Things I Love: It's America
The song that always reminds how great this country is
My dad texted me this past weekend to remind me of an important historical event that had slipped my radar. April 19, 2025—last Saturday—was the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the first of our Revolutionary War that led to the birth of America. He reminded me of how lucky we are to live in this country, and it was a reminder I needed. America has had more than its share of problems, some of which I’ve experienced firsthand and written about here and here. That said, I do truly love this country, and there’s a song I listen to that always reminds me what I love about America and why I love it: “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins.
It’s a country song, which is probably my favorite genre of music (I admit to being a Taylor Swift superfan of her early work), so I love the way the twangy sound and lyrics of the song flow together. The melody is upbeat and optimistic, but what really hits me is the way that it just pummels me with concrete values and traits that I love about America.
American Values
It’s a high school prom, it’s a Springsteen song, it’s a ride in a Chevrolet.
It’s a man on the moon and fireflies in June and kids selling lemonade.
He makes it work with some near rhymes in the first part of chorus, but even better is the way that a simple list of American experiences indicates the amazing range of American values. Things we might all experience: prom, a truck ride through the mountains, sitting on the porch with your family as the sun sets and the lightning bugs come out, listening to rock ‘n roll, or buying something from children starting their first business. In the same breath he also shows the heights to which people in this country aim: becoming the music star or walking on the moon. I love the contrast between the simplest and loftiest of values and how they’re all possible.
American Unity
I saw a little town that some big twister tore apart
People came from miles around, just to help their neighbors out
American generosity at its best is never pompous or showy, it’s simple, matter-of-fact, with the intent to help people get back on their feet and to where they can make their own way. It’s a simple acknowledgement of “this is how I would want to be treated if I needed help.”
It’s cities and farms, it’s open arms, one nation under God
While I’m not religious, I certainly appreciate the ideal that this can be a country where country mice and city mice can be united by a common desire to flourish.
America’s Origin
It’s a big flag flying in the summer wind over a fallen hero’s grave.
This is the reminder that this country began as a fight for freedom and individual rights, not against an empire of enslavers, but against what was at the time, the freest nation in the world. Countless men and women in our armed services have made an oath to uphold that freedom, not to a king, emperor, god, or even an elected government, but to the Constitution of the United States—A document that lays down articulates the rights and freedoms of human beings by virtue of the fact that they are human.
…it’s a welcome home parade…
I love that he follows it up with this tweak to the chorus. That the ideal is to come back home and enjoy life in America. The point of fighting for freedom is not to die for it, but to live for it.
The American Approach to Life
…’cause it’s a kid with a chance
That’s what the American ideal offers—a chance. Nothing more. Nothing less. There is no happy ending guaranteed. All that’s guaranteed is that you’ll have a chance to go after it.
Now we don’t always get it all right
There’s no place else I’d rather build my life
This is what resonates with me more than any other line in this song: a life is something you build. And like Rodney says, despite the problems, there’s no place else I’d rather try to build mine.