For me, the patriotic songs of Toby Keith are among the most motivational ‘Merica music in existence today. Keith’s willingness to put out lyrics that are heartfelt rather than politically correct is a refreshing change to today’s woke environment that sees good as evil and evil as righteous. Through his music, Toby Keith reminds us that it is both okay to be proud of our nation and to actively dislike those who wish to do it harm. These are, in my opinion, the top five Toby Keith patriotic songs.

1. ‘American Soldier’

Keith hits the American soldier at their roots with this song’s intro. Most people I have ever met in the military weren’t seeking glory or fame, but instead had the simple desire to be the best husband/father they could be while also willingly serving their country. Keith’s lyrics encapsulate this perfectly.

Later in the song, Keith conveys the soldier’s psyche that shows that they don’t want to die: they’d rather live on, enjoy, and support their family. But as American Soldier says “but if dyin’s asked of me I’ll bear that cross with honor ’cause freedom don’t come free.”

American military members don’t want to die. Yet, because they love America so much, they’d make the ultimate sacrifice if it meant we could continue living in freedom and peace.

2. ‘Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)’

This hit song begins with lyrics that touch nearly every American wherever they are.

Keith wrote this song in the days following 9/11 when American pride, unity, and righteous anger were strong inside us all.

Whether East or West coast-raised or a farm-fed country boy from the midwest, most in America have a family member who is serving or has served in the Armed Forces. Many of them were part of the Greatest Generation and valiantly fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. Many of those men and women were proud from the day they graduated basic training to the day they met with eternity.

Keith admits the terrorists gave us a “big black eye” on 9/11, but he further conveys America’s resilience following the attacks, and its resolve to ensure something similar doesn’t happen again. Keith’s use of American symbology such as Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, and the eagle cause the listener to access a greater depth of American pride. Then, in perhaps the most infamous line of the song, Keith says that our response to the attacks will be that “We’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the America way!” Hoorah!

3. ‘Made in America’

The song Made in America speaks to the heart of what my grandpa (a Korean War-era Marine) and many others like him believed until the day they died.

My grandpa would give us $60 a year to spend on shoes or clothes for school. His only stipulation was that whatever we bought with that money had to be made in America. He was so serious about it that he’d look at the tag and say yes or no not based on price, but on the country of origin. My grandpa wasn’t a biased man, but he understood the simple principle that every time we give money to outside countries we empower them to potentially use that money against us in the future.

In Made in America Toby Keith articulates exactly what men like my grandpa believed.

As the song says, “He ain’t prejudiced, he’s just made in America.” This isn’t a popular opinion to hold nowadays, but it remains important to our future success as a nation.

4. ‘Happy Birthday America’

Happy Birthday America is a song that Keith wrote in 2021, following two decades of sustained combat in the Middle East.

Toby Keith wrote it as a response to today’s current political woke climate in which some people are looking to unravel the very fabric America was built upon.

In the song, Keith shows the contrasting attitude in America over the past decades.

In the middle 20th century, America was the world superpower that helped prevent a Nazi victory. Now the great-grandchildren of the men who secured that freedom would rather burn a flag in the street than fly it on their home. Some Americans seem to have forgotten why they have the freedom to dissent in the first place. It reminds me of the quote, “Tough times create strong men. Strong men create easy times. Easy times create weak men. Weak men create tough times.”

I’m afraid America has been so good to so many for so long that now we’ve entered a time when weak men are going to again create tough times.

5. ‘The Taliban Song’

Of the patriotic songs of Toby Keith, this is perhaps the most politically incorrect he’s written to date. At The Taliban Song starts by Keith continues this song by making reference to the 9/11 attacks and America’s response:

There is nothing more awe-inspiring than American firepower in full-force. The Taliban certainly got a healthy dose of American missiles and bombs over the past two decades. In this song, Keith speaks of the Taliban’s true colors: “like rabbits they ran, the Taliban.”

Going Beyond Toby Keith Patriotic Songs

If you have another Toby Keith song that you think should’ve made the list, then let me know in the comments below. Or, type in your favorite ‘Merica song from any artist! If I get enough responses, then I’ll do a Part II to this piece about the Top 10 patriotic songs of all time.