# Suggestions for a "patriotic" music mix (U.S.)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305 "2009-08-13T16:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/21 "2009-08-14T17:17:13Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > _New World Man_ by, I think, Rush Ooh, good one. And similarly, _Fanfare For The Common Man_ by Aaron Copland. ETA: in fact a lot of Copland is very “American”, but particularly patriotic oriented would be his “Lincoln Portrait”. Get the reading by James Earl Jones, it’s teh awesome. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/22 "2009-08-14T17:20:43Z")
[_New World Symphony_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ENf4VEhI40&feature=related) by Dvorak. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Falling_Reverend)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/23 "2009-08-14T18:35:41Z")
Violent Femmes-American Music. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/24 "2009-08-14T18:37:36Z")
There are of course, the originals…The Star Spangled Banner, America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Hail Columbia, and Columbia, Gem of the Ocean. Also, how about some[Sousa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDA9NbPAK8o&feature=related)marches? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/25 "2009-08-14T19:36:23Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > There are of course, the originals…The Star Spangled Banner, America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Hail Columbia, and Columbia, Gem of the Ocean. Also, how about some[Sousa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDA9NbPAK8o&feature=related)marches? I’ll probably throw in a couple of tracks along those lines. Mainly, though, I’m going for rock, country, soul… American genres singing about America, that sort o’ thing… And a novelty or two, like: > [@Hello\_Again](#): > > “The Preamble Song” - Schoolhouse Rocks Heh. I’ve already downlaoded “I’m just a Bill.” Somehow I didn’t think of this one. Maybe I’ll do both. 🙂 Some great ideas so far; thanks to all and keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/26 "2009-08-14T20:18:09Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > There are of course, the originals…The Star Spangled Banner, America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Hail Columbia, and Columbia, Gem of the Ocean. Also, how about some[Sousa](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDA9NbPAK8o&feature=related)marches? Not to mention “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “This Is My Country”. Then there’s Robert Russell Bennett, who wrote all manner of American-themed orchestral music, such as “Victory at Sea”, “Armed Forces Suite”, “Suite of Old American Dances”, “Abraham Lincoln: A Likeness in Symphony Form”, and “Symphony in D for the Dodgers” (incorporating speeches by sportscaster Red Barber). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/27 "2009-08-14T20:19:14Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I’m fond of Rob Carriker’s performance of [The Battle Cry of Freedom](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QOJSW6/ref=dm_dp_trk5). Ry Cooder also does a heartwarming take on _The Battle Cry Of Freedom._ His cover of _Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer_ gets me dewy eyed every time. You really won’t have a complete set without some version of Little Steven’s _I Am A Patriot._ Somehow, I haven’t heard Little Steven’s own version, but David Lindley does it. Jackson Browne sang it on stage, opening for Bonnie Raitt, but I don’t know if he ever recorded it. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/28 "2009-08-14T22:00:59Z")
Eh, I shoulda known, YouTube has nearly everything. Three versions of Little Steven singing _I Am A Patriot,_ more by Jackson Browne, and two by Eddie Vedder. Vedder sings the line as “I was talking with my boyfriend,” (is Vedder gay? I did not know that.) There’s 27 Ry Cooder vids, some of them breathtaking, but not _Battle Cry_ or _Wing And A Prayer._ ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/29 "2009-08-16T22:18:07Z")
“Promised Land”, by Chuck Berry. “Some Gave All”, by Billy Ray Cyrus. (Don’t laugh. It’s much better than “Achy Breaky Heart”.) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/30 "2009-08-16T22:29:20Z")
[Country Joe McDonald - “Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBdeCxJmcAo) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/31 "2009-08-16T22:49:06Z")
America - Niel Diamond American Girl - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers American Girls - Counting Crows American Idiot - Green Day American Woman - Lenny Kravitz American Woman - The Guess Who Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen The Hands that Built America - U2 Heartland - U2 Little Pink Houses - John Mellancamp Living in America - James Brown I haven’t even included angry American songs ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/32 "2009-08-16T23:22:32Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > “Some Gave All”, by Billy Ray Cyrus. (Don’t laugh. It’s much better than “Achy Breaky Heart”.) So’s a busted leg, so what? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/33 "2009-08-17T00:08:06Z")
“John Walker’s Blues” by Steve Earle “The Traveling Soldier” by the Dixie Chicks “Ain’t Nobody Better Than Us” by Leadbelly “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/34 "2009-08-17T01:11:56Z")
A previous thread that may be of interest: [Need ideas for Election Night party mix CD - NO LEE GREENWOOD! - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=489035) ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/35 "2009-08-17T01:26:12Z")
U.S Marine Corps Hymn ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/36 "2009-08-17T14:14:09Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen > \ > I haven’t even included angry American songs That one’s a little angry. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/37 "2009-08-17T15:26:53Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > America - Niel Diamond > American Girl - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers > American Girls - Counting Crows > American Idiot - Green Day > American Woman - Lenny Kravitz > American Woman - The Guess Who > Born in the USA - Bruce Springsteen > The Hands that Built America - U2 > Heartland - U2 > Little Pink Houses - John Mellancamp > Living in America - James Brown > I haven’t even included angry American songs I would characterize “American Idiot” and the Guess Who’s “American Woman” as pretty blatantly critical of the USA… not selections I would expect to find in a “patriotic” mix. (Along the same lines, I was thinking of suggesting the Steve Miller Band’s “Living in the U.S.A.” but didn’t – great song, but not really patriotic.) Here’s another odd one: Steppenwolf’s “Monster”. Sort of “I love my country and that’s why I’m protesting what it’s turned into”. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/38 "2009-08-17T15:48:43Z")
Probably crosses over in the treacly category (although definitely not crap): Tim McGraw - If You’re Reading This Heartfelt and touching IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/39 "2009-08-17T16:57:39Z")
“Forty Hour Week (For a Livin’)” - Alabama ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/40 "2009-08-17T17:49:09Z")
Good choice on leaving out “God Bless the USA”, since if you actually listen to the lyrics, it’s about how unimportant freedom and democracy and the like are to the narrator. Unfortunately, I don’t think anyone, including the writer, pays enough attention to the lyrics to realize that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305.md?page=3)