These songs are all ones I make a point of playing on the 4th of July.
4th of July by X.
(I think the description of the kids shooting fireworks needs updating for the 21st Century, but it's a great song anyway.)
One Time One Night - Los Lobos.
One of the best American bands ever, playing one of their best songs. Los Lobos always delivers awesome American music.
U.S. Blues - Grateful Dead
http://www.youtube.com/...
Here's a 1989 version. (My era for the Dead was 1982 to 1995.) I always liked Brent best when he was playing the organ. I tried to embed this one first, but it didn't work.
All three songs of these songs celebrate an America that is imperfect, sometimes painful, confusing, but wonderful all the same.
Okay, so now I've listened to all three. My musical 4th of July is complete.
(I had never seen either the X or Los Lobos videos before. Those are the official
versions.)
Happy Independence Day.