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Independence Day Songs

Does anyone have some good recommendations for Independence Day?

So far, I've come up with a short list of bluegrass and classic country on my blog:

Battle Hymn of the Republic (bluegrass banjo version)
Battle of New Orleans (Johnny Horton)
Ragged Old Flag (Johnny Cash)
American Made (Oak Ridge Boys)

Have a safe and happy 4th,

S.P. Gass

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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on June 28, 2010 at 5:10pm

Not all of these are exactly gonna fit onto a country or bluegrass playlist, but anyway.....

The Star Spangled Banner/Purple Haze- Jimi Hendrix
The Power and the Glory- Phil Ochs
This Land is Your Land- Woody Guthrie
American Tune- Paul Simon
Remember the Alamo- Johnny Cash (or if you really want to stir things up, Donovan)
Over There- Enrico Caruso
America First- Merle Haggard
We Are the People- John Mellencamp
In America- The Charlie Daniels Band
American Trilogy- Elvis Presley
America the Beautiful- Ray Charles or Bob Seger
We Shall Overcome- take your pick, but my personal favorite version is by Joan Baez

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Permalink Reply by chris sweeney on June 28, 2010 at 8:17pm

Fourth of July by Dave Alvin?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Sheets on June 28, 2010 at 8:48pm

Now that you mention that there is also a song called "Fourth of July" by Shooter Jennings, which could work for your list as well as a Springsteen song called "Independence Day" which has nothing to do with the holiday and would probably ruin your celebratory mood.

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Permalink Reply by Roscoe on June 28, 2010 at 8:39pm

America-Waylon Jennings

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Permalink Reply by Craig Young on June 28, 2010 at 9:53pm

U.S. Blues - The Grateful Dead
Liberty - The Grateful Dead
Fire Cracker - Ryan Adams
Keep On Rockin' In The Free World - Neil Young
America the Beautiful - Neil Young
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen
Land of Hopes and Dreams - Bruce Springsteen
4th of July Asbury Park - Bruce Springsteen
On the 4th of July - James Taylor
Happy Anniversary - The Bottle Rockets
Let Freedom Ring - Chuck Prophet
Living in the Promise Land - Willie Nelson
Song of the Patriot - Johnny Cash
Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
Roses on the Fourth of July - Nanci Griffith
Oh Freedom - Pete Seeger
American Girl - Tom Petty

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Permalink Reply by Rudyjeep on June 29, 2010 at 5:41am

"Lake of Fire" - Nirvana (via the Meat Puppets) mentions the 4th of July.

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Permalink Reply by S.P. Gass on July 2, 2010 at 6:54am

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone... amazing I forgot about so many obvious songs. American Girl and America the Beautiful are great. Also, I like the Blaster's song American Music. I remember seeing a great Blasters concert at the 9:30 Club in DC several years ago.

It's kind of funny about Lake of Fire... I hadn't remembered hearing that song but have heard it on the radio twice in the last week.

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Permalink Reply by TwangNation.com on June 29, 2010 at 6:13am

Fortunate Son - CCR
James McMurtry - Choctaw Bingo
Joe Whyte – 4th of July
Anything off the Song of America compilation

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Permalink Reply by steviedal on June 29, 2010 at 10:29am

The best song for July 4th this year will be everything Tony Bennett sings !
I'm going to see the legendary man with my wife this coming Sunday ( in Glasgow , Scotland) and i cannot wait - love the guy to bits .

As for songs about America , well , in the spirit of mischieviousness (is that even a word ?) , as Merle Haggard once sang to those damn longhaired freaks - "if you don't LOVE it , LEAVE it " (Working Man's Blues)

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Permalink Reply by Jack on June 29, 2010 at 1:01pm

"Promised Land" - Chuck Berry
"Back In the USA" - Chuck Berry
"American Music" - the Blasters
"Livin' in the USA" - Steve Miller (like Springsteen's Born in the USA, not a gung ho song)
"House I Live In" - Frank Sinatra
"Do-Re-Me" - Woody Guthrie

"America, F--- Yeah!" - theme song from the movie Team America (omit this if there'll be young kids around, older folks and anyone who might be offended by the f-bombs, but it is funny. The movie ain't for everyone either, it's an equal opportunity offender)