Compare this song to "Born in the U.S.A.," written at the same time. What is the difference in mood between these two songs? How does the anger and disillusionment of "Born in the U.S.A." help explain the popularity of "God Bless the U.S.A."?

Disillusioned Vietnam veterans appreciated the belated recognition of their service. How is it possible to be patriotic and angry or disillusioned at the United States at the same time?

What event happened in 1991 to spark a comeback for this song? Gulf War. It had an even bigger comeback in 2001—why? September 11 terrorist attacks. What was the difference in public reaction to those two events? How did the lines "And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me, And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today," change in meaning between 1991 and 2001?

Compare this song to patriotic songs in other units. What does "God Bless the U.S.A." have in common with the others? How is it different? Do you think it will still be popular in fifty years? Why? What has to happen for it to have that kind of "staying power"? Songs that have endured have been picked up by other artists and are sung publicly by the general public.

Compare the first verse of this song to "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" in unit 7. Were the writers/singers of those songs unpatriotic, or is Lee Greenwood unrealistic? What possible explanations are there for this seeming difference of opinion?