Toby Keith Sings Duet With Former POW

AP ^ | 05/10/03 | ROXANA HEGEMAN

[heckler]

Sunflower Bump

[dansangel]

That was a very uplifting story for my Sunday (Mother's Day) Morning! Thank-you for the ping, (((((((Diver Dave))))) and thank-you for sharing this with us (((((((Pokey78))))).

[VOA]

Pfc. Patrick Miller, right, sings an "Angry American" with Toby Keith, left,
in Valley Center, Kansas.

Having Toby Keith join you on stage unexpectedly, and having the pictures
(and Keith's guitar) to prove it...
PRICELESS!

[rwfromkansas]

awesome!

[VOA]

ping...just a change of pace from West Coast military affairs...
a nice shot from flyover country in post 45.

[Scenic Sounds]

What a really wonderful item! Very cool!

Thank you for making sure I saw it. ;-)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You're more than welcome. Toby Keith is THE MAN, huh? Love this story...

[jwalsh07]

Great story.

[deadhead]

Thanks for the ping. Yes, great story.

[Scenic Sounds]

Yes, he certainly seems to be. Time for confession: (I really don't know much about him.)

It was certainly a wonderful gesture. Thanks again. ;-)

[ALS]

well damn!
and here I was a few miles away snoring on the couch....

[lawgirl]

What a great story! Thanks for the ping Maigrey.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

The tune everyone is talking about is called "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)" - the lyrics in the chorus are:

Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly - man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell
And it'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you

Brought to you Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue

That's him. If you hear the lyrics in the verse, he talks about a vet who lost his eye - that's actually his own father.

My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard until 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.

He was also criticized publicly by Natalie Maines when he released this tune, and he wasn't shy about making a few retaliatory comments - which I was glad to see. Given that his dad was the inspiration for the song, I was rather happy that he told that little punk to shove it. : ) (I would have, too.)

[Scenic Sounds]

He was also criticized publicly by Natalie Maines when he released this tune, and he wasn't shy about making a few retaliatory comments - which I was glad to see.

Okay, you got me to Google the song and take a look at all the lyrics and also to read "the Chick's" reaction to it.

Who can please everyone? The song does contain some pretty raw, powerful stuff and the tone might have seemed even a bit bizarre during normal times, but I think that kind of anger fits perfectly as a response to 9-11. We were/are pissed off, goddammit!! LOL. Toby's generous use of overt, in-your-face, specific political/military symbolism ("stand up and salute," "ol glory," "Uncle Sam," "eagle will fly," "Red, White, and Blue") fits the purpose of creating a powerful, immediate impact.

If Toby had been intending to write a more timeless, less immediately provocative patriotic song (e.g, "America the Beautiful", "This Land is Your Land"), I'm sure he would have avoided his use of all those really overt symbols in favor of more natural/neutral imagery and a more subdued tone. But I think he did a great job of doing what he was trying to do - write a hostile, kick-ass, patriotic lyric.

And, BTW, notice that even Woody Guthrie apparently just couldn't restrain himself from throwing in that little verse about the "private property" sign. We're all human. LOL. ;-)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

But I think he did a great job of doing what he was trying to do - write a hostile, kick-ass, patriotic lyric.

I completely agree...so hostile, so kick-ass, so patriotic that this American who was held captive sang it to the Iraqis - you gotta love that. (That took some guts, and another anatomical feature it would not be lady-like for me to call attention to. : )

[Scenic Sounds]

LOL. Well, now see what you've done - you've got us both blushing. ;-)

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Oh, sorry. LOL

We're talking about ears, right? ; )

[Scenic Sounds]

LOL- You're so special! ;-)

[dd5339]

A way cool RED WHITE & BLUE ping!

Semper Fi

[Vic3O3]

way cool!