The Charlie Daniels Band was formed in 1970, with Charlie Daniels joined by Barry Barnes (guitar), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Fred Edwards and Gary Allen (drums), and Taz DiGregorio (keyboards). They started recording southern rock-styled albums for Kama Sutra. Although a multi-instrumentalist, Daniels was a limited vocalist, but his voice was well suited to the talking-style "Uneasy Rider", which reached the US Top 10 in 1973. He followed it with his anthem for southern rock, "The South's Gonna Do It". In 1974, Daniels had members of The Marshall Tucker Band and The Allman Brothers Band join him onstage in Nashville. It was so successful that he decided to make his so-called Volunteer Jam an annual event. It led to some unlikely combinations of artists such as James Brown performing with Roy Acuff, and the stylistic mergers have included Crystal Gayle singing the blues with the Charlie Daniels Band.
The Charlie Daniels Band underwent some personnel changes on 1975's 'Nightrider", with Tom Crain, Charlie Hayward and Don Murray replacing Barnes, Fitzgerald and Allen respectively. When Daniels moved to Epic in 1976, there was a concerted effort to turn the band into a major concert attraction, despite the fact that at 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 20 stone Daniels was no teenage idol: he hid his face under an oversized cowboy hat. The albums sold well, and in 1979, when recording his "Million Mile Reflections" album, he recalled a 20s poem, "The Mountain Whipporwill", by Stephen Vincent Benet. The band developed this into "The Devil Went Down To Georgia", in which Johnny outplays the Devil to win a gold fiddle. Daniels overdubbed his fiddle seven times to create an atmospheric recording that topped the US country charts and reached number 3 in the US pop charts. It was also a UK Top 20 success.
In 1980 the band recorded "In America" for the hostages in Iran, and then in 1982, "Still In Saigon", about Vietnam. The band were featured on the soundtrack for Urban Cowboy and also recorded the theme for the Burt Reynolds movie "Stroker Ace". The 13th Volunteer Jam was held in 1987, but financial and time constraints meant the event was put on temporary hiatus (it resumed four years later). In the late 80s Daniels appeared in the movie "Lone Star Kid" and published a book of short stories, but continued touring and playing his southern boogie to adoring audiences.
In the late 1980s and 1990s, several of Daniels' albums and singles were hits on the Country charts and the music continues to receive airplay on country stations today. Daniels also released several Gospel and Christian records.
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Let Freedom Ring
Charlie Daniels Band Lyrics
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Things are are kinda tough, times are kinda hard.
Got a lot of people livin' out in the street, people goin' hungry without nothin' to eat,
and in this land of plenty, this souldn't be goin' on.
We got enough for everybody we just gonna have to pass it along.
Well I'm glad about the fall of communism, I'm glad about the
Berlin wall, and I like seein' old Saddam bite the dust, in fact I'm glad about it all.
And I believe in helping everybody,
I think we oughta remember that charity begins at home.
Yes it starts right now in (America, America,)
I know the sun is risin' on a better day.
(America, America,) we got the power and we know the way.
(America, America,) well let me say a few words about the Red, White, and Blue.
(America, America,) I know you're gonna do it I believe in you.
Now I been tryin' to figure this out, but there's somethin' that I just don't know.
How can you make things better when you
take our jobs, and send 'um down to Mexico?
And then there was this big shot, from the land of the risin' sun.
He said the workin' people in America were lazy and dumb.
Well let me tell you somethin' Jack.
The next time I go on a shopping trip, and take somethin' off of the rack,
if it don't say, "Made in the U.S.A." I'm just gonna put it back.
We can't leave it to the politicians, cause they don't do nothin' but talk,
and it's we the people that are gonna have to walk the walk.
And we can do it right now in (America, America,)
hey I know the sun is risin' on a better day.
(America, America,) yeah we got the power and we know the way.
(America, America,) now let me say a few words about the Red, White, and Blue.
(America, America,) I know you're gonna do it I believe in you.
Well we got the best dang farmers in the whole wide world.
The fastest horses and the prettiest girls. We got the Army, the
Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the mightiest fightin' force the world's ever seen.
We the kinda people that can get thins done,
We're servin' notice that we're still number one.
We got the nerve (We got the nerve.), we got the will,
(We got the will.), we are all together cause you know that we are still.
(America, America,) well I know the sun is risin' it's a risin' on a better day.
