On February 23, 1940, American folk legend Woody Guthrie wrote 'This Land is My Land' in his hotel room in New York City. The song would go on to become one of the most influential and iconic folk ...

There’s no law that says musicians from the United States have a monopoly on writing songs about their native country — so let’s expand your horizons with the following list of 11 great songs about ...

In 1970, Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley combined their talents to form the rock band America. Their eponymous debut album came out two years later, kicking off a career that would last for ...

On the eve of America's 250th birthday, NPR's Juana Summers talks with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Sheldon Pearce about songs that reflect the country's complex identity. In a country as ...

One of the best America songs for the 4th of July is a blatant rip-off of another rock classic – and it wasn't a secret at all. Brian Wilson revealed the Beach Boys hit Surfin U.S.A. was directly ...

If there’s a band that became part of the soundtrack of the 1970s, it might be America. Beginning in 1972, America churned out hit after hit on the radio. Among their many successful singles are these ...

What is an “American song”? Simply defining this term raises a whole bunch of questions. Is an “American song” one that is about America? Is it one that played a role in American history, or one that ...

Patriotic songs go hand-in-hand with fireworks and an impressive food spread for the ultimate Fourth of July celebration, Memorial Day outing, or patriotic event. From classics like "American Pie" by ...

In a country as sprawling and diverse as America, there are, of course, many different songs that reflect the country on a large scale. For some, songs in the American folk tradition strike a chord, ...