The Ten Songs that Will Be on My July 4th Play List

I usually spend July 4^th outdoors, cooking out, eating, and enjoying the company of friends and family. I love warm weather and July 4^th is the perfect holiday for celebrating outside. Since we spend a good part of the day eating, swimming, playing outdoor games and laying in a hammock or swings, I try to put together a good play list (on a CD) to play. I like the tried and true patriotic songs, but I also like to add some current music from different genres.

My first song is The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. I will usually only play this one or two times because I feel compelled (as does everyone else at my party) to stand and salute the flag when I hear it. But, it is my favorite and it makes me think of all I have and the freedom I have living here -in the United States of America.

Second, I like America the Beautiful, I also usually only play this once or twice because it makes me stop and think about all I have to be thankful for. Maybe I should play it more often -being thankful is a good thing!

Third on my list is Battle Hymn of the Republic. Again, it has the same effect on me as the first two, so I can't play it and expect everyone to continue swimming and/or playing volleyball.

Coming up fourth is God Bless the U.S.A. by Lee Greenwood. I sing along with this one -still not good for the volleyball game. But by the time we make it halfway through the song everyone at my party is singing. Off topic, but still about the song, during 9/11, we had "front porch" candle light remembrances in my town. My friends and I sat outside with our candles and sang God Bless the U.S.A. to open our personal night of prayer and we ended with it too.

Fifth on the list is Born in the U.S.A, by Bruce Springsteen. This is a "get up and dance" song for me. When it comes on, you can bet that I am keeping time to the music and singing at the top of my lungs.

Next (sixth), is Some Gave All, by Billy Ray Cyrus. For the younger crowd, that is Miley's Dad. It's not a song that I dance too, but it makes me think. Again, this song is one that causes me to be thankful and give respect to the members of our Armed Forces...and it is a great song in memory of the soldiers who died in combat.

Also on my list (seventh) is John Michael Montgomery's Letters from Home. It gives the story of a soldier on the battlefield getting letters from his loved ones. I love this song and all that it says.

With John Michael's song above, I will also add (eighth) his brother -Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry's (AKA Montgomery-Gentry) -Our Town. While it isn't really a patriotic song. It tells a great story about small town America and all that it means to us who live here.

Ninth on my list is also by Montgomery Gentry -Something to be Proud Of. I love this song. If you haven't heard it or if you have heard it but didn't pay attention to the lyrics. Listen to it (again) and really hear what is being said. It will make you want to Stand Up.

Which leads me to the last song on my list -Mel McDaniel's Stand Up. I have heard him perform this song live many times at the Grand Ole Opry. He makes it into a patriotic song and by the end of his performance, everyone is on their feet.

I'm at the end of my top ten songs for July 4^th parties. While this is a list of 10 songs, other than the first two or three songs, their order really doesn't indicate what I like best and least. What I am trying to say is that I really enjoy all the songs. They give me something to think about and help me to remain thankful in life each time I hear them. And to me, being thankful for everything around me is the key to happiness.