“American Soldier”
Toby Keith
Written by Chuck Cannon and Toby Keith
Radio & Records
#1 (4 weeks)
February 20 – March 12, 2004
Billboard
#1 (4 weeks)
February 21 – March 13, 2004
Toby Keith’s heart is in the right place here, but “American Soldier” is so antiseptic and void of character development that it plays like the background of a nineteen eighties era commercial for Folgers coffee.
Part of the problem is that this era produced far more compelling explorations of the soldier experience, from everyone on the political spectrum from the Chicks (“Travelin’ Soldier”) and Jason Isbell (“Dress Blues”) to Darryl Worley (“I Just Came Home From a War”) and Trace Adkins (“Arlington.”)
Keith is so focused on building up the archetype that he drains his celebrated soldier of any fear, hesitation, or even homesickness. This soldier is so perfect, so selfless, so committed to the cause that there’s no conflict. Not even a tugged heartstring for what he’s leaving behind.
Ironically, it makes the soldier’s sacrifice seem less impressive because it’s like his entire existence was designed to play this role and he’s fulfilling it without hesitation.
Beautifully sung and arranged, as always, and as I opened with, his heart is in the right place here.
“American Soldier” gets a B.
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I had a chip on my shoulder about this song back in 2004 as I thought it served as a de facto permission slip about the war in Iraq which I considered an abomination. My feelings have softened on that over the years, particularly given how much Toby Keith put his money where his mouth was regarding USO tours. And certainly if anybody deserves a tribute, it’s soldiers at wartime.
As you said, however, this one just didn’t connect for me as a listener, defining the soldier as an archetype rather than an individual with moral conflicts. Even with a compelling vocal performance by Toby, the lyrics and overall vibe just fell flat, disappointingly so given how great of a songwriter Toby Keith was. I’m not the intended audience and if actual soldiers were moved by it, that’s terrific, but I think Toby could have and should have done better.
Grade: C+
His heart is in the right place, but as someone uncomfortable with the hero worship of soldiers in this country I just can’t embrace it. And while this song in itself isn’t necessarily pro-war it’s hard to remove from the context of being released in the midst of the Iraq War and his beef with the Chicks.
I takes a couple listens for me to come around to agreeing about the lyrics coming up short here, because Toby Keith’s singing on this record is excellent. But yes, I don’t have an objection with the heart of the song but there were many others that were more compelling. Still sad Arlington was pulled from the charts before reaching the top.
I also initially thought this was just him trying to save face after “Courtesy”, which I maintain is one of the worst country songs in the history of the entire genre. But I think it has enough good to outweigh the bad.
In particular, I once heard an interview on Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 where he said his goal was to try and hold the soldier stuff up to the chorus, with the verses making it sound like he’s just an everyday family man. I like the structure of the song, and the way it doesn’t have another verse after the chorus. Unusual song structures usually get a thumbs up for me, and this one is no exception.
I agree with the grade “B”. It’s a good song but sounds just like another commercial. Good but nothing that will become a classic. But hey, not all songs are meant to be classics I suppose.
…nothing wrong with a good soldier song – this just isn’t one. from my personal infantry experience i always thought keith whitley’s “i’m no stranger to the rain” was a way better one.
If this is Keith near the top of his vocal game, it is also Keith at his most obvious as a songwriter. The song may have hit harder as a broader and more inclusive tribute to service, but doing that would not tap into the tradition of American exceptionalism he seemingly wanted to celebrate and honour.
I guess it is hard to write a song about pride, patriotism, and individual responsibility without being geographically and politically specific.
Leave writing about other country’s soldiers to the comedians.
In this instance, the universal soldier has an American passport.