# What songs make you feel the most patriotic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332 "2000-05-23T21:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/21 "2000-05-24T12:29:11Z")
“Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins (from the Top Gun soundtrack) ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/22 "2000-05-24T13:01:33Z")
The “Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish. ---
**Author:** ![SmoothOperator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SmoothOperator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmoothOperator)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/23 "2000-05-24T13:17:39Z")
It’s a toss-up between America the Beautiful and You’re a Grand Ole Flag. Both have always stirred up patriotic emotions in me as well as pride. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/24 "2000-05-24T15:07:57Z")
The “Internationale.” Although “The Battle of New Orleans” is pretty damn good, especially if I happen to be feeling anti-British. That image of all the hillfolk openin’ up with their squirrel guns is well-nigh irresistible. “They ran so fast the hounds couldn’t catch 'em…down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.” ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/25 "2000-05-24T15:40:30Z")
Topaz the song Elbows referred to is “Four Strong Winds” written by Ian Tyson and covered by Neil Young. I have to second “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate”. “With a heave ho, high ho coming down the plains, stealing wheat and barley and all the other grains.” 😉 Keith ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/26 "2000-05-24T15:52:40Z")
I feel a surge of patriotism (or pride or whatever) about the South when I hear the song **“Southern Accent” by Tom Petty**. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/27 "2000-05-24T16:19:05Z")
Perversely, the Australian national anthem _Advance Australia Fair_. In a crowd, it is always clear that no-one knows the words beyond the first couple of lines, and everyone thinks “girt” is a funny word. The _lack of nationalism_ makes me proud of my people. picmr ---
**Author:** ![thekev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@thekev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thekev)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/28 "2000-05-24T17:17:19Z")
The National Anthem I’m proud to be an American - Lee Greenwood Serving during wartime will do that to you. First time we heard Lee’s song in the desert, wasn’t a dry eye in the house…er…tent. ---
**Author:** ![writefetus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9de053/32.png) [@writefetus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/writefetus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/29 "2000-05-24T18:11:22Z")
…“everybody’s got a pistol” by Gil Scott-Heron ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/30 "2000-05-24T18:25:28Z")
Is _God Bless the USA_ the same as _Proud to Be An American_ ? Either way, that’s the song for me! I agree that it’s a little hokey, but isn’t it interesting that it didn’t used to be hokey to be patriotic? I always find it hard to believe when people don’t take off their hats or put their hand over their heart during the National Anthem. It also drives me nuts when at a sporting event, etc. that some people don’t pay any attention when the Anthem starts. They keep walking to their seat, going for beer, even conversing. I was always taught that you stop what you are doing immediately, face the flag, remove hat, put your hand on your heart and sing, otherwise it is disrespectful. Nowdays, when I do that, people look at _me_ funny. ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/31 "2000-05-24T18:27:44Z")
The foremost two, however, are: “Proud To Be An American” (as performed by the Tubes, on their “Young and Rich” album) and “Taps”. Having served in the military, I also have succumbed to the subliminal brainwashing, and get a tear or two in my eyes when I hear Taps. As with any patriotic song, it isn’t the lyrics or the melody, so much as the emotional reaction you have to it. As far as “Proud To Be An American” is concerned, it _still_ just cracks me up. 😃 –Baloo ---
**Author:** ![thekev](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@thekev](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thekev)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/32 "2000-05-24T18:35:17Z")
Oops, yep, that’s the one, God Bless the USA. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/33 "2000-05-24T18:37:56Z")
The song that should be the American National Anthem is, without a doubt, [This Land is Your Land](http://www.arlo.net/lyrics/this-land.shtml) Since I’m a dual citize, I get to mention two songs! Sorry to say, the swiss national anthem doesn’t fill me with enthusiasm, but when I hear William Tell’s overture I’m always tempted to go kick some austrian butt. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/34 "2000-05-24T19:10:01Z")
> [@](#): > > It also drives me nuts when at a sporting event, etc. that some people don’t pay any attention when the Anthem starts. They keep walking to their seat, going for beer, even conversing. I was always taught that you stop what you are doing immediately, face the flag, remove hat, put your hand on your heart and sing, otherwise it is disrespectful. Nowdays, when I do that, people look at me funny. You know, they didn’t even start doing that (the anthem before ballgames) until WWII, and frankly, I think we could do with a lot less of it. I’m there for a baseball game, dammit, not a political rally. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/35 "2000-05-24T20:22:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > You know, they didn’t even start doing that (the anthem before ballgames) until WWII, and frankly, I think we could do with a lot less of it. I’m there for a baseball game, dammit, not a political rally. > > \*\* Yeah, it seems nobody really cares too much about it anymore, so maybe they ought to stop doing it altogether. But then, you know there’d be a bunch of “America’s Pastime” zealots who would lose their minds at the very thought! I really like the whole anthem thing. It makes me feel good and reminds of what this country is about–but it also makes me sad to see so many people who don’t seem impressed by the sacrifices those before us made to make this country what it is. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/36 "2000-05-24T20:40:21Z")
I hesitate to hijack this thread, but Sunshine, what makes you think that people who don’t stand and salute during the anthem at a baseball game “don’t seem impressed by the sacrifices those before us made to make this country what it is”? The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other, and that’s a terrible assumption to make about people. Does one have to conform to a certain set of jingoist standards to be appreciative of sacrifice, or of the history of the country? Frankly, I don’t approve of forced patriotism anyway, whether by statute or by convention. And honestly, the anthem at sporting events is less a patriotic display than, usually, a chance for some two-bit local warbler to ruin a perfectly decent song. ---
**Author:** ![Sledman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Sledman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sledman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/37 "2000-05-24T20:42:53Z")
Wholeheartedly agree with these. Battle Hymn of the Republic Over There — Come on… this song is great, you just never hear it. Proud to be an American Taps (If this one doesn’t get you right there nothing will) What about: Halls of Montezuma — No Marines on the Straight Dope??? When Johnny Come Marching Home In America Again – I think I am right on the title. Charlie Daniels did the song. And I know there are more that elude me right now. Actually kind of a weird one because it is more Allied Powers Pride. Aces High by Iron Maiden on one of their live albums. It starts with Churchill’s speech, "…We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France and on the seas and oceans; we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall fight on beaches, landing grounds, in fields, in streets and on the hills. We shall never surrender…” then you hear the roar of engines and they bust into song. pldennison: It takes maybe 2 minutes for the National Anthem. How could that be such a pain? It recognizes our country and the people who have sacrificed so you can be at that ball game. ---
**Author:** ![LBJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecae2f/32.png) [@LBJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LBJay)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/38 "2000-05-24T20:51:22Z")
“…Good bye, Mom I’m off to drop the bomb, so don’t wait up for me…” -Tom Leher ---
**Author:** ![single\_files](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@single\_files](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/single_files)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/39 "2000-05-24T21:12:13Z")
I LIKE the Star Spangled Banner. Granted, it’s not easy to sing, but what a story it tells. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332/40 "2000-05-24T22:47:31Z")
Thanks for telling me Odieman! I’m gonna have to find MP3’s of them so I can listen. A good song that I can think of is _Land Of The Silver Birch_ I’ve sung it lots in Guides and I thought it was a really cool song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-make-you-feel-the-most-patriotic/20332.md?page=3)