This is probably the best 4th of July song of all time(quintessentially American too. Who can't relate to "She's waiting for me...when I get home for work"). X is a great band. Punk rock and rockabilly together with the beautiful voice of Exene Cervenka.
But we should also be realistic about the forgotten historical connotations of this day so I reference probably my favorite band, the Descendents and Merican:
We flipped our finger to the king of england Stole our country from the indians With god on our side and guns in our hands We took it for our own A nation dedicated to liberty Justice and equality Does it look that way to you? It doesn't look that way to me The sickest joke I know [Chorus] Listen up man, I'll tell you who I am Just another stupid american You don't wanna listen You don't wanna understand So finish up your drink and go home I come from the land of Ben Franklin Twain and Poe and Walt Whitman Otis Redding, Ellington, The country that I love But it's a land of the slaves and the ku klux klan Haymarket riot and the great depression Joe McCarthy, Vietnam The sickest joke I know [Chorus] I'm proud and ashamed Every fourth of july You got to know the truth Before you say that you got pride Now the cops got tanks 'cause the kids got guns Shrinks pushin' pills on everyone Cancer from the ocean, cancer from the sun Straight to Hell we go [Chorus 2x]
[Chorus] Listen up man, I'll tell you who I am Just another stupid american You don't wanna listen You don't wanna understand So finish up your drink and go home
I come from the land of Ben Franklin Twain and Poe and Walt Whitman Otis Redding, Ellington, The country that I love But it's a land of the slaves and the ku klux klan Haymarket riot and the great depression Joe McCarthy, Vietnam The sickest joke I know
[Chorus]
I'm proud and ashamed Every fourth of july You got to know the truth Before you say that you got pride
Now the cops got tanks 'cause the kids got guns Shrinks pushin' pills on everyone Cancer from the ocean, cancer from the sun Straight to Hell we go
[Chorus 2x]
Where are we now? Are you all right?
I’m alright tell me you’re alright Almost there barely here I knew that this day would have to come Wailing on the wall Watching giants fall I know there’s a message to receive Written in debris Meaning’s hard to see The loss of innocence means nothing in the new world All our hands are red Everyone is guilty now I’m alright tell me you’re alright Stop my eyes open wide Another idiot goes to the box Frozen to the screen Scared to turn it off Quiet shocks gives way to righteousness Rattle on the bars Vengeance will be ours Fanatics on their knees pray for a swift and just revenge Become what they condemn mirror image men Hands across America let’s catch contact hysteria Our flag erects from broken homes July 4th forever more Colors of democracy fly from every SUV The misspelled bumper stickers here Where did all the honor students go? Numbers on the news this time with familiar names This time on familiar ground this reality in your backyard So the fences fall will you redefine them all Will you choose shelter or empathy? The world we share has come too close With Borders blown from glass we collect stones and cast them They say the Party never stops but I know we cannot get off Another idiot comes on the box Breathing privileged air Preaching to the fair Rallying one muscle under God Leading on the cheer Leaning on our fears This state of ignorance means nothing to the faithful God is with us now they disregard the world beyond the wall
More below the fold if you like what you are hearing. :-)