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Reflect on the meaning of the national holiday with this curated playlist of the best Veterans Day songs
Written by John Marshall
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Veterans Day is a holiday dedicated to honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. But like 4th of July, Memorial Day and, to an extent, Labor Day, it’s also a time to reflect on what it means to be American. This list of the best Veterans Day songs touches on those themes of patriotism and sacrifice, reflecting the breadth of the American experience, past, present and future.
Some of these songs are anthemic and exuberant, whereas others offer a more thoughtful (and perhaps even slightly critical) meditation on what it means to be an American. They’re songs to play with a kind of conscious pride as we celebrate the USA without glossing over its faults and inequalities. Quite simply, the bestVeterans Day songs will make you feel something deep inside.
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Best Veterans Day songs, ranked
1.‘Ragged Old Flag’ by Johnny Cash
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This spoken-word song, the title-track on Cash’s 47th album, is a heartfelt nod to the patriotism that persisted during the Watergate scandal. Cash is an American legend and his message here packs a hefty punch.
2.‘The Star Spangled Banner’ by Jimi Hendrix
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It may be a staple at sports events all over the country, but it’s arguable that no musician since Hendrix has injected such raw iconoclasm into the National Anthem.
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3.‘Pink Houses’ by John Mellencamp
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Mellencamp sings honestly about racial inequality in America, a patriotic gesture that asks America to live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all. File this under ‘Veterans Day songs to make you think’.
4.‘Living in America’ by James Brown
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Brown’s 1985 comebacktrack (from Rocky IV, no less) packs funk and pride into a slick, groovy jam about a vast and gorgeous country full of our bad selves. Woo—get up now!
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5.‘The Fightin' Side of Me’ by Merle Haggard
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In 1969, this seething country song struck a chord with the nation’s good ol’ boys, providing a counterpoint to the idealism of the Summer of Love.
6.‘Kids in America’ by The Muffs
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This angst-laden number – a cover of a new wave classic by British singer Kim Wilde – was memorably featured in the film Clueless. Tough and spunky, it’s sure to resonate with the sulky, sneering kids of America for a long time yet.
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7.‘Born in the USA’ by Bruce Springsteen
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Don’t be fooled by this song’s bombastic and anthemic sound:here, The Boss is actually lamenting the poor treatmentafforded to Vietnam War veterans. It’s a stellar piece of heartfelt social commentary that remains stirring today.
8.‘American Pie’ by Don McLean
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Despite many attempts at clarification, McLean refuses to explain what the lyrics to this iconic 1971 song actually mean. You might say such explanation-seekers are driving their Chevys to the levy and finding it dry. Madonna’s shimmering 2000 cover version, produced by electro wiz William Orbit, is definitely worth revisiting.
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9.‘America’ by Neil Diamond
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Diamond’s sweet crooning gets to the core of what America is at its best: a shiny refuge for the huddled masses that yearn to be free. It’s a quietly affecting listen.
10.‘Merican’ by Descendents
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This punk track attempts to jibe the narrator’s patriotism with America’s conflicted history: As the song goes, ‘You’ve got to know the truth, before you say that you’ve got pride.’
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11.‘America’ by Simon & Garfunkel
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As this beautifully wistful song describes, there’s nothing more American than searching for the country’s soul on the open road. It’s an essential addition to any road trip playlist.
12.‘American Music’ by Violent Femmes
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If you like American music (baby), then you should bump this gentle acoustic ode to a quintessentially American dilemma: not having a date for prom.
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13.‘Smoke on the Water’ by Red Foley
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In 1944, this folk classic foretold the fall of the Axis powers at the hands of ‘the great destroyer / made of fire, flesh, and steel.’ (That’s us.)
14.‘American Girl’ by Tom Petty
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In America, the promise of possibility intoxicates most of us, notably here, one American girl described by Tom Petty. It’s a song that only seems to grow more resonant with each passing year.
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15.‘Party in the USA’ by Miley Cyrus
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Maybe Miley Cyrus didn’t write this song but then, what’s more American than paying someone else to do it for you? There’s no doubt, though, that she’s the one driving this timeless ditty about carefree teenage Americana.
16.‘The Presidential Suite’ by Say Anything
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Part of being American is enjoying freedom of speech—that includes the liberty to loudly disapprove of its government, a right that Say Anything frontman Max Bemis exercises in this obscure but truly rocking lambasting of the then-president.
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17.‘Made in America‘ by Kanye West & Jay Z, ft. Frank Ocean
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This inspirational ballad deals with the difficulty of coming of age in America and ways in which we can overcome that struggle. The fact it features three bona fide American icons only adds to its gravitas.
18.‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd
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If this song’s iconic guitar riff doesn’t make you feel patriotic, it’s likely that nothing will – whether you hail from Alabama or any one of the other 49 states.
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19.‘American’ by Lana Del Rey
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As this sweet ditty instructs, ‘be young, be dope, be proud—like an American.’ Del Rey is a fascinatingly ambiguous figurein pop culture, but few write about small-town American life with as much panache and affection.
20.‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ by Bob Dylan
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One of Dylan’s finest moments, this iconic song exists at the exact point where pop music meets poetry. More than 50 years later,his queries about freedom and justice are as relevant as ever.
Looking for a patriotic playlist?
- Music
Celebrate America by spinning this list of the best patriotic songs from Bruce Springsteen to Miley Cyrus
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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