Feature Column
Exclusive to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame
Column #68 - Published April 5, 2003
These days we hear of a lot of Millionaire Hippie bands and rich Hollywood Limousine Liberals who attack America and side with her terrorist enemies, so I decided here to list a few patriotic rockin' songs (mostly from the 1950s) to even the score a bit.
The Real Rock'n'Roll (and Hillbilly) Legends were almost unanimously very patriotic and pro-American types who were not ashamed to sing the praises of their country.
Below is a listing of a few of these songs:
FIGHTING FOR THE USA - Jerry Reed - RCA 47-8730 released in 1964.
Jerry Reed, a great patriot, in a 1950s pic wearing his Rockabilly shirt.
The song sides with America (and its allies: South Vietnam, South Korea, Australia, etc.) against North Vietnam (and its allies: the Soviet Union, Red China, North Korea, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, etc.)
"Fightin' for the USA, fightin' for the American Way,
Fightin' for Old Glory and the USA ..........."
This one is a wild rockin' tune full of enthusiasm for the American side.
I'D RATHER HAVE AMERICA - Jimmy Martin - Decca Records
Jimmy Martin would rather have America!
(Photo byTom Tworek)
"I've sailed the wide Atlantic to France and Germany,
and the beauties there in Paris don't do a thing for me,
I've made my way to England and on to Italy,
but I'd rather have America, my homeland where I'm free,
my homeland where I'm free......"
Indeed!
TENNESSEE - Jimmy Martin - Decca Records
"You have heard and read about the state of Tennessee
Down in the Southern States is where I want to be
Where the valleys are so green and the mountains are so tall
You will know just what I mean when you hear them say 'Y'all'
Tennessee, Tennessee
I hear you calling me, I hear you calling me
The home of Davey Crockett in the hills of Tennessee"
Tennessee and Texas are two of the States which generate the most patriotism, speaking of which...
TENNESSEE & TEXAS - Ravenna & The Magnetics - Rollin' Rock Records
The two patriotic Rock'n'Roll States celebrated in one stirring song!
BACK IN THE USA - Chuck Berry - Chess Records
Chuck Berry's "Back In The USA" is one of the
greatest patriotic songs of all time.
"Did I miss the skyscrapers, did I miss the long freeways
From the coast of California to the shores of Delaware Bay
You can bet your life I did, till' I got back to the USA
Looking hard for a drive-in, searching for a corner cafe
Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day
And the jukebox's jumping with records like in the USA
Well, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the USA.
Yes, I'm so glad I'm livin' in the USA.
Anything you want, you got it right here in the USA"
How can you top that???
PROMISED LAND - Chuck Berry - Chess Records
This one is an ode to California and the Wild West.
I GOT TEXAS IN MY SOUL - Tex Williams - Capitol Records
Tex Williams loved the West!
"I've been a Texan since my birth,
No place like it on this earth"
A celebration of the Cowboy State!!
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE WEST - Tex Williams - Capitol Records, and I LEFT MY HEART IN TEXAS - Moon Mullican - King Records
Moon Mullican: another proud American!
The titles of these last two say it all.
MY TENNESSEE - Tony Dallara - Music Records
An Italian song which is patriotic for the State of Tennessee:
"My Tennessee, my Tennessee,
da te me ne andai ma il cuor non parti..."
Which means: "My Tennessee, my Tennessee,
from you I went away, but my heart never left..."
The Italians wrote many pro-American songs, including "Tu Vuo Fa' L'Americano".
WALKING TO NEW ORLEANS - Fats Domino - Imperial Records
Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard love America
"I'm walking to New Orleans,
New Orleans is my home, that's where I belong,
yes I'm walkin' to New Orleans..."
Fats was never shy about demonstrating his love for the Southland in general, and for New Orleans in particular, a town which received a large share of tribute songs.
If you enjoyed this Column, check this other one out:
"The Rock Pioneers Were Patriots"
at: www.rockabillyhall.com/COLRockRon51.html
Always Rollin' The Rollin' Rock,
Rockin' Ronny Weiser,
The Rockabilly Rebel Westerner From Las Vegas,
The Wild Wild West!
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CD-102 - RIP CARSON & THE TWILIGHT TRIO
CD-103 - THE ORIGINAL BAND (Bill Haley's Comets) - "Still Rockin' Around the Clock"
CD-104 - MACK STEVENS - "Texas Heat"
CD-105 - RIP CARSON & THE TWILIGHT TRIO - "Stand Back"
CD-106 - JOHNNY & THE BLADES - "Let's Make Vegas Tonite"
CD-107 - DRAGSTRIP 77 - "Rockabilly Daze"
CD-108 - THE CHOP TOPS - "Always Wild"
CD-109 - ALVIS WAYNE - "Rockabilly Daddy"
CD-110 - ALVIS WAYNE - "Proud of My Rockabilly Roots"
CD-111 - MACK STEVENS - "Let's Rock Tonite"
CD-112 - THE STARLIGHT DRIFTERS - "Thirteen To Go"
CD-113 - PAUL GALAXY & THE GALACTIX - "Cross the Line"
CD-114 - BILL HALEY'S ORIGINAL COMETS - "Aged To Perfection" - Celebrating 50 Years Of Rock'n'Roll
RONNY'S ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME COLUMNS
© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Col. #67 for 03/03 - HANK BALLARD
Col. #66 for 02/03 - TRACY PENDARVIS
Col. #65 for 01/03 - CHUCK WILLIS
Col. #64 for 12/02 - Clyde McPhatter: Never Forgotten
Col. #63 for 11/02 - The Texas Cowboy Wins
Col. #62 for 10/02 - Rockmount Ranchwear
Col. #61 for 09/02 - Five Years Of Columns!
