The Best American Patriotic Songs

America, the land, the people, and the idea of freedom have inspired many poets and songwriters over the centuries. Freedom has been hard fought and there are many times throughout the year when we pause to celebrate the country of the United States and the people who have devoted their lives to make ours a little better.

These songs rouse feelings of pride and love of for America and the quality of life that we are able to enjoy here. Many are songs that we learned when we were children. Some are modern songs about what life is like in America.

American patriotic songs are great to learn and to listen to on Independence Day, Memorial Day, President's Day or anytime you feel like expressing your love for the United States.

These traditional patriotic songs are the ones that are often quoted when discussing the United States and American ideals. Most of us can sing these songs or we at least know a few of the lines. Americans have been singing these songs for generations.

They were written during wars and times of difficulty to express why were fighting, what our country stands for, and to celebrate the beauty of the land.

Along with the national anthem, these traditional patriotic songs are important for all Americans to know so that the United States will continue to have the ideals and principles that our forefathers fought and died to give to us.

Sing them proudly and celebrate our great country's beginnings and our past.

By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

My country, 'tis of Thee,

Sweet Land of Liberty

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountain side

Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills,

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet Freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of Liberty,

To thee we sing,

Long may our land be bright

With Freedom's holy light,

Protect us by thy might

Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,

'Neath Education's sway,

Soars upward still.

Its hills of learning fair,

Whose bounties all may share,

Behold them everywhere

On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,

The school shall ever be,

Our Nation's pride!

No tyrant hand shall smite,

While with encircling might

All here are taught the Right

With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will

The stars of progress still

Our course do sway;

In unity sublime

To broader heights we climb,

Triumphant over Time,

God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,

Our altars and our fires

Keep we still pure!

Our starry flag unfurled,

The hope of all the world,

In peace and light impearled,

God hold secure!

Let martial note in triumph float

And liberty extend its mighty hand

A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,

The banner of the Western land.

The emblem of the brave and true

Its folds protect no tyrant crew;

The red and white and starry blue

Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best

And cheer them with fervid elation

But the flag of the North and South and West

Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!

May it wave as our standard forever,

The gem of the land and the sea,

The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day

When our fathers with mighty endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray

That by their might and by their right

It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak

The never-ending watchword of our land;

Let summer breeze waft through the trees

The echo of the chorus grand.

Sing out for liberty and light,

Sing out for freedom and the right.

Sing out for Union and its might,

O patriotic sons.

Other nations may deem their flags the best

And cheer them with fervid elation,

But the flag of the North and South and West

Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.

May it wave as our standard forever

The gem of the land and the sea,

The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day

When our fathers with might endeavor

Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,

That by their might and by their right

It waves forever.

From the Halls of Montezuma

To the Shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country's battles

In the air, on land and sea;

First to fight for right and freedom

And to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title

of United States Marine.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze

From dawn to setting sun;

We have fought in ev'ry clime and place

Where we could take a gun;

In the snow of far-off Northern lands

And in sunny tropic scenes;

You will find us always on the job--

The United States Marines.

Here's health to you and to our Corps

Which we are proud to serve

In many a strife we've fought for life

And never lost our nerve;

If the Army and the Navy

Ever look on Heaven's scenes;

They will find the streets are guarded

By United States Marines.

Yankee Doodle went to town, a-riding on a pony;

Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.

Chorus:

Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy,

Mind the music and the step and with the girls be handy.

Father and I went down to camp along with Captain Gooding

And there we saw the men and boys, as thick as hasty pudding. (Chorus)

There was Colonel Washington, upon a strapping stallion,

A-giving orders to his men, I guess there was a million. (Chorus)

And there I saw a cannon barrel as big as mother's basin,

And every time they touched it off they scampered like the nation. (Chorus)

Great montage of American patriotic moments and scenes.

Many modern artists have written songs about America and what it means to them. These songs have modern lyrics and music. They are fun to play at picnics and barbeques while watching fireworks.

They invoke the spirit of our times and what the country stands for today. So celebrate the present and future of the United States with these great patriotic songs. Some are rock. Some are country. All are great and express what it means to be an American. So start dancing and singing along to these famous modern songs about America.

If tomorrow all the things were gone,

I'd worked for all my life.

And I had to start again,

with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars,

to be livin here today.

'Cause the flag still stands for freedom,

and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,

to the hills of Tennessee.

Across the plains of Texas,

From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,

and New York to L.A.

Well there's pride in every American heart,

and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

And I'm proud to be and American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

'Cause the land, she is my mother;

Yes, and freedom,

(Freedom.)

Is my father.

Yeah, and I am one of many,

Strong, proud and beautiful;

We're all strong, proud and beautiful;

Yeah, we're strong, proud and beautiful American daughters.

Strong, proud American daughters, yeah.

All gave some and some gave all

And some stood through for the red, white and blue

And some had to fall

And if you ever think of me

Think of all your liberties and recall

Some gave all

They come from the cities

And they come from the smaller towns

Beat up cars with guitars and drummers

Goin crack boom bam

R.O.C.K. in the USA

Chorus:

Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,

Fifty nifty stars in the flag that billows so beautifully in the breeze.

Each individual state contributes a quality that is great.

Each individual state deserves a bow; Let's salute them now!

Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,

Shout'em, scout'em, Tell all about'em

One by one, ‘til we've given a day to ev'ry state that's in the USA.,

In the USA...

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,

Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana.

Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada.

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,

New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio!

Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,

South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas.

Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

North, South, East, West...

In our cool, considered , objective, unprejudiced opinion, (Name your state) is the best...of the

Chorus

(Tag) Fifty nifty United States from thirteen original colonies,

Add up to USA!