Mark Twain once said, “The true patriotism, the only rational patriotism, is loyalty to the Nation ALL the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it,” and we’ve collected five songs that reflect this critical patriotism, all of which deserve a spot on your 4th of July playlist. Whether by sheer mention of Americana imagery or by the lyrics themselves, these tracks offer a perspective on the States that is far less idyllic than, say, Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” or Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”
One could argue that the songs below are more realistic. Regardless of your political affiliation or ideology, demanding more from your country is never a bad thing. Neither is connecting with your fellow Americans over hardships and hopes you share. There is a way to celebrate the vast and enduring beauty of this country while also continuously working to improve how it supports, nurtures, and empowers the people within it.
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These songs are a good place to start.
“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
Finding a 4th of July playlist that doesn’t include Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 track, “Born in the U.S.A.,” is no small feat. From its heartland rock arrangement to its red, white, and blue title to its inclusion in countless politicians’ campaign rallies, the fact that we associate the title track to Springsteen’s seventh studio album with overt patriotism isn’t necessarily surprising. But as expected as it may be, it’s also largely misguided.
“Born in the U.S.A.” is one of the most famous examples of a song that sounds like it’s dripping with American pride while delivering a scathing critique of the country. The song follows the disillusionment of a Vietnam War veteran, highlighting the historical disenfranchisement and isolation of soldiers who return home from overseas conflict.
“Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and footage of helicopters hovering over the Vietnamese jungle go together like, well, the 4th of July and fireworks. Popular films, television shows, and documentaries have intertwined the track with the Vietnam War, and with good reason. CCR wrote the song about how poor men were the ones most likely to go to war and risk their lives for their country.
“Fortunate Son” refers to the narrator’s antithesis: the wealthy, well-connected, and privileged individuals who were able to dodge the draft without repercussions. John Fogerty once said, “The song speaks more to the unfairness of class than war itself. It’s the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them.”
“Rockin’ in the Free World” by Neil Young
Neil Young’s 1989 track “Rockin’ in the Free World” is certainly an understandable addition to any 4th of July playlist celebrating independence and freedom. But listen more closely to the lyrics, and the Canadian singer-songwriter’s critique of the U.S., particularly under the George H. W. Bush administration, is intensely clear. Despite the seemingly devil-may-care attitude of the song’s chorus, the verses juxtapose a bleak American existence.
I see a woman in the night with a baby in her hand. There’s an old street light near a garbage can. Now, she put the kid away, and she’s gone to get a hit. She hates her life and what she’s done to it. There’s one more kid that’ll never go to school, never get to fall in love, never get to be cool.
“Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” by John Prine
John Prine’s 1971 eponymous debut showcased the songwriter’s unique ability to deliver heartbreaking and humorous stories about the down-and-out, disillusioned, and disenfranchised, and “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore.” Easily the most overtly critical of all the songs on our list, we’d argue that this deserves a spot on any critical patriot’s 4th of July playlist, if only for its incredible songwriting alone.
Indeed, in one tongue-in-cheek country tune, Prine manages to criticize war, the shallow nature of symbolic patriotism, and the importance of the separation of church and state. It’s a not-so-thinly-veiled criticism of a sect of Christianity that denounces more empathetic religious values in the name of global power and might. Your flag decal won’t get you into Heaven anymore, Prine sings in the chorus. They’re already overcrowded from your dirty little war.
Photo by David Redfern/Redferns