(America, America,) hey, hey we got the power and we know the way.
(America, America,) now let me say a few words about the Red, White, and Blue.
(America, America,) cause I believe in you.
The lyrics of Charlie Daniels Band's "Let Freedom Ring" express the idea that America needs to focus on its own problems before helping other countries. The singer addresses issues such as poverty, homelessness, hunger, and unemployment in America. He believes that, in a country as prosperous as America, there should be enough resources to provide for all its citizens. He also acknowledges his pride in America and its military, but questions the outsourcing of American jobs and the criticisms of American workers. He urges the American people to take action and make a change for the better.
The chorus of "America, America" encourages Americans to believe in themselves, their country, and their ability to fix their problems. The verses highlight issues in America and emphasize the importance of prioritizing the needs of American citizens. The song reflects the sentiment of American exceptionalism, the idea that America is a unique and powerful nation that has a responsibility to lead the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We got some trouble in our own back yard.
There are social problems in American society that need to be addressed.
Things are kinda tough, times are kinda hard.
The economic situation in the country is difficult.
Got a lot of people livin' out in the street, people goin' hungry without nothin' to eat,
There are too many homeless people and hungry families in America.
and in this land of plenty, this souldn't be goin' on.
The country is wealthy enough that no one should have to suffer like this.
We got enough for everybody we just gonna have to pass it along.
There is enough wealth and resources for everyone, but they need to be more equitably distributed.
Well I'm glad about the fall of communism, I'm glad about the Berlin wall, and I like seein' old Saddam bite the dust, in fact I'm glad about it all.
The singer is patriotic and happy about the victories of the United States in the larger world.
And I believe in helping everybody, but when it comes to all them foreign loans, I think we oughta remember that charity begins at home.
The singer supports aid to other countries but thinks that America needs to take care of its own issues first.
Yes it starts right now in (America, America,)
The work of rebuilding America needs to begin in the present.
I know the sun is risin' on a better day.
There is hope for a brighter future.
(America, America,) we got the power and we know the way.
The United States has the resources and ability to make positive change.
(America, America,) well let me say a few words about the Red, White, and Blue.
The singer is proud to be an American and patriotic.
(America, America,) I know you're gonna do it I believe in you.
The singer has faith in the American people to work together for a better future.
Now I been tryin' to figure this out, but there's somethin' that I just don't know.
The singer is puzzled by a problem he doesn't fully understand.
How can you make things better when you take our jobs, and send 'um down to Mexico?
The singer is critical of companies that outsource jobs to other countries, leaving many Americans unemployed.
And then there was this big shot, from the land of the risin' sun.
The singer is referring to a person from Japan.
He said the workin' people in America were lazy and dumb.
The person from Japan insulted American workers.
Well let me tell you somethin' Jack.
The singer is ready to challenge the person's insult.
The next time I go on a shopping trip, and take somethin' off of the rack, if it don't say, "Made in the U.S.A." I'm just gonna put it back.
The singer wants Americans to buy products that are made in the United States to support domestic jobs.
We can't leave it to the politicians, cause they don't do nothin' but talk, and it's we the people that are gonna have to walk the walk.
Politicians aren't doing enough to address America's problems, and it's up to individuals to do the work.
Well we got the best dang farmers in the whole wide world.
The singer is proud of America's agricultural industry.
The fastest horses and the prettiest girls.
America has impressive cultural and athletic achievements.
We got the Army, the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the mightiest fightin' force the world's ever seen.
The United States has a powerful and respected military.
We the kinda people that can get thins done,
Americans are capable of achieving great things.
We're servin' notice that we're still number one.
The United States remains a world leader in many areas.
We got the nerve (We got the nerve.), we got the will, (We got the will.)
Americans are determined and courageous.
we are all together cause you know that we are still.
Despite differences, Americans are united in their love of country and desire to make it better.
(America, America,) well I know the sun is risin' it's a risin' on a better day.
There is hope for a brighter future in America.
(America, America,) hey, hey we got the power and we know the way.
With the right leadership, Americans have the ability to make positive changes.
(America, America,) cause I believe in you.
The singer has faith in the American people to work together for a better future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRUCE RAY BROWN, CHARLES FRED HAYWARD, CHARLIE DANIELS, JOHN LOUIS GAVIN, WILLIAM J. DIGREGORIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind