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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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. ;-)

74 posted on 05/12/2003 8:28:15 AM PDT by Scenic Sounds
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To: Scenic Sounds
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. : )

75 posted on 05/12/2003 11:13:35 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Frugal is such an ugly word.)
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