Introduction
“American Soldier,” co-written by Toby Keith and Chuck Cannon, debuted on November 24, 2003, as the second single from Keith’s eighth studio album Shock’n Y’all . The song became one of his signature patriotic anthems, topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks , and was one of three consecutive Number One singles from Shock’n Y’all, alongside “I Love This Bar” and “Whiskey Girl” .
The inspiration behind “American Soldier” is deeply personal and heartfelt. Keith has explained that it emerged from his countless encounters with U.S. troops during USO tours, where their camaraderie, sacrifices, and the resilience of military families struck him profoundly . Keith’s father served in the military, instilling in him a profound respect for veterans—an ethos that permeates much of his patriotic repertoire .
Musically and lyrically, “American Soldier” chronicles the inner thoughts and emotions of a U.S. Army reservist preparing for deployment—leaving loved ones behind, donning his uniform, and boarding a C‑17 transport plane . The accompanying music video, directed by Michael Salomon and filmed at Edwards Air Force Base, interweaves contemporary footage with archival clips of American soldiers from the Civil War to the War on Terror, reinforcing a timeless sense of patriotism and duty .
Critically, the song resonated for its sincerity and emotional power. Ray Waddell of Billboard praised it for its “gentle, powerful” delivery, noting how Keith leveraged the track to make his political and patriotic convictions plain . The song earned a Platinum certification by the RIAA in December 2013 and surpassed one million digital downloads by early 2017 .
Ultimately, “American Soldier” stands as a compelling tribute to military service—celebrating loyalty, bravery, and unspoken patriotism, and reinforcing Toby Keith’s role as one of country music’s most vocal supporters of the armed forces.
Video
Lyrics
I’m just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at ’em bright and early
I’m all business in my suit
Yeah, I’m dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots
I don’t do it for the money
There’s bills that I can’t pay
I don’t do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future’s my responsibility
Yeah, I’m real good under pressure
Being all that I can be
And I can’t call in sick on Mondays
When the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready
When the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I’m solid, hey I’m steady
Hey I’m true down to the core
And I will always do my duty
No matter what the price
I’ve counted up the cost
I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don’t want to die for you
But if dyin’s asked of me
I’ll bear that cross with honor
‘Cause freedom don’t come free
I’m an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy
I will always do what’s right
I’m out here on the front lines
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I’m an American soldier
yeah, an American soldier, an American
Beside my brothers and my sisters
I will proudly take a stand
When liberty’s in jeopardy
I will always do what’s right
I’m out here on the front lines
So sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I’m an American
an American
an American soldier