Essentials: The Top 10 Americana songs about America

Our writers continue to deliver articles for this popular Feature on an occasional basis. This week Tim Martin has an interesting take on the series.

Americana as a genre spends a fair bit of time exploring themes of American identity, history, and the lived experience of its people. They may be celebratory, critical, or reflective, or in some cases (looking at you Bruce) too subtle for their true meaning to be grasped.

The United States is a place that has always looked at itself through its culture, music, books, and film and the shifts in how it perceives itself. That shifts with administrations, wars, and society and looking at the songs that the US used to reflect on or criticise itself from previous decades are markers for what is still after all a fairly young nation’s journey to self-discovery and maturity. I read recently a theory that in terms of the arc of history the USA may be about where France was in 1789 or England in 1642, which is something to ponder.

So, in no particular order…

Number 10: Woody Guthrie ‘This Land Is Your Land’ (1944)

One of the foundation texts of American folk songs. Written in 1940 in response to Irving Berlin’s ‘God Bless America’. When Guthrie grew tired of hearing Berlin’s tune on the radio, he originally called his song ‘God Blessed America for Me.’ He did do a partial rewrite in 1944 removing verses about private property and hunger, toning down his original criticism of the US during World War Two. The number of versions by other artists must number thousands but none quite have the power of Guthrie’s own.

Number 9: Don McLean ‘American Pie’ from “American Pie” (1974)

While this is best known for “the day the music died” reference to the plane crash in 1959 which killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, drawing a line under the first era of Rock & Roll, there is more to it than that. Alleged references to the generally darker and more contemplative early 60s have all been denied by McLean. He has been quoted as saying “You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me… Sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.” But has then backtracked on that, “I didn’t write songs that were just catchy, but with a point of view, or songs about the environment.” Dylan and James Dean, JFK and the Cuban Missile crisis and other pivotal events and people all make an appearance. McLean’s final word on the subject seems to be that it was about life heading in the wrong direction.

Number 8: Johnny Cash ‘Ragged Old Flag’ from “Ragged Old Flag” (1974)

A spoken-word piece written at the time of the Watergate scandal and Nixon’s resignation. It is a reflection on what the Stars and Stripes and the American people have been through together over the course of their mutual history. It suggests a slightly conflicted view of patriotism from Cash. With this piece written in mid-September 2025 his typical introduction to it in live shows is informative. “I thank God for all the freedom we have in this country; I cherish them and treasure them – even the right to burn the flag. We also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag – I’ll shoot you. But I’ll shoot you with a lot of love, like a good American”.

Number 7: Bruce Springsteen ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ from “Born In The USA” (1984)

Often misinterpreted, sometimes wilfully as a nationalistic anthem, this song is actually a critique of the treatment of Vietnam War veterans and the struggles of the working class. Presidents from Regan to Trump have embraced the patriotic tone of the chorus while ignoring the underlying message. Springsteen called his recent tour ‘Land Of Hope And Dreams’ and released an EP which included two tracks featuring two tracks of commentary on the state of his nation, which drew the ire of President Trump who described him as “highly overrated” and “dumb as a rock.”

Number 6: John Mellencamp ‘Pink Houses’ from “Uh-Huh” (1983)

Another song that has been used and abused by mainly conservative politicians. Intended as a reflection on race, class and survival in the USA. The line “Ain’t that America” was intended to be viewed ironically but has appeared in adverts for John McCain’s presidential campaign and at events opposing same sex marriage. These prompted cease and desist letters from Mellencamp. He has expressed his dislike of the last verse which implies a touch of cynicism of the more affluent parts of his audience.

Number 5: Lee Greenwood ‘God Bless the U.S.A.’ from “You’ve Got a Good Love Comin” (1983)

The early 80s were a productive time for patriotic songs. This one is more celebratory and conventionally patriotic than Springsteen or Mellencamp’s offerings. It expresses a straightforward pride in his country with an emphasis on the military. “I’m proud to be an American. Where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” As such it is often heard at national events, and at Republican party rallies for the first President Bush, and Donald Trump. He has re-recorded it a number of times, for a 1992 album called “American Patriot” and with the US Air Force band.

Number 5: Neil Young ‘Let’s Roll’ from “Are You Passionate?” (2002)

From one of Young’s less loved albums, ‘Let’s Roll’ was inspired by the last recorded words of passenger Todd Beamer in a phone call on board United Airlines Flight 93 during the 9/11 attacks in 2001, before he and other passengers attempted to storm the cockpit and retake the plane from the hijackers. As a Canadian by birth but now a US citizen, Young has a history of writing or performing songs critical of the country. His take on ‘Blowin In The Wind’ on “Weld” is filled with the sounds of war, and his latest release features ‘Big Crime’, a song which led him to wonder if he would be allowed back into the country after a tour. But this time Young is simply celebrating the selflessness and bravery of “ordinary Americans.”

Number 4: Neil Young: ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ from “Freedom” (1989)

Yet another song which American politics has adopted and looked the other way at its condemnation of homelessness, drug addiction, and consumerism. He picks holes in George HW Bush’s campaign pledge to create a compassionate citizenry, with “a kinder gentler machine gun hand.” Used in 2016 by both the Sanders (with permission) and Trump (without) campaigns, when played live it turns into an incendiary shout of anger. You Tube has some particularly explosive versions from CSNY’s “Freedom of Speech” Tour in 2006, which sadly didn’t make it onto the lacklustre “Déjà Vu Live”.

Number 3: Bruce Springsteen ‘American Skin (41 Shots)’ from “High Hopes” (2014)

It would have been easy to make this 10 Bruce Springsteen songs about America as it is a subject he (along with Young and others) returns to regularly. Written in response to the 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo, who was shot 41 times by New York Police Department officers. First appearing in 2001 and revisited for “High Hopes” it examines racial profiling and police brutality. The reflection on the tensions and inequalities that exist in the country are covered from different viewpoints in each verse.

Number 2: Jackson Browne ‘For America’ from “Lives In the Balance” (1986)

Browne’s concern for the state of the world has appeared in songs from ‘Doctor, My Eyes’ forward, but “Lives in the Balance” is seen as his first overtly “political” album. “Politically, I was galvanized by the Reagan presidency, that so many people were accepting his version of ‘Morning in America,'” Browne told Rolling Stone. “There is a lot of self-criticism in this song – waking up after you’ve been asleep and feeling responsible for not knowing what was going on. That’s the feeling I wanted to pass on, that we are responsible for what the government does”. The Statue of Liberty in a cage cover art for the album reflects the theme of many of the songs.

Number 1: Jesse Colin Young ‘What’s Going On/ Mercy Mercy Me’ from “On the Road (Live 1976)” (1976)

Marvin Gaye’s original is a landmark of the evolving political and social consciousness of soul music. Written as a reaction to events like the 1965 Watts Riots and the general inequalities of life in the USA, Gaye asked: “With the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?” Covered many times the lyrics may seem a little banal in places, but the sentiment is one that many people can recognise. Paired here with another Gaye song ‘Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)’ Young tries his best to emulate greatness, but in the end it’s the motivation to record them rather than a performance which lacks Gaye’s vocal and Bob Babbitt’s bass playing he should be applauded for. Banjoist Alison Brown recorded a much better version featuring Keb’ Mo, so I’ve included that as well.