In Soul Of America classic American personages and images are introduced, Adams, the second president of the US, Thomas Paine, the American Revolutionary theorist, Geronimo, the Apache leader, the Alamo, the pivotal military engagement during the Texas Revolution, Pearl Harbor, the surprise military strike by Japan upon the United States, and American symbols of the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty. Hunter fills the song with historical allusions to put contemporary events in context. It seems like he has 911 in mind:
And the Manhattan skyline blew my mind the first time
We went down to the scene of the crime
Lookin' for the soul of AmericaIn any event, this is a rant against current political leaders who can not compare to the greats of the past. The specific target is George Bush. The US is led by only a few families and they are selfish but consider everyone else a terrorist. Hunter is bewildered by the state of America while Andy York assisted out of about four proposed verses.
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The Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836) was a pivotal event and military engagement in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna reclaimed the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar (modern-day San Antonio, Texas, United States), killing most of the occupants. Santa Anna's refusal to take prisoners during the battle inspired many Texians and Tejanos to join the Texian Army. Motivated by a desire for revenge, as well as their written desire to preserve a border open to immigration and the importation and practice of slavery, the Texians defeated the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, ending the rebellion in favor of the newly formed Republic of Texas.
The attack on Pearl Harbor[nb 3][10] was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, just before 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led to its formal entry into World War II on the side of the Allies the next day. The Japanese military leadership referred to the attack as the Hawaii Operation and Operation AI,[11][nb 4] and as Operation Z during its planning.[13]
Soul Of America
(Ian Hunter)
The Alamo shuddered, Pearl Harbor as well
The Statue of Liberty wept as they fell
And echoes were heard in the Liberty Bell
When they came for the soul of America
And the Manhattan skyline blew my mind the first time
We went down to the scene of the crime
Lookin' for the soul of America
Lookin' for the soul, lookin' for the soul
I don't see no Washington taking the strain
No Jefferson, Adams, Franklin or Paine
And that sure ain't Geronimo running the game
Protecting the soul of America
Just them wild boys: red, white and blue
Wild boys gotta see the mission through
Come hell or high water, my hat's off to you
Let's rock the soul of America
Let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul
You can find souls all over this world
Lay underneath the stones of insanity
You can find souls all over the globe
Except in the places they oughta be
The sins of the fathers revisit the sons
The toil of tradition, the roar of the guns
It's a God awful job, but it's gotta be done
Protecting the soul of America
And them good old boys in their three piece suits
Feathering their nests while they're rallying the troops
They cut off the flowers, don't worry 'bout the roots
Eroding the soul of America
And I'm looking for the soul, I wanna find the soul
There's souls in the city, there's souls in the sand
Putting up with the latest indignities
You can find soul all over this land
Except in the places it oughta be
Except in the places it oughta be
Frankie 'n' Johnny in my neighborhood
They don't read the papers as much as they should
But if they had the time, they know that they would
And you're lookin' at the soul of America
Yeah them wild boys 'n' red, white and blue
Them wild boys gotta get the message through
Come hell or high water, we're all rooting for you
And let's rock the soul of America
Come on, let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul
Let's rock the soul
Rock me out, rock me out
Oh yeah
Let.s rock the soul
Ah huh, come on, yeah
Let's rock the soul of America
Let's rock the soul, let's rock the soul
In Soul Of America he rails against the current crop of leaders who don't compare to Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin... at the same time as noting how corrupt the whole government machine has become ("feathering their nests while they're rallying the troops...").
| Soul Of America | 4:43 | Originally released on Shrunken Heads. |
| Soul Of America (live 2nd March 2008) | (6:42) | This live version (recorded at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford England) was issued on Acoustic Shadows (box set only). |
| Soul Of America (live October 2010) | 4:34 | This live version (recorded at an unknown UK venue) was issued on Live In The UK 2010. |
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