Country music legend, Toby Keith, who just passed away on February 5th, 2024, wrote one of the most influential military songs.
While performing for soldiers Keith was told by Supreme Allied Commander Gen. James L. Jones that this song needed to be recorded and shared with the people of the United States.
This up-beat country/rock anthem serves as a battle song for many and attempts to express the anger felt by many Americans following the attacks on 9/11/2001. The current war anthem is considered one of Keith’s most controversial songs due to its “redneck patriotism” in his exact words.
Music is used to convey messages and it is really telling of the times. In a time in which many songs express sorrow and remembrance Toby Keith states “and you’ll be sorry that you messed with the U.S of A ‘cause we’ll put a boot in your [explicative]1 - it's the American way”. This song and Keith’s legacy will forever live on as long as July 4th is still celebrated as a holiday. Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue will always be considered a patriotic anthem. It is used to move people and was able to build camaraderie in a time in which Americans were hurting. In 2002 it appeared as the hit single on Toby Keith's album, Unleashed for all to hear.