25 Essential Songs About America for Your July 4th Weekend Listening

Andrew KirellJul 4th, 2014, 10:00 am

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Bruce Springsteen – “American Land”

The Boss wrote this Irish jig-meets-arena-rock in 2006 as a tribute to America’s reputation as a nation of immigrants, channeling the utter jubilance and wide-eyed optimism of those who sought a better life by coming to America. It’s since become a regular during the latter portion of E Street shows, mostly because it’s a rip-roaring barnstormer of a live song but also because of its immense power to get you on your feet and wanting to dream again. Also: There’s something awesome about how Springsteen took this overseas, and made thousands of non-Americans scream and shout along. To wit, view the below 2009 performance from the middle of friggin’ London.

All-American lyrics: “There’s diamonds in the sidewalk / There’s gutters lined in song / Dear, I hear that beer flows / Through the faucets all night long / There’s treasure for the taking / For any hard working man / Who will make his home in the American land”

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Johnny Horton – “The Battle of New Orleans”

It’s a comedic folk tunes about the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, the final major battle between the US. British in history. Growing up, my father would play it often and sing it to himself around this time of year. I’m certain yours did too. Novelty folk songs are what American dads are all about — let’s be proud of it.

All-American lyrics: “We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin / There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago / We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on / Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico”

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John Denver – “Take Me Home, Country Roads”

“Almost heaven” is how the late John Denver describes the breathtaking landscape of America’s Appalachian region, and you believe it with every note of this gorgeous folk tune. There’s something mystifying about America’s countryside that Denver and his co-writers captured perfectly. Even when it’s sung by a stadium full of drunken West Virginia University football fans (as seen in the video below), it can still evoke chills.

All-American lyrics: “Almost heaven, West Virginia / Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River / Life is old there / Older than the trees / Younger than the mountains / Blowing like a breeze”

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Billy Joel – “We Didn’t Start the Fire”

Yep, it’s that corny song your eighth-grade history teacher made you memorize. The Piano Man himself has called it a “novelty song,” one that he hopes does not define him like his other hits, but let’s face it: After drinking a few beers, this rapid-fire recitation of cultural events from 1949 to 1989 becomes one of the funnest songs to break out at an American party. And it’s okay if you don’t remember the words, Billy doesn’t either.

All-American lyrics: “JFK blown away / What else do I have to say?”

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Elvis Presley – “An American Trilogy”

This medley of Civil War-era songs, arranged by Mickey Newbury, became a live staple for Elvis Presley during his final decade. Mixing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (representing the Union), “Dixie” (the Confederacy) and Bahamian spiritual “All My Trials” (slaves), this showstopper conveys the exact ideological and spiritual divides that tore apart this nation, but also the unifying themes that healed it in part.