paper #4

Tim Howard

Professor Weinstein

October 30, 2007

A Rhetorical Analysis on “The Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”

Many different people have their views about why and what we should do in this war against Terrorism. Some tell us through politics, reviews, and even through songs. Toby Keith a country singer shows his support of the war in His song called “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.” Keith shows through his song that he is pro war and that he believes that we should be in the war. He also makes a special comment to anyone who believes they can mess with the United States of America. Keith’s strategy in this song is by using the emotions of his audience and allow his song empower them to push forward in going into the war. Keith’s main idea throughout the song is to communicate his message through his audiences striving emotions The emotions that Keith deals and hits very well throughout the song is being loyal and serve your country and you don’t want to mess with the USA..
It is easy to see that Toby Keith is relying on ethos, or his audience’s emotions, in this particular song. This is shown when Keith sings” We’ll always stand up and salute, We'll always recognize, When we see Old Glory Flying, There's a lot of men dead, So we can sleep in peace at night, When we lay down our head.” Keith uses the word “we’ll” to communicate a connection with his audience saying everybody will stand up for our country when it is being attacked. The emotions that Keith deals with I this particular phrase is the emotions of being loyal to your country when it is I need.
Another way Toby Keith’s song shows that his song is relying on ethos is when he talks about his father. In this song he talks about how his father served in battle and how he lost his right eye so his children and everyone else would have freedom. In Keith’s song he says this “My daddy served in the army, Where he lost his right eye, But he flew a flag out in our yard, Until the day that he died, He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me, To grow up and live happy In the land of the free.” This part of the song is the persona Keith, talking to the audience and allowing them to connect with each other through what his dad has done what maybe their fathers have done.
The persona, Toby Keith, moves on to the next sentence why he decides to right this song. Keith says in his next phrase “Now this nation that I love, has fallen under attack, A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in, From somewhere in the back, Soon as we could see clearly, Through our big black eye, Man, we lit up your world, Like the 4th of July.” Keith shows through this phrase that were he is living someone has attacked his country. He also uses the metaphor “A mighty sucker punch came flyin' in, from somewhere in the back,” to show that the attack was unknown and came out of nowhere. But he responds by saying in his next phrase “Soon as we could see clearly, through our big black eye, Man, we lit up your world, like the 4th of July.”
When Keith says this he is telling the people who attacked that we may be down for right now but when we get back up were going to beat you down. This also can be taken as ethos as Keith talking to his enemies about how they attacked him and now he telling them what he is about to do or more so his country. Yet at the same time logos as I the ways as a cause and an effect. These enemies attacked Keith’s and him responding and telling them he’s going to attack back.
As this song goes into the chorus Keith uses even more metaphors to convince is audience that going to war is the right thing to do. Keith then says “Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list, and the Statue of Liberty started shaking' her fist, and the eagle will fly Man, it's going to be hell, When you hear Mother Freedom Start ringing' her bell, and it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you,Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue.” Keith uses these metaphors to allow his audience to get visuals in there head. Allowing them to think something that represents peace such as The Statue of Liberty even shaking her fist allows the audience to ponder and maybe even believe they should go to war. This phrase also uses ethos as he tries to use his metaphors to allow them to mess with your emotions and get you to believe war is the right thing to do.
The next phrase, the bridge, Keith says, “Justice will be served and the battle will rage, This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage, and you'll be sorry that you messed with The U.S. of A. 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass. It's the American way!” Keith takes into a slower effect in to this song but still drives his point saying “This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage, and you'll be sorry that you messed with The U.S. of A.” Keith prolongs off one of his major ideas saying that if you mess with America we will attack. Keith then says “'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass. It's the American way!” This is without a doubt one of the most controversial statements through the whole song. This is because he says the American way is to kick everyone’s tail. This statement is directly pathos because it something Toby Keith believes. Though very controversial, it allows him to play more with their emotions to rile his audience up.
“The Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” is a song that will be remembered. Just like the 60’s song “WAR” dealt with the emotions of people not wanting war this is the opposite set of group. I think just like “WAR” it will be remembered for many years to come. The reason is because Keith’s songs deals with being loyal and serve your country and you don’t want to mess with the USA. Also, the song is very controversial, because of the statement “'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass. It's the American way!” This will allow it to be interesting to peoples ears for many years to come.