# 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:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/41 "2009-08-17T22:34:25Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > 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.) So is Born in the USA and Little Pink Houses, but every American just likes those songs. Because no one thinks they are part of the “America” that’s being criticized. > [@Chronos](#): > > 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. How do you figure? Because I read the lyrics and fighting for freedom is the only think that seems important to the narrator. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/42 "2009-08-18T01:20:06Z")
The 5th Dimension’s “[The Declaration.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQP563gKwIU)” ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/43 "2009-08-18T02:25:09Z")
[American Trilogy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moUifEmOcbU&feature=related) - Elvis Presley [Living in America](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqUipinDyw) - James Brown [Fightin’ Side of Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHAFmFsb9XM) - Merle Haggard ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/44 "2009-08-18T02:34:46Z")
[Don’t Fence Me In](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ99V9G-G0c) - Gene Autry I also like [David Byrne’s version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14l75vz-R9w). [City of New Orleans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfxoM6trtZE) - Arlo Guthrie (Willie Nelson does a nice version, too.) [American Tune](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3kKUEY5WU&feature=related) - Paul Simon …and I think I object to the idea that protest songs about America aren’t patriotic. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/45 "2009-08-18T02:52:53Z")
“Ragged Ol Flag” by Johnny Cash ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/46 "2009-08-18T03:05:46Z")
[Philadelphia Freedom](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkMXnk16kiE) - Elton John [Centerfield](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSYdJqhKK-A&feature=related) - John Fogerty ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/47 "2009-08-18T16:48:56Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > …and I think I object to the idea that protest songs about America aren’t patriotic. Good point, but the OP did ask for songs “celebrating” America. ---
**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 18, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305/48 "2009-08-18T20:22:45Z")
> [@](#): > > How do you figure? Because I read the lyrics and fighting for freedom is the only think that seems important to the narrator. Right at the beginning of the song: “If tomorrow all the things were gone he’d fought for all his life”, he’d still have freedom and democracy and the like. Therefore freedom is not one of the things he’s fought for all his life (nor, for that matter, are his children and wife). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-a-patriotic-music-mix-u-s/506305.md?page=2)