About the song
Few country songs have stirred the American spirit with the kind of bold, unfiltered emotion that Toby Keith captured in “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).” Released in 2002, this track arrived at a time when the country was still reeling from the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001. For many, it became a cathartic anthem — a musical expression of grief, anger, resilience, and pride — wrapped in the unmistakable grit of American country music.
Toby Keith was already a well-known figure in the country scene by the early 2000s, with hits like “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” under his belt. But it was this song — raw, defiant, and deeply personal — that sparked national attention well beyond his usual fanbase. Keith wrote it not only as a response to the events of 9/11 but also in memory of his father, a veteran who had passed away just months before. The lyrics reflect the dual influence of personal loss and patriotic fire, and the result is both deeply heartfelt and unapologetically combative.
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” pulls no punches. It’s not a song that tiptoes around its message — it meets the listener head-on with a clear declaration: attack America, and you’ll answer to its full strength. The now-iconic line “We’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way” became both celebrated and controversial, depending on who was listening. But that line — brash as it may be — captured the emotional temperature of a nation grappling with trauma and desperately seeking both justice and healing.
While some critics questioned its aggressive tone, others embraced it as an honest reflection of national mood. What’s undeniable is the song’s staying power. It became a fixture at military events, patriotic rallies, and radio stations across the country. More than two decades later, it remains a powerful reminder of how music can encapsulate a moment in time, turning personal conviction into a national voice.
For those who remember that era vividly, this song doesn’t just take you back — it anchors you in the emotions of the time. Love it or loathe it, Toby Keith’s anthem is a bold stamp in the story of American music.
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
