This Is America

Album: This Is America (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single of Ashton Shepherd's third album was released around the Independence Day holiday. With such a title, you might think it was clever timing, but the singer told Billboard magazine it was merely a coincidence. "We didn't plan for it to be released this time of the year, it just happened," said Shepherd. "Of course, that turned out to be wonderful. We cut the song several months ago, and we finished the record in May. I wanted it to be the title track of the record, and also the first single. It just so happened that it came out around the 4th of July, so we're excited about it."
  • Shepherd's inspiration for the song was how despite of the differences that Americans have between them, they will always unite when they really need to. "I wrote it by myself," she told Billboard. "I was upset by some of the stuff you see on Facebook, and folks arguing, and all the turmoil. At the end of the day, we all stick together as a country, and we all have soldiers to be thankful for. It was my way of saying how I feel as an American. I'm proud to be an American. I'm thankful for our soldiers."
  • The singer was also thinking of the financial struggles that many Americans face. "I've also been there with people who are in the dollar store who are trying to penny pinch," said Shepherd. "You find yourself questioning each purchase when Americans work so hard to not have to feel worried about things like that. I think as a whole, we all are going through the same thing together. But, no matter what, we're from America, and we love it here. We're proud. I wanted people to be happy, and know that through God, everything is going to turn around. That's what I wanted to do with this song."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Shawn Mullins

Shawn MullinsSongwriter Interviews

"Lullaby" singer Shawn Mullins on "Beautiful Wreck," beating the Devil, and his writing credit on the Zac Brown Band song "Toes."

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.