3 Country Songs for the 4th of July That Aren’t Toby Keith

The Fourth of July and country music go together like peas and carrots. For some people, the Fourth of July consists of BBQ, fireworks, family, friends, beer, and some good conversation. However, none of these things would seemingly be complete if it weren’t for the holiday’s soundtrack, which more often than not, consists primarily of country music.

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There are a plethora of country music songs that pay homage to the country, but the more notable, and the ones we hear year after year, typically belong to the late great Toby Keith. So, if you’re looking for some country music that isn’t Toby Keith’s this 4th of July, then here you go.

“Ragged Old Flag” by Johnny Cash

It won’t make you dance, and it likely won’t make you smile in glee, but Johnny Cash‘s 1974 single, “Ragged Old Flag,” will make you remember and acknowledge the colorful and turbulent history of the United States. If you’re into this kind of stuff, the single might just make you all the more grateful for the ground you are standing on this Fourth of July.

Released in 1974 on Cash’s album of the same title, “Ragged Old Flag” remains one of Johnny Cash’s most patriotic anthems. Also, this song doesn’t tell the simple story about war, freedom, and fireworks we tend to hear on the Fourth of July. Rather, it’s a bit more holistic, and consequently, all the more patriotic.

“American Kids” by Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney‘s 2014 youthful country anthem, “American Kids”, is simply an optimistic ode to the experiences that are unique to the United States. Thus, it is an ideal song for Americans to listen to on the Fourth of July, as it incites a youthful whimsy and celebratory attitude that we only get struck with ever so often.

It’s nothing over the top, nor overly nuanced; it’s just fun. Consequently, and in the moment, it will make you forget that you have to go back to work on Monday. So, grab a hot dog, pop a squat, talk to a buddy, and soak in the American majesty of the Fourth of July with Chesney’s “American Kids” playing in the background.

“Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown does not once state the words “America” or the “United States” in this quintessential American tune. However, he describes a scene that is the epitome of picturesque American life. Your Fourth of July might not look like the scene Brown is setting, but by merely having it on, your setting might start to feel like the one he’s describing.

Again, Brown does not mention the country explicitly, and impressively, this still exists as one of the most American and patriotic country songs of all time. If you’re looking for a Fourth of July song that sheds light on the simpler part of the holiday, then play this country song at your party this Friday.

Photo by David Redfern/Redferns