Literature of the Jazz Age

Noah Robin

July 16, 2016

Ms. Werner

English 1158

American Soldier

Toby Keith is an American-Country artist that is beloved by many country fans in the United States. I doubt anyone's had more impact on me in the words of music. He's not only one of the greatest country singers there's ever been, but he's a great writer. One of his best songs, if not the best, would be a song named “American Soldier”. I highly recommend for everyone to listen to that song whether you like country or not.

The song was released in November 2003 as the second single from his album Shock’n Yall. It became a number one hit on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart, keeping the top spot for four weeks.

The lyrics to “American Soldier” by Toby Keith explain a soldier's feelings and responsibilities to his family and his country. During the song he explains how he wants to be a good father and husband to his family.

The song was written "for all the times that I get to meet the troops on these USO tours, and since Courtesy of Red, White, and Blue, the P.O.W.s and the families that have come and brought me back my old CD covers and stuff that they had and shown how much support they had (for me), this is my support for the American fighting men and women." said Keith on an interview with an analyst from The Boot. The song is about a soldier who is headed off to war (no particular war). Willing to take a stand and do what he feels is right for his country. He is prepared to die because as he states in the song many times “freedom don't come free."

He states in the beginning of the song that he “don’t do it for the glory, I just do it anyway, providing for our future’s my responsibility”. Those lines are some of the most powerful in the song because it’s true. The men that serve this country are there for the wellbeing of our country.

The music video portrays a man who gets a phone call early in the morning to go to out on deployment. Then his wife awakens and he tells her the news. The next scene to the video is him making breakfast for his kids and playing with them. It goes on to him preparing himself to get ready to go. (shaving, packing, etc.) Next the scenery is him being driven to the airport by his wife and kids (in the back seat); finally he is saying goodbye to his family by giving them kisses and hugs. Then begins his journey to the air plane that will take him to where ever his destination lies. As the airplane takes off his two kids and wife watch as it slowly flies away. This music video is just as powerful as the lyrics in the song. When I imagine a soldier getting called out to go to deployment this is the image that comes to mind. The video makes me believe that this is how it is to wake up to a phone call being called out. My cousin was called upon to go to Iraq one night. And when the time for him to leave came it was just like the video describes. He was over here cooking us breakfast and then a few days later he was gone. I feel like I never got to properly say goodbye to him.