The prompt I chose for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop today is:
2.) Analyze a popular song you heard on the radio…what exactly does it all mean?
Let me begin by saying that my first choice in music is oldies. Oldies, as in the 50’s and 60’s. Okay, you can include the first few years of the 70’s, if you must. But only because of the likes of CCR, Three Dog Night and Neil Diamond.
Today’s music holds no appeal for me, with the exception of a (very) few country songs, one of which I’m posting about today. But even if you’re not a country music fan, please stay with me.
When I first heard this song about a week ago, the tune was what caused me to turn up the volume on the radio. But, as I listened to the words, I realized what a great song it is. It makes you really appreciate the creativity of a songwriter. I did some internet research and discovered that the song was co-written by the performer, Dierks Bentley. The inspiration was the shooting in Arizona, in which Gabrielle Giffords was seriously injured.
I’m posting the lyrics and then a link to the video. This one is self-explanatory. When you read – or listen to – the lyrics, there’s no need for analyzing.
Home
West, on a plane bound west,
I see her stretchin’ out below:
Land, blessed Mother Land,
The place where I was born.
Scars, yeah she’s got her scars.
Sometimes it starts to worry me.
‘Cause lose, I don’t wanna lose
Sight of who we are.
From the mountains high
To the wave-crashed coast,
There’s a way to find
Better days, I know.
It’s been a long hard ride,
Got a ways to go;
But this is still the place
That we all call home.
Free, nothin’ feels like free,
Though it sometimes means
We don’t get along.
‘Cause same, no we’re not the same.
But that’s what makes us strong.
From the mountains high
To the wave-crashed coast,
There’s a way to find
Better days, I know.
It’s been a long hard ride,
Got a ways to go;
But this is still the place
That we all call home.
Brave, gotta call it brave
To chase that dream across the sea.
Names, then they signed their names
For something they believed.
Red, how the blood ran red;
We laid our dead in sacred ground.
Just think, wonder what they’d think
If they could see us now.
It’s been a long hard ride,
Got a ways to go;
But this is still the place
That we all call home.
It’s been a long hard ride,
And I won’t lose hope;
This is still the place
That we all call home.
these days of mine 
Great lyrics and message….and I have very deep patriotic feelings myself so I “get” this. Haven’t heard the song but I still feel it in my old bones (and heart) !
Pam
This is one of my very favorite “new” songs! I, like you, usually listen to oldies…but occasionally, when Dan is driving, I listen to country. By the way, Dan says he enjoys your blog also. Hope you feel better soon!
Since I seldom listen to the radio these days, I haven’t heard this. I think it really touches “home”…really, no pun intended! To me, it’s as patriotic as “God Bless America” and “America, the Beautiful”.
I love Dierks Bentley but I’d never heard this song. Thanks for posting it. i agree. It’s great!
Thanks so much for this song — I’m reposting to my Blue Star Banner page on Facebook. It’s PERFECT! 🙂
Nice way to start this first day of March! Thanks Dianna!
Thank you for making us aware. I think this will stay with me today.
♪From the mountains high
To the wave-crashed coast,
There’s a way to find
Better days, I know♫.
Great inspiration and blessed reminder of the heart given to make this nation great here in our wonderful home of America! 🙂
I really, really love this song! Great choice! It’s one reason why I love country music so much… you rarely hear patriotism like this in other genres.
I don’t listen to the radio very often, and like you, I’m an oldies fan. So I hadn’t heard this song before, but I love it!! Wonderful song with great lyrics and music, but the message is the best. God bless America, land that we love.
My daughter and I are big country music fans; this song is currently her favorite. It’s great. Love Dierks Bentley. Doesn’t hurt that he is quite the cutie!
beautiful lyrics, it’s so nice to know there are new songs about important things. I’m like you though, I don’t particularly like to listen to music but occassionally I’ll listen to the oldies. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
Country…it’s all I listen to Dianna, it speaks to me. The moment I heard it last summer I had to stop the tractor and just listen…it was an instant favorite. Thanks.
~d.
Dianna–thank you for posting the lyrics and video to this wonderful song. I had not heard it before, but love the uplifting hopeful message. I share your tastes in music.
I can see why you were hunting this one on the radio the other day … Luckily, with the internet, you don’t really have to anymore!
I haven’t heard this one before. I do like country but haven’t been listening to it much lately. Great message in it.
Great words ~ new to me. Thanks for introducing it to me!
Hubby and I listen to country music on the weekends together – this is a wonderful new song. Thanks for reminding me and setting the lyrics out for me to read and ponder….
Great lyrics. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s home.
The song and artist are new to me, it is a powerful and beautiful song. Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for sharing, I hadn’t heard this before.
Happy Friday! ~ Sheila
I’m not familiar with this song but the video is truly meaningful. Thanks for sharing.
I have not hear this either. Thanks so much for sharing.
Love the song and the video, too – thank you for being so thoughtful and sharing with all of us!
From one Patriot to another!
MJ
Beautiful.
very cool! that song spoke to me as well, and up until the song, i wasn’t a big DB fan. it reminds me of American pride, and the unpopularity of say things like God Bless America, etc. etc. i guess a love for our country is rooted in our hearts. 🙂 Thank you for sharing this gem of a post!