We really are 15 countries, and it's really remarkable that each of us thinks we represent the real America. The Midwesterner in Kansas, the black American in Durham -- both are certain they are the real American.
quote by Maya Angelou
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Related quotes
Ode to the American Soldiers
Ode to the American Soldiers
for fighting for our Freedom
for making this day real
Ode to the American soldiers
Iraq, Afghanistan, countries galore
they risk their lives for ours
Support them, pray for them
Ode to the American Soldiers
poem by Ashton Karen
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All American Girl
Skin tight soul delight
Changing her life for another
She dreams magazines
Sees herself on the cover
Anything anytime anywhere
Its fitting in that matters
Faithfully she believes in the look he wants to know better
She knows what she wants
Shes an all american girl
She knows what she needs
Shes a sold american girl
She knows what she knows
Shes an all american girl
She does what she does
Shes an all american girl
Sold american
Shes got a double bubble with a bossanova back
Shes a real hot pepper and I like it like that
Its all right you dont have to change your way
Youre all right Im hoping the best part stays
She knows what she wants
Shes an all american girl
She knows what she needs
Shes a sold american girl
She knows what she knows
Shes an all american girl
She does what she does
Shes an all american girl
Sold american
Street smart close to the heart gotta be real
More than the clothes you wear
You know what youve got look to your heart
You carry your history there
song performed by by Hall & Oates
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Write America (Revision)
I write America
in order to form a perfect union
assuming there is a union at all
and not just some Texas mama's boy
standing off to the side
watching it fall
for the strong
for the weak
and for those who refuse to speak
I hurt on their behalf
and for them
I write America.
I write America
the beautiful
conquered from sea to shining sea
known now only for the names
who 'discovered' it
Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci
who failed to realize
there were already people here
I always wondered
how you could discover something
that's already been discovered
for credit where credit is due
I write America.
I would continue to write America
but America responds only to threats
so instead I just watch America
I watch slices of the American Pie
devoured left and right
but all across the board
the skin tone in invariably white
I am the property of a nation
built on the countries it has conquered
and a heritage it will never own
until the day the American dream includes me
I just watch America.
poem by Harlequin Rose
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The Real American Folk Song
Near barcelona, the peasant crooned
The old traditional spanish tunes
The neapolitan street song sighs
You think of italian skys
Each nation has a creative vein
Originating a native strain
With folk songs plaintive and others gay
In their own peculiar way
American folk songs, I feel
Have a much stronger appeal
The real american folksong is a rag
A mental jag
A rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues
The critics called it a joke song but now
Theyve changed their tune, and they like it, somehow
For its innoculated with a syncopated sort of meter, sweeter
Than a classic strain, boy you cant remain, still or quiet, for its a riot
The real american folksong
Is like a fountain of youth
You taste, and it elates you, and then, invigorates you
The real american folksong, the masses coaxed on, is a rag
(instrumental break)
The real american folksong is a rag
A mental jag
A rhythmic tonic for the chronic blues
The critics called it a joke song but now
Theyve changed their tune, and they like it, somehow
For its innoculated with a syncopated sort of meter, sweeter
Than a classic strain, boy you cant remain, still or quiet, for its a riot
The real american folksong
Is like a fountain of youth
You taste, and it elates you, and then, invigorates you
The real american folksong, is a rag
song performed by by Ella Fitzgerald
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One can not be an American by going about saying that one is an American. It is necessary to feel America, like America, love America and then work.
quote by Georgia O'Keeffe
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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There is nothing the matter with Americans except their ideals. The real American is all right; it is the ideal American who is all wrong.
quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, actually, was an effort to put something on the mall in Washington so American tourists could walk through America, and in their minds everything on the mall would be American.
quote by Bernice Johnson Reagon
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Our American Heroes
They are true American heroes
The reason America is strong
God Bless America was written
For them and is completely their song
We worship the ground they walk on
We take pride in the people they are
For all the stripes on our flag
Are for them along with the stars
Memories weigh heavily on their shoulders
But others they proudly will tell
For they too saw American heroes
In friends they made and knew well
Yes, they are our American heroes
We cherish them wherever they go
I’ll bet they do not fully realize
That we sincerely treasure them so!
poem by Marilyn Lott
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Among those best known, their highest ambition is to build American homes, possess American furniture, dress in American clothes, adopt the American style of living and be American citizens.
quote by Sheldon Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dorothy
For she grew up in Kansas
An American for real
She loved baseball, God and country
And McDonalds for a meal.
