Introduction:
“Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” is a song by American country music artist Toby Keith, released in 2002. The song quickly became one of Keith’s most iconic and controversial tracks, largely due to its patriotic and defiant tone, which resonated with many Americans in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The song’s origins are deeply personal for Toby Keith. In 2001, just six months after the 9/11 attacks, Keith’s father, Hubert Keith, a veteran who instilled a strong sense of patriotism in him, passed away. The combination of national tragedy and personal loss inspired Keith to write “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” The song is a reaction to the 9/11 attacks, expressing Keith’s anger and determination, as well as his respect for the military and his desire to see justice done.
Keith initially wrote the song as a private expression of his feelings and had no intention of releasing it. However, when he performed it for some U.S. military personnel, the overwhelmingly positive reaction encouraged him to include it on his album Unleashed, released in July 2002. The track became an instant hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
The lyrics of “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” are unapologetically patriotic, with lines like “We’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way” capturing the anger and resolve felt by many Americans at the time. The song’s straightforward and aggressive tone drew both praise and criticism. While it was embraced by many as a patriotic anthem, others viewed it as overly aggressive and jingoistic. The song’s release during a time of heightened national emotions only fueled its impact and the debates surrounding it.
One of the most notable moments in the song’s history came when it was at the center of a dispute between Keith and ABC’s Good Morning America host Diane Sawyer. Keith was scheduled to perform the song on the show, but the network allegedly requested he soften the lyrics, a request Keith refused, leading to the performance being canceled.
Despite the controversy, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” remains one of Toby Keith’s signature songs and a defining track of the post-9/11 era, symbolizing a period of American history marked by unity, patriotism, and the complexities of national identity in times of crisis.