Patriotic rock songs for your 4th of July playlist

On the Fourth of July, no celebration is complete without an amazing playlist. Many rock songs evoke patriotic feelings and that summertime vibe. Check out our list below of must-have songs for your 4th of July playlist.

Jimi Hendrix "The Star-Spangled Banner," no true rocker would exclude Jimi Hendrix's rendition of America's national anthem. At the time, Hendrix was the highest-paid rock musician, and he headlined the Woodstock Music and Air Fair, where he performed the song. His adaptation included feedback and distortion to mimic the sounds of rockets and bombs. Many believed it was a statement against the Vietnam War, but Hendrix would later clarify, "We're all Americans ... it was like 'Go America!'... We play it the way the air is in America today. The air is slightly static, see." (Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix by Charle R. Cross)

Chuck Berry "Back in the U.S.A" is a song that should be included in the playlist. It is an iconic song sampled by artists from the Beach Boys to John Mellencamp.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreaker's "American Girl" surprisingly was never a significant hit for the band in the US. It was fittingly recorded on July 4, 1976, and is an amazing song that has become a staple in the classic rock genre.

Classic Rock songs for the 4th of July

John Mellencamp “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” is a salute to the rock music of the 1960s. The song was included in his 1986 album Scarecrow, which had an overall theme of the fading of the American dream. This song was a bit lighthearted compared to the other singles on the album.

Don McLean “American Pie” is a homage to "the day the music died" with the deaths of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. This is one of the greatest folky-rock songs with one of the best sing-a-long choruses.

Grand Funk Railroad “We’re an American Band” is the first No. 1 single for the band, released in 1973. The song is a bit of a biography of the band's time on the road. The song was inspired during an argument about British vs. American rock, and drummer Don Brewer stood up and shouted, "We're an American band," and he wrote the song the next morning.

There are numerous other songs you will want to add to your playlist or you can enjoy the one we created below.

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