Unhyphenated American (4:03)
This song is in response to all of the people that feel it is necessary to hyphenate their "Americanness". Anyone is invited to come to this great country and go through the process of becoming an American. Once you do, you are an American. Being part of the great melting pot means becoming an American. Hyphenations are just another way to divide Americans. You're either an American or not. My ancestors are all from Europe. I am not a European-American, I am an AMERICAN! It's OK to be an American of European descent, or an American of African descent, or an American of Chinese descent, etc., but don't ever put anything in front of your "Americanness".
I choose to make this a straight country song because it just didn't sound right any other way.
Produced by Bruce Bennett and Andy Lee White
Engineered and mixed by Bruce Bennett
Mastered by Rodney Mills Masterhouse
Douglas Jacobs -Electric Guitar
Mark van Allen - Steel Guitar
Rafael Tazmaco Siacca - Bass
Rich Nichols - Drums
Nicole Mulkey - Backing Vocals
Dana O'Dell - Backing Vocals
Andy Lee White - Lead/Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Hammond Organ
My grandpa told me when I was a child
Love her or leave her he said as he smiled
Show me another place in this great big old world
Where it doesn’t matter about your race
Or if your hair is straight or curled
‘Cause when you fly the red, white and blue
I get tears in my eyes and I think of me and you as Americans
Well, I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
It doesn’t matter how I pray or where I come from
Yeah, I love this land of opportunity
There’s freedom here for you and me
I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
Hey now, you might not look like me
You may dress strange and talk funny
And you just might have a life that’s been hard
And you may have far too many cars
Parked in your front yard
But when you fly the red, white and blue
I get tears in my eyes and I think of me and you as Americans
Well, I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
It doesn’t matter how I pray or where I come from
Yeah, I love this land of opportunity
There’s freedom here for you and me
I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
I’m an American, one nation under God
Don’t need a hyphenation, don’t need a wink or a nod
‘Cause I’m an American and that’s good enough for me
Part of the greatest nation that this world has ever seen
Well, I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
It doesn’t matter how I pray or where I come from
Yeah, I love this land of opportunity
There’s freedom here for you and me
I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
I’m proud to say I’m an unhyphenated American
© 2011 Andy Lee White