She was a true American
Loved Springsteen to the hilt
But when she was in college
And struggling with bills
She thought she'd join the army
Join up as a reserve
Two weeks a year did not seem much
The time she had to serve.
It was great there in the army
She took it in her stride
Gave her some real ambition
And a sense of National Pride.
She started off as private
They joked, as 'private parts'
Then she became a corporal
Of the military arts
Part time corporal Kansas
She said that to the men
Who now were joining up in droves
When promotion came again
So now she was a sergeant
Who'd never been to war
Then the call up for iraq came out
And opened up the door
Of full time full on soldiering
So now it was her chance
To fight those goddam'd Arabs
And stop their deadly dance.
Day one it was amazing
They were given their full kit
Some kit wasn't full at all
But they didn't mind a bit
So with her body armour
An M15 right by her side
She jumped into the transport
For a military ride.
They disembarked at Basra
Now held safe by prior troops
They raced the desert northwards
Caught Baghdad inside a loop
The war was over quickly
Those Iraqi's they just ran
And one day she was called to see
A new military man
Said she was showing promise
Would she like to a different role?
A role that’s so important
And so central to our goal
These WMD's he said
Are proving hard to find
Those damned Iraqi's know so much
But they have twisted minds
We've got close on two hundred
Most of the players in the pack
So we have to exert pressure
On all the A-rabs that we catch.
Sergeant Kansas saw her future
She knew her destiny
She would be the first to find
A WMD.
We've know that they are out there
We know that from on high
And Sergeant Kansas stood there
Spangled banner in her eyes.
The dog leash was quite crazy
She told investigative men
Who questioned her so closely
And time and time again
They asked her the same question
Are you really really sure
That this was just an act of yours
And that no superior
Told you straight to do it
Or was it that this war
Made certain things permitted
Behind the gaol house door?
(pause)
'it was great there in the army
I took it in my stride
It gave me real ambition
And a sense of national pride
That is how it started
But if i the truth can tell
I now feel i'm America
And in a living hell'
30 May 2004
poem by David Keig
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American Girls
Darling, Im afraid to close my eyes when Im going to bed
Im afraid youll crack the phone down over my head
Why are all american girls so rough?
Damn, that girl cant ever hurt you enough
Lady (lady), you knock me on my knees and I cant stand up
You got the look in your eye and you smack my butt
Why are all american girls so rough?
Why do all american girls act so tough?
Why are all american girls so rough?
Darling, Im afraid to close my eyes when Im goin to bed
Im afraid youll crack the phone down over my head
Why are all american girls so rough?
Damn, that girl cant ever hurt you enough
Lady (lady), you knock me on my knees and I cant stand up
You got that look in your eye and you smack my butt
Why are all american girls so rough?
Why do all american girls act so tough?
Why are all american girls so rough?
That hole youre digging in my ribs
It aint no real wound
So baby take it easy
Lets try to be friends
Why are all american girls so rough?
Damn, that girl cant ever hurt you enough
Lady (lady), you knock me down on my knees and I cant stand up
You got the look in your eye, you smack my butt
Why are all american girls so rough?
Why do all american girls act so tough?
Why are all american girls so rough?
American girls
American girls
Why are all american girls so rough?
American girls
American girls
American girls
Why are all american girls so rough?
American girls
American girls
American girls
Why are all american girls so rough?
Why are all american girls so rough?
song performed by by Weezer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Young American
They pulled in just behind the fridge
He lays her down, he frowns
"Gee my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything, but
All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American
Scanning life through the picture windows
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she'll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"
All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American
All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
"We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?"
All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American, he wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American
Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay
Or even yesterday
Have you been an un-American?
Just you and your idol singing falsetto 'bout
Leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the afro-Sheilas
Ain't that close to love?
Well, ain't that poster love?
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her heart's been broken just like you have
And
All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American, you want the young American
All right
You want the young American
You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
A pimp's got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler
Black's got respect, and white's got his soul train
Mama's got cramps, and look at your hands ache
I heard the news today, oh boy
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't there a man you can say no more?
And, ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw?
And, ain't there a child I can hold without judging?
Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry?
All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
All right
I want the young American
Young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
(I want with you, I want with you want)
All right
(You want it, I want you you, you want I, I want you want)
Young American, young American, I want the young American (I want to want, to want, to want , to want I, I want you)
All right
(Lord I wanted the young american)
(young american)
Young American, Young American
I want the young American
Mmmmmm mmm
song performed by by David Bowie
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A typical vice of American politics is the avoidance of saying anything real on real issues.
quote by Theodore Roosevelt
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Eternal Kansas City
Chorus (choir singing)
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city? (do you know the way to kansas city? )
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city? (do you know the way to kansas city? )
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city? (do you know the way to kansas city? )
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city? (do you know the way to kansas city? )
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city? (do you know the way to kansas city)?
(van singing)
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Train down to st. louis
Get me there alright
Over to the city there, you know that one
Where the farmers daughter digs the farmers son
Dig your charlie parker
Basie and young
Witherspoon and jay mcshann
They will come
Oooowoooowoooo
Chorus (van and choir in background)
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Excuse me do you know the way to kansas city?
Lady liberty in waiting
You know she lights the way
Her name is billie, shes a holiday
And the city is eternal -- hey, cant you see?
Its inside of you and its inside of me
Oooowoooowoooo
Chorus (van and choir in background)
You know, you know the way to kansas city?
You know, you know the way to kansas city?
You know, you know the way to kansas city?
You know, you know the way to kansas city ?
You know...the way to kansas city
You know...the way to kansas city
Wild thing
You know the way to kansas city (choir only)
Thank you man (van)
You know the way to kansas city
Sing it (van)
You know the way to kansas city (van and choir)
Hit it (van)
You know...the way to kansas city
You know...the way to kansas city
You know...the way to kansas city
You know...the way to kansas city
Baby cant you sing it one time (van)
(choir)
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
You know the way to kansas city
song performed by by Van Morrison
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wars of Kenny Marchant and George W. Bush
Hiding during the Vietnam War,
You are now both supporters of Iraq gore!
Perfectly content,
Others' lives to be spent!
Course America now must stay,
Real American values you both betray!
Into another hopeless morass,
Totally ignoring your own obscure Vietnam pasts!
Expect history not to be kind,
Sidesteppeing Vietnam service to later have America maligned!
poem by Hubert Wilson
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Real Life
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
Stop me if you've heard this
It's the one about the King
Who's married to the princess
That brings good use to wear his ring
She's tired and she's lonely
Cause she's sittin there at home
He's out there with his buddies
And you know what they are doin
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
Stop me if you've heard this
Yeah the one about the boy
That's wasting all his money
Buying nasty little toys
He Thinks the girlies love it
But this ain't no fairytale
They just want what's in his wallet
Don't pass go just go to jail
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
Mmm bop it's real life
Mmm bop it's just real life
You're never gonna change a thing
So just stop flappin
You're never gonna do with what you cannot see
Mmm bop
song performed by by Atomic Kitten from Right Now
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I Am American
'I am American', I shout
When the flag marches on by,
I am American, and I am proud
As her glory comes to my eyes.
For the flag that which I live for
Is by the same that I will die
For I am proud and free; I am American,
And forever, I pray she flies.
On the streets of America
Upon the streets of the World
I walk in such pride and vigor
Whenever the flag is unfurled.
I am an American that is me
I'll proclaim that through out my life
I will live the way by which she flies
Unto the day, that I die.
And when I have no more breath to breathe
Or when the Worlds fighting is through
I will have lived and died an American
And my flag, she would have proudly flew.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
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Reflections On Leaves
You answer me across the years
when I ask what it means to be alive
It means peace with myself,
my world, and my god
It means freedom to roam unhindered
to gather experience
to absorb the ambiance of America
But the American Rugged Individualist
has joined the endangered species list
He is ostracized, alienated, imprisoned,
and often encouraged to die
He may soon follow the passenger pigeon
into North American legend
And the Wide Open Spaces
have been closed by barbed wire
and real estate development
The great American quilt has become a blanket -
a land of fast food and golf courses
But perhaps I romanticize the past
maybe you too struggled with the purpose of existence
maybe you too felt helpless, hopeless, and meaningless
Perhaps you too howled into the night
'What's it all for? What am I for? '
I know I am not the first to ask these questions
I know I will not be the last
But now the answers seem muddied
perhaps they were never there at all
And perhaps most discouragingly, I realize
even nostalgia isn't what it used to be
poem by Rob McKercher
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We need American sources of resources, we need American energy, brought to you by American ingenuity and produced by American workers.
quote by Sarah Palin
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I've said many a time that I think the Un-American Activities Committee in the House of Representatives was the most un-American thing in America!
quote by Harry S. Truman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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