Red, White & You

Album: We’re All Somebody From Somewhere (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This uptempo country anthem was written by Stephen Tyler with Nathan Barlowe, Levi Hummon and Jon Vella. It is a love song that also celebrates being an American.
  • Levi Hummon is the son of famed songwriter Marcus Hummon. This was his first song that was recorded by a major artist. He connected with Steven Tyler through Desmond Child, who is Hummon's publisher and good friend of Tylers - Child co-wrote the Aerosmith hits "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Angel" He told The Boot about meeting the legendary Aerosmith frontman.

    "They were just hanging out in the studio, and Desmond played him a bunch of my songs, including one that wasn't finished called 'Red, White & You.' Desmond told Steven, 'You need one of those old Aerosmith, rock-out-in-the-stadium songs.' He played that for him, and Steven was like, 'I need to put my voice on that right now.'

    I went down to the studio, and I was sitting there at the console, listening to the demo, and Steven Tyler entered the room. All of a sudden, this amazing cologne smell was in the room, and Steven just ran up from behind me and grabbed me and was like, 'What's up, dude?'

    My heart stopped for a second, and [I] turned around and was like, 'Play it cool, dude. Just play it cool.' I was 100-percent starstruck, and I was in a room with him for 12 hours being starstruck … Still, to this day, I'm like, pinch me or something, because it's Steven Tyler; he's one of the most iconic voices in history. My favorite song growing up was 'Dream On' and I would cry when I heard it."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.