Introduction
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” is one of Toby Keith’s most defining and controversial songs, born from personal loss and national tragedy. Written in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and following the death of Keith’s father, a Korean War veteran, in March 2001, the song channels raw emotion into a patriotic anthem. Initially performed exclusively for military audiences, its powerful reception led Commandant of the Marine Corps James L. Jones to urge Keith to record it, emphasizing its morale-boosting impact on troops.
Released in May 2002 as the lead single from the album Unleashed, the song quickly climbed the charts, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and peaking at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success was matched by controversy; the song’s aggressive tone led to a public dispute with ABC’s Peter Jennings, who requested Keith soften the lyrics for a televised performance—a request Keith refused. Additionally, Natalie Maines of The Chicks criticized the song as “ignorant,” sparking a highly publicized feud between the artists.
Despite—or perhaps because of—its polarizing nature, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” resonated deeply with many Americans, particularly within the military community. The song’s enduring popularity is reflected in its certifications, achieving four-times Platinum status by 2023. It remains a significant piece of post-9/11 American music history, embodying the complex interplay of patriotism, grief, and national identity.
Video
Lyrics
American girls and American guys
We’ll always stand up and salute
We’ll always recognize
When we see Old Glory flying
There’s a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye but he flew a flag out in our yard
‘Til the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flyin’ in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the fourth of July
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin’ her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh, and justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
‘Cause we’ll put a boot in your ass
It’s the American way
Hey Uncle Sam, put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shakin’ her fist
And the eagle will fly it’s gonna be hell
When you hear mother freedom start ringin’ her bell
And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Oh, brought to you courtesy of the red white and blue
Oh-oh, of the red, white and blue
Oh-oh, of my red, white and blue