The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Sometimes I want to light up underneath the no smoking sign
Sometimes I wished they'd tell me how justice got so blind
I wish they'd just leave me alone cause I'm doing alright
You can take your change on down the road and leave me here with mine
Cause that ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, That ain't my America, That ain't My America
Yeah I was standing there in Dallas, waiting on a plane
I overheard an old man tell a young soldier thanks
Young soldier hung his head and said its hard to believe
You're the only one that took the time to say a word to me
And the old man said
That ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol' Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
Yeah I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, That ain't my America, That ain't My America
It's to the women and men in their hands they hold a bible and a gun
And they ain't afraid of nothing when they're holding either one, oh, uh
Now there's kids that cant pray in school, hundred dollar tanks of gas,
I can tell you right now this country ain't, ain't supposed to be like that
No, that ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol' Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
Yeah I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, that ain't my, that ain't my America, oh no, That Ain't My America
No, no, no, no, oh, oh, uh huh, that ain't my America, oh no
Sometimes I wished they'd tell me how justice got so blind
I wish they'd just leave me alone cause I'm doing alright
You can take your change on down the road and leave me here with mine
Cause that ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, That ain't my America, That ain't My America
Yeah I was standing there in Dallas, waiting on a plane
I overheard an old man tell a young soldier thanks
Young soldier hung his head and said its hard to believe
You're the only one that took the time to say a word to me
And the old man said
That ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol' Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
Yeah I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, That ain't my America, That ain't My America
It's to the women and men in their hands they hold a bible and a gun
And they ain't afraid of nothing when they're holding either one, oh, uh
Now there's kids that cant pray in school, hundred dollar tanks of gas,
I can tell you right now this country ain't, ain't supposed to be like that
No, that ain't my America, that ain't this country's roots
You want to slam ol' Uncle Sam but I ain't lettin' you
Yeah I'm mad as hell and you know I still, bleed red white and blue
That ain't us, that ain't my, that ain't my America, oh no, That Ain't My America
No, no, no, no, oh, oh, uh huh, that ain't my America, oh no
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21
That Ain't My America Lyrics as written by Brett Daniel Warren Brad Douglas Warren
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
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jdshr2 you are an idiot, and hopefully, one day soon you will wake up and realize just that. Thank God for the rednecks, because they seem to be the only ones who have no problem telling the truth about what is going on around us. We can't seem to get the truth from the (won't call them ours) politicians, nor the media who seem to have a different agenda altogether, and it doesn't involve us. We are currently on a headlong ride into socialism, and the ride needs to stop NOW! We are waaaay past the time to protest against this overthrow of the United States, it's now time to fight. It's about time we get back to where our politicians fear us, instead of the other way around. They need to be overthrown by ALL means neccessary and its authors tried, convicted for treason, and fully dealt with.
jdshr2 when was the last time you read the Constitution, or for that matter The Bill of Right's? They are the liberty and the freedom that this country was founded on. They were given to us by this countries founders, and many of the signers gave or were willing to give their life fighting for it. It was so important to them that they wanted future generations to experience it as well (us). In fact, many young men down throughout the years have not only fought, but also died defending. Did they die in vain, so that we can just give it all away? I hope not! So let me ask you, what are these changes your talking about that the redneck is to ignorant to understand? Because looking around, I'd have to say that what he wrote about is spot on. Someday soon, I hope you will understand just that, because you need to figure out "what side of the line your on" because "Freedom isn't Free" Two more redneck sayings, that I agree with 100%. Do some reading, and always demand the truth.
@jamsim67 <br /> Oh no! You've triggered the snowflakeS! I'm sure they're still the same 8 years later.
jdshr2 is nothing but an effing troll. I waded through his slimeball posts, and nothing but trollshit.
No doubt he lives in his mother's basement and fantasizes about The Village People, while doing his one-arm workouts.
With lyrics like this as the mantra of the "new" Lynyrd Skynyrd, I'm pretty sure the late, great Ronnie Van Zant is rolling over in his grave. I suggest you teabaggers read the Constitution yourselves, instead of merely suggesting the rest of us do it for you. Our mutual hero, Ronnie Van Zant, was a tree-hugging, anti-gun, anti-corporation, professor of social equality (judging from his most serious, poignant lyrics). Examples of this are......"Things Goin' On"- anti-war, anti-corporation, a cry for social equality. "Workin' For MCA"- anti-corporation. "Cry For The Bad Man"- anti-money grubbing, pro-social equality. "I'm A Country Boy"- pro-environment, tree-hugging, to each his own. "All I Can Do Is Write About It"- pro-environment, tree-hugging. "Lend A Helpin' Hand"- a cry for social equality. And the most popular of all, "Saturday Night Special"- anti-gun ("hand guns are made for killin', Ain't no good for nothin' else, And if you like to drink your whiskey, You might even shoot yourself, So why don't we dump 'em people, To the bottom of the sea, Before some 'ol fool come around here, Wanna shoot either you or me"). So why don't y'all re-read the Constitution, and when you're finished, go back and read the "original" Skynyrd lyrics. See if you find any that agree with your gun-totin', "shoot first ask questions later", "live poor vote rich" mentality. Then get back to me with your results.
this is a song about a stupid redneck who can't understand, much less adjust to, the changes that are going on all around him....it would be easy to feel sorry for such an ignorant loser, but he's so stupid and feels so sorry for himself that it makes it difficult to even have sympathy for such a sorry ass hillbilly who has apparently been tea-bagged one too many times.
This is my 1st time posting. It's funny that someone as ignorant as you has the balls to call an American icon ignorant. The direction this country is going is not what it was found on, it's not what it is about, and if you don't like what this country should be, then go live in a Cuba. We are headed straight for communisim. If you don't believe it, follow history a little bit. Everything that is happening right now, is the same things Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and Castro all have done. Van Zant doesn't like what this country has become and what more is to come, and a real American would agree!!
This song sounds like a parody. The singing is very similar to the voices in South Park. Funny song. Extremely stupid lyrics. Very far from what the real Lynyrd Skynyrd was like.