Ah, the fourth of July. The time of year when we celebrate American independence by dancing with sparklers, barbecuing, and reaching out to the people of England and yelling, “Boo-yah!” This is the time of year when we also put out our patriotic music, dust off our old CDs, or plug in the iPod to listen to songs about good old America of A. Some of us might fulfill this desire by listening to the National Anthem. , probably preferring Whitney Houston’s rendition to Roseanne Barr’s, but for those who believe that “The Star Spangled Banner” just isn’t enough, the following is our list of the best songs of the 4th of July, songs that are sure to ignite your fire.

Ray Charles’s “America the Beautiful”: Written by Katharine Lee Bates, an English teacher at WellesleyCollege, “America the Beautiful” was originally a poem written on an 1893 trip from the East Coast to Colorado. Samuel A. Ward’s music, composed in 1882, finally fitted Bates’s words and “America the Beautiful” as we know it was born. Although this song has been covered by a plethora of artists, Ray Charles’s performance is generally thought to be the most moving, the most memorable, and the one that does the song the most justice.

Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”: A song that became America’s mantra after September 11, “God Bless the USA” was written by country singer Lee Greenwood and released in 1984. Upon its release, it climbed the country music charts, reaching the top of the charts. number seven. The song itself is often played as a way to increase patriotism and offer support and gratitude to those who have fought for our nation.

Bob Dylan’s “Blowin ‘in the Wind”: Though not filled with overt nationalism, “Blowin ‘in the Wind” subtly reflects the freedoms America stands for. Released by Bob Dylan in 1963, “Blowin ‘in the Wind” serves as a protest song, protesting lives lost and questioning the war. The genius of the song lies in the fact that it does not highlight a specific event, but rather serves as an anthem for the ages, one that, with an ever-present desire for peace, has the potential to transcend generations.

Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”: “Independence Day” was released in 1994 as a single that rose to number 12 on the country charts. The song not only serves as a melody about the 4th of July, it also serves as a metaphor for escaping an abusive relationship. “Independence Day” ranked 50th on CMT’s 2003 list Top 100 Country Music Songs.

“Our country” by John Mellencamp: A song that originally made us all want to go buy a Chevrolet, “Our Country” eventually became an anthem for America. Images from Chevrolet commercials, images of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Twin Towers, contributed to perpetuating this patriotism. “Nuestro País” appears in 2007 by Mellancamp Liberty Walk album, an album that debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart. This did Liberty Walk the highest debut album ever recorded by Mr. Jack and Diane.