Ben Stallworth
EN 101
Adam Weinstein
November 1, 2007
American Honor
It’s obviously natural human behavior to have personal opinions. These differing opinions, inside the United States and international, sometimes lead to violence. This violence can range from just being angry and yelling at another person or lead all the way to war in some cases. It is very important to have your own set values and beliefs. When I say personal values and beliefs, I mean it is admirable to take an honest stand against something that you truly think is wrong. No one should be in favor of war; however, it should be understandable when war is necessary. That’s the hard part: who decides at what cost, at what time, or under what circumstances war becomes necessary? Once the deciding factor is made, how do you get people to agree and join your cause? Toby Keith is an arguable model of practically excellence when it comes to these ideas. He has two songs he sings that provide perfect examples of these ideas and beliefs: American Soldier and The Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue.
In Toby’s song American Soldier, he calls himself an American soldier in a metaphorical way. He’s comparing the lifestyle of a working father trying to support a family to the lifestyle of a soldier at war. Toby is comparing the struggles of fatherhood/adulthood to the struggles on the battlefield. He says that he’s “Up and at ‘em bright and early”. He claims that “[He] don’t do it for the money…[He] don’t do it for the glory”. He gets up every morning to provide his family with a future and because it’s his responsibility: “Providing for our future is [his] responsibility”. He makes a change of direction after he sings about taking care of his responsibilities. He moves on to make a point of caution and pride. Toby Keith sings like he has his convictions set in stone: “Hey I’m solid, hey I’m steady, hey I’m true down to the core”. If anyone or anything challenges his place or responsibilities, he doesn’t overlook that person or thing. He is offended and takes action, “When liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right”. He calls himself an American Soldier because “I don’t want to die for you, but if dyin’s asked of me, I’ll bear that cross with honor, cause freedom don’t come free”. That frame of mind is required to be an American Soldier and in a metaphorical sense a father (http://www.lyrics.com/lyric.php?id=19641).
Following September 11, 2001, there have been many different opinions about America, the Middle East, terrorism, and war. Mr. Keith’s song The Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue has a slight difference in meaning than his song American Soldier. In The Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue, Toby sings more about pride, respect, and honor. When America was attacked, we made it known to the entire world and it’s every inhabitant that America has too much pride and honor to be the victim of a cowardly hit-and-run operation. Keith describes this by singing “Soon as we could see clearly through our big, black eye, Man, we lit up your world like the Fourth of July”. If America’s door is knocked on, needless to say, she’ll answer; “This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage…And the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell…And it’ll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you”. Toby says that America will find justice when necessary: “Justice will be served and the battle will rage…Cause we’ll put a boot in your ass it’s the American way” (http://www.lyrics.com/lyric.php?id=19651).
Toby Keith constructs his message around a topic that is responsive to most Americans. He does this for a reason. He is reminding everyone that America took a cheap shot. He is telling his audience that we should, and we do, take pride in acquiring justice for those responsible for September 11th. Pride, honor, and dignity are emotions. Toby uses raw emotion and feeling about our country to energize his audience. Not only are his lyrics invigorating, but also he takes advantage of his music videos. The scenery in his music videos for these two songs is fairly similar. The videos consist of inspirational clips ranging from soldiers in Iraq, Civil War soldiers, family home videos, to videos of Toby’s “freedom-decorated” concerts in the Middle East. Watching inspirational actions comparable to those in his music video put together with either of these two songs is motivating. Toby is trying to make the American people use emotion and adrenaline to realize what is right, just, and true. He’s telling the world that the United States will not be a scapegoat or a victim of cowards.
Negatively, adrenaline runs out and emotion doesn’t last forever. At the point in time that the songs are being heard, especially in certain atmospheres, the emotion should be overwhelming. However, it’s not certain that the next day a person will be as energized about the cause or situation as before when hearing the song. On a positive note, is there a more powerful motivation factor other than dignity and honor? The use of emotion as motivation for a cause can be one of the most powerful fuels to put in the tank; unfortunately, it’s probable to burn the fastest too.
Toby Keith met his goals with his songs American Soldier and The Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue. Obviously he didn’t write either of these songs with the purpose of people being inspired to join the army. He wrote them for a number of reasons. Every purpose for his composing these two works is understood and appreciated. Toby succeeded at reminding his audience to always do what’s right, thanking America’s armed forces, reminding the American people and others that we take pride in our country, and most of all at making everyone around the world aware that America “will put a boot in your ass”.

Works Cited
1) http://www.lyrics.com/lyric.php?id=19641 - American Soldier
2) http://www.lyrics.com/lyric.php?id=19651 - The Courtesy of The Red, White, and Blue