In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
American girls and American guys
We'll always stand up and salute
We'll always recognize
When we see Old Glory flying
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye but he flew a flag out in our yard
'Til the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the fourth of July
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin' her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh, and justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly it's gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin' her bell
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh-oh, of the red, white and blue
Oh-oh, of my red, white and blue
We'll always stand up and salute
We'll always recognize
When we see Old Glory flying
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye but he flew a flag out in our yard
'Til the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the fourth of July
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin' her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh, and justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly it's gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin' her bell
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh-oh, of the red, white and blue
Oh-oh, of my red, white and blue
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you people are missing my point. and im not surprised due to the mysogonistic nature of this song. i never said that the people who did this shouldnt be reprimanded, i am discussing our reaction, as a COUNTRY to this whole thing. judging by the way you guys are fighting for this song, it seems you are for the US bombing innocent residents of Afghanistan. like you're taking the arugment of, "oh well they bombed our innocents, we should be able to bombs theirs". Right, that really makes sense. These people that did this were a GROUP of people, not an entire nation. How the hell would you like it if you were held accountable forevery action that the KKK committed? For once people, look at things from different perspectives, not whatever the shitty CNN's of the cable world feed you. USE YOUR BRAIN. Nothing is black and white, only shades of grey. We, the US, have bombed a Red Cross Center over there, a RED CROSS CENTER! clearly this mentality of bomb first think later is massively flawed. its, once again, childish and rash. i urge you all to think about things objectively.
@freeefalln violence begets violence. So many believe in the justification of an "eye for an eye" ... right or wrong??
I personally find this song to be hilarious!
I can't tell whether it's meant to be ironic/self-aware or not but the OTT jingoism of this song is just simply funny.
@Predator98mon Yeah the openly verse sort of suggests to me that there may be an element of irony to the song.
@Predator98mon *opening verse I meant
I think this is an AWESOME song. You know the saying Treat Others How You Want To Be Treated well I believe that and what do they expect us not to attack them back. I believe there is a time for peace and this isn't it! They knew their actions would have consequences and now they must accept that because they cant take back what they already did. They killed over 2,000 civilians and caused pain on an entire nation. Now its their turn to feel the pain they caused us. The events of September 11th will never be forgotten! They are still very real. Not a day goes by where I think about all the people that died. Its something I will have with me for the rest of my life. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I believe they deserve EVERYTHING they get!
@Xx SeXi ShOrTi xX ironically it could be argued the very nature of "Treat others how you want to be treated" is why the USA is targeted ... the USA for years acted the role of international bully (in the eyes of many of the international community), so some may argue you reap what you sow??
I say after we bomb the entire Middle East, like scandor advised, we should also level all of Asia. That whole "other religion" thing isn't the American way at all. After all, they're all "militant chinks" anyway.
not cool dude
obviously, she was being satirical. And I, personally, thought it was pretty clever.
i'm not a country fan, but the i think any american can appreciate these lyrics.
They shouldnt judge us or punish us for whatever is against their religion. America will always welcome people of other religions and that is one of the things that makes America so great. They attacked us and that comes with consequences we arent goin to stand their and take it. We should attack them back! I feel that Aaron Tippin's song "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" says alot about America. Especially the part that says "I pledge allegiance to this flag and if that bothers you well thats too bad" This is our country they dont need to support us or have the same beliefs but they should not judge us based on their beliefs or the beliefs of any others we do not judge them!
@Xx SeXi ShOrTi xX how do you fight an enemy that represents a small minority of a population? An enemy that has no boundaries? An enemy that recruits members from your actions?
This is the best song ever... If anyone doesn't like it for what it means, and they live in America, then they can leave. Because we did nothing to these people, and they attacked us (from behind) because they're jealous of what we have to offer.... If it upsets anybody because he's saying what we need to do and kick the "bad guy's" aces, then they can take their pitty and their liberal little selves and can go live with Osama's gay little friends.
I skimmed through some of the arguments and I have to say that for the most part, I agree with freeefalln. We cant go blaming Afghanistanis for all that happened. The problem was the Taliban and Al Quaida and all that shit. Organizations of people--religious zealots with a twisted idea of Islam. Islam is a peaceful religion with many of the same values of christianity and other religions (Love your neighboor, don't kill, etc). bin Laden preyed on weak minded individuals with no hope and no real knowledge of Islam and fed them his distorted ideas and made them into what they are.
This song disgusts me. I can't even begin to describe how much. In fact, so does everybody who's proud of this song and the sentiments it expresses. Thank God country music still has the Dixie Chicks.
After looking at the comments on here, I am disgusted to be considered an American. The people who write these kinds of lyrics or support these kinds of songs truly should not be allowed to speak. I cannot believe how ignorant people can be. The Dixie Chicks are so much better than Toby Keith.
Also, does anyone else find it to be at all interesting that the majority of the most intelligent people in the world are atheists? Because I do..
Listen here you sad sack of human excrement. The "intelligence" is a veil that blinds these people of religions. From the site of you're post i gather a simple profile that may speak volumes. never before have i been so outrageously angered my idiocy of a fellow human being. You deserve no less then the bowels of hell for you retarded nature. go take your anti-patriotic ass to some other communist country and then tell us your disgusted being an American.