMMV.
Quick, download some John Philip Sousa band music.
Among my collection (performed by the Slovak Radio Symphony, of all things) suitable for the 4th are The Stars and Stripes Forever, The Invincible Eagle, Semper Fidelis and Bullets and Bayonets.
And another Sousa classic just for you, the overture to The Irish Dragoon. 
Pretty much any march by Sousa would fit the holiday.
Schoolhouse Rock: No More Kings
Listening to it now makes me wince a bit, but this is how a generation of kids learned about American independence (and pictured George III).
Yeah, but how bummed would you be if you showed up at a party/picnic and John Sousa was playing all day…
OK, it’s a Latin party album, but Rei Momo is probably David Byrne’s best solo effort and the first track kicks things into a high state of fun. The name of the song? Independence Day.
Sousa’s band was the top band of its day and, besides the marches, played an assortment of pop favorites and light classical.
My favorite is Shooter Jennings 4th of July
SSG Schwartz
Yankee Doodle Dandy of course!
From the musical 1776:
He Plays the Violin (begins at 1:45)
Or in honor or Congress today and in 1776
X’s “Fourth of July” is great, but I can’t find a video of it.
I’m not a country music fan, but Martina McBride’s “Independence Day” is a great song, moreso because all the right-wing radio talkers think it’s a patriotic song.
Actually, it is only Sean Hannity, and he is an idiot anyway.
Thought of a couple more,
John Melloncamp Pink Houses
David Lee Roth Yankee Rose
SSG Schwartz
GREAT song, and the one I came in here to recommend.
Maybe In America by The Charlie Daniels Band.
This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
A song about the War of 1812 (the only pop song I can think of about any US-British conflict) is Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton. Johnny Cash did a cover.
American Tune by Paul Simon is kind of downbeat, so maybe not a great party song.
America - Simon and Garfunkle
Johnny Appleseed - Joe Strummer (has some American themes)
Cadillac Ranch - Bruce Springsteen What’s more American than Cadillacs?
Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry (Roll call of American cities)
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. - John Cougar Mellencamp
American Trilogy - Elvis Presley
No it’s not.
Don’t Fence Me In - Gene Autry
America - West Side Story soundtrack
The Fightin’ Side of Me - Merle Haggard
I’ve Been Everywhere - Johnny Cash (Another roll call of American cities)
Freedom - Richie Havens
Keep on Rockin in the Free World - Neil Young
America Fuck Yeah! - Team America World Police Theme (Extremely explicit)
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival (for a different perspective on American patriotism)
American Girl - Tom Petty
Surfin’ USA- The Beach Boys
America the Beautiful - Ray Charles
Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
Don’t Stop - Fleetwood Mac
Living In America - James Brown
Plus you can’t go wrong with rockabilly: early Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran or other early rock n roll: Chuck Berry, Little Richard
You are off-base, especially if you listen to the lyrics of “Born in the USA.” My friend, we are a BIG FUCKING COUNTRY, so anything you chose would be likely to piss off someone else. (Reflecting on my own Irish heritage.) Okay, it might not be all that surprising. 
And note that, as far as us Yanks are concerned, especially us from Chicago, who supported the terrorists in The North far too long, the EU doesn’t exist and yer IRISH, damn yer eyes!
The USA produced most of the Pop Irish songs a century ago. I would bet you have heard few of them. No loss; they brought the term "maudlin"ever before imagined.
Patriotic semi-religious glurge that I love & is probably widely loathed here.
I echo Sampiro in recommending some George M. Cohen. Here’s a .99 download of a few tunes, including Yankee Doodle Dandy. (Others are You’re a Grand Old Flag and Give My Regards To Broadway*)
*Lyrics, from memory
Say hello to dear old Coney Isle, if there you chance to be.
When you’re at the Waldorf, have a smile
And charge it up to me.
Mention my name every place you go
As 'round the town you roam.
Wish you’d call on my gal —
Now remember, old pal —
When you get back home …