God Bless the USA (Lee Greenwood version)

I heard this song way too much when I was in the Army and I asked that it NOT be played at my retirement ceremony. I appreciate Mr. Greenwood's sentiments but the song itself has become more of an annoying jinjoistic anthem than a beloved patriotic song. I'll take Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful" any day of the week over this awful song.

This is the worst song in the history of music. update: It's even worse when set to fireworks on the 4th of July. Boston does it up right, using the 1812 overture instead of this trash.

I liked this song better when I was younger, and I have lost some intrest in it, now, but I think considering its a patriotic song, and the fact that it does have meaning and some emotion in it, its alright, but I've heard much better.

Lee Greenwood is a chickenhawk who impreqnated a girl at age 17 and so qualified for a "family hardship" deferment after he married her. Thuis trick allowed him to avoid military service in Vietnam. The song claims that he'd gladly take the place of the men who died in war, yet I'm quite sure that's that last thing Lee would do. Makes me sick to my stomach every time I hear it.

Shamelessly jingoistic.

Yes it may be a bit cheesy, but the song has a lot of emotion behind it. I've always loved the song, but I hear it now most often before Baltimore Ravens games. They play it before the anthem, when veterans from Korea and Vietname, as well as active duty soldiers process in with the colors. The whole crows stands up for that song, sings along, and it is a very patriotic moment in my mind.

Nice melody, and the heart is in the right place. I still cringe at the maudlin opening line...reference to astrology ('thank my lucky stars')...naive paranoid overtones ('they can't take that away'), and not to get overly feministic here, more than men have died to 'give that right to me'.

Having sung this track personally (as well as played it in high school band), I will attest to the pull this song has. I'd snap a salute to the colors when this song played, if I was in the service. I still take off my cap when I hear it.

This one always kinda pulls at me.

i have a teddy bear that nsings this song. it reminds you to stand proud that you are true red white and blue

The heart's in the right place, but this song is too hokey and cheesy for my tastes. I had often heard that Lee Greenwood was a draft dodger during Vietnam, but that is Urban Legend. Having served in the military, I have been to many military retirement ceremonies. A popular event (groan) at these is what I call the Lee Greenwood Flag Toss. If the retiree is, let's say a Colonel, then a folded flag is handed to him by a line of people, each of which is in the uniform of each former rank of the retiree (i.e. 2nd LT passes to LT, who passes to Major, who passes to Light Colonel, who passes to Colonel, then hands the flag to the retiree). All the while, that sappy Lee Greenwood song is blaring on some boom box during the Flag Toss. Everyone in the audience is sniveling and blubbering, except for me as I am biting my tongue to prevent from laughing. [When I had my retirement, I had an open bar and I did a 2-minute schpiel and then ordered everyone back to the bar.] If I had to choose ... Read more

I guess I'm in the minority- this song blows. I do have a favorite patriotic song- but this country crap just causes me unintentional laughter.

Excellent song! When I heard Lee Greenwood perform it live, it practically knocked me over. It really made the entire audience feel as one!

Truly patriotic songs should restore your faith in your country, the way rainer describes, or move you to action in its defense, the way Biggun feels. This song does both.

Now, I am in now way a patriotic person, but this song gives me goose bumps and reminds me that this country may be in a mess right now, as it has been in the past, but America is still a great place and it makes me proud.

This song makes me thankful to be alive.It helps you to put things into perspective.

What a song! The words to this classic make every red-blooded American want to grab a gun and head off to battle.