Col. #60 for 08/02 - THE 1950s ARE ALWAYS WITH US!
Col. #59 for 07/02 - David's July 4th: Rockabilly Bar Mitzvah
Col. #58 for 06/02 - 44 Years Later ... It Was BENNY JOY!
Col. #57 for 05/02 - RECORDING TECHNIQUES
Col. #56 for 04/02 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2002 + INTERNATIONAL MEET & GREET
Col. #55 for 03/02 - BUILD FOR A-C-T-I-O-N-!
Col. #54 for 02/02 - THE AMERICAN DINER
Col. #53 for 01/02 - The Cowboy Mirror of American Culture
Col. #52 for 12/01 - LITTLE RICHARD
Col. #51 for 11/01 - The Rock Pioneers Were Patriots
Col. #50 for 10/01 - !!! Gasp, It's Fifty Columns !!!
Col. #49 for 09/01 - TEDDY REDELL: Sooo Underrated!!!
Col. #48 for 08/01 - THE UNSTOPPABLE RAY CAMPI
Col. #47 for 07/01 - BILL HALEY'S COMETS ROCK THE FOURTH OF JULY
Col. #46 for 06/01 - PAUL GALAXY AND THE GALACTIX AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #45 for 05/01 - Second Annual Viva Las Vegas Picture Show
Col. #44 for 04/01 - WHAAAAAAT, NO ROCKABILLY!!!?????!
Col. #43 for 03/01 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2001
Col. #42 for 02/01 - ELVIS: Never Forgotten
Col. #41 for 01/01 - MACK STEVENS + HIGH PLAINS DRIFTERS + POISON OKIES
Col. #40 for 12/00 - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COUNTRY MUSIC?
Col. #39 for 11/00 - KATS LIKE US
Col. #38 for 10/00 - JERRY LEE LEWIS IS 65
Col. #37 for 09/00 - THE STARLIGHT DRIFTERS
Col. #36 for 08/00 - ALVIS WAYNE AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #35 for 07/00 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA 2000
Col. #34 for 06/00 - THE CHOP TOPS AT ROLLIN' ROCK!!
Col. #33 for 05/00 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2000 PIX!
Col. #32 for 04/00 - DRAGSTRIP77: TEARIN' IT UP!
#30 & #31 for 02/00 & 03/00 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 2000!
Col. #29 for 01/00 - ROCKIN' 2000!
Col. #28 for 12/99 - JOHNNY AND THE BLADES AT ROLLIN' ROCK!
Col. #27 for 11/99 - AN UPDATED IMPROVED SOUND?
Col. #26 for 10/99 - TIME TO RECLAIM "THE ROCK"
Col. #25 for 9/99 - YOUNG ROCK AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #24 for 8/99 - COMETS RECORD AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. #23 for 7/99 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Col. #22 for 6/99 - FINLAND IS A ROCKABILLY LAND!
Col. #21 for 5/99 - THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
Col. #20 for 4/99 - ROCKABILLY REBEL: A SHORT HISTORY
Col. #19 for 3/99 - PINBALL MILLIONAIRE
Col. #18 for 1/99 & 2/99 - VIVA LAS VEGAS 1999
Col. #17 - 12/98 - INTERNATIONAL ROCKABILLY REBELS MEET & GREET
Col. #16 - 11/98 - GROOVEY JOE POOVEY: Reminiscing
Col. #15 - 10/98 - CHARLIE FEATHERS
Col. #14 - 9/98 - NARVEL FELTS AT ROLLIN' ROCK!
Col. #13 - 8/98 - IT'S WESTERN WEAR!
Col. #12 - 7/98 - THE JORDANAIRES
Col. #11 - 6/98 - ROCKABILLY HOF - 15,000 HITS!!
Col. #10 - 5/98 - MAC STEVENS RECORDS AT ROLLIN' ROCK
Col. # 9 - 4/98 - VIVA LAS VEGAS
Col. # 8 - 3/98 - KAY WHEELER
Col. # 7 - 2/98 - 10 ROLLIN' ROCK CDs
Col. # 6 - 1/98 - SAM COOKE
Col. # 5 - 12/97 - LAS VEGAS IS A 1950's TOWN
Col. # 4 - 11/97 - GOD BLESS TEXAS
Col. # 3 - 10/97 - FATS DOMINO
Col. # 2 - 9/97 - RAB DISCUSSION GROUP
Col. # 1 - 8/97 - 25 YEARS OF ROLLIN' ROCK RECORDS
