America Lyrics

a patriotic song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond, released in 1980 as part of the The Jazz Singer soundtrack album. The song was a hit single in 1981, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although the single version was a studio recording, it sounds live because of crowd overdubs in the song. The song's theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond's typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song "My Country, 'Tis of Thee". In Diamond's concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, "Every time that flag's unfurled / They're coming to "America"." The song has since been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis's 1988 Presidential campaign, because of its immigrant theme. Neil Diamond sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary. Also, the song was used for conservative talk-show host Ken Hamblin's Black Avenger radio show prior to commercial breaks. A Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Will Ferrell as Diamond explains the song as an expression of the singer's "massive" hatred of immigrants. Shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Diamond modified the lyrics to "America" slightly during live performances. Instead of "They're comin' to America," towards the end, it became "Stand Up for America." Despite the song's patriotic message, it was included on a list of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks