Happy 4th of July!

Sandy the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight, Forcin' a light into all those stoned-out faces left stranded on this warm July... (Bruce Springsteen - 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy))

Happy 4th of July everyone. America is a great country and freedom is an awesome thing. Our music often reflects the mood of the people:

Music as a celebration: Ray Charles - God Bless America; Bruce Springsteen - 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy); Woody Guthrie - This Land is Your Land; Charlie Daniels Band - In America, Chicago - Saturday in the Park; Johnny Cash - Ragged Old Flag; what would a list like this be without The Beach Boys - Surfin' USA

Music as protest: Bob Dylan - With God On Our Side, Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A., John Mellencamp - Face of the Nation; John Mellencamp - Justice and Independence; I could also include Woody Guthrie's This Land is Your Land here also, because at it's very heart it is a protest song.

Another great Bruce Springsteen song I like to revisit on this day is Indepence Day; a song about a son becoming independent from his parents.