As we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on this Fourth of July, can you think of any songs about America? As you can imagine, there are a lot of them-- and, here are just a few. Although none of these are patriotic, they are songs that mention America in the title. So, today, as you celebrate with fireworks and barbecues, here are some songs about the USA.

  • "R.O.C.K in the USA"--John Cougar Mellencamp

    This song is back from the 1985 album "Scarecrow." Interesting fact about this song: "Mellencamp required his band to listen to hundreds of songs from the 1960s before recording "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." The song includes several direct musical references to 1960s songs, including The Troggs' "Wild Thing" and Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry," according to Wikipedia.

  • "America"--Simon and Garfunkel

    Here's Simon and Garfunkel's 1968 hit. According to Wikipedia, "The song describes in first-hand terms with non-rhyming lyrics, the physical and metaphorical journey of two companions in search of the true meaning of America. On a metaphorical level, the lovers' initial hopefulness turns to a sense of angst and maybe sadness. "'Kathy, I'm lost,' I said, though I knew she was sleeping" is a reference to Kathy Chitty, with whom Simon had had a relationship while living in England in 1965. On a more literal level, the song describes a trip east through America which leads to New York City, as Simon's lovers travel from Michigan to Pittsburgh and then onto the New Jersey Turnpike leading to New York City."

  • "Born in the USA"--Bruce Springsteen

    This is probably the first song that many people think about when they think about songs about America, right? According to Wikipedia, "Rolling Stone ranked the song 275th on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". In 2001, the RIAA's Songs of the Century placed the song 59th (out of 365). Lyrically, the song deals with the effects of the Vietnam War on Americans, although it is often misinterpreted as a patriotic or nationalistic anthem."

  • "Breakfast in America"--Supertramp

    In the video, we see Roger Hodgson singing the song he wrote. "The lyrics tell about a person who has never been to America and fantasises about it," according to Wikipedia.

  • "We're An American Band"--Grand Funk Railroad

    Although not about America itself, they are an American band.

  • "American Girl"--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Back from 1977, here's a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers classic. "The song was ranked 76th on the list of "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone," according to Wikipedia.

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