Records and Roots: Waylon Jennings offered a different patriotic song in 1984

Patriotic country songs are easier to find than Taylor Swift references on social media. Well, almost.Shoot, they even outnumber the bad words spewed by former New York congressman Jamaal Bowman during a futile campaign, ahem, "speech," last Saturday in the Bronx. When time to wave the flag to a song, turn to country music. Reasonably difficult to quantify, but Waylon Jennings' "America" just may be the most inclusively patriotic song in country music history. Sorry, fans of Lee Greenwood's three-minute dose of pablum, "God Bless the U.S.A." North Carolinian Sammy Johns wrote "America." Best known for his pop hit from 1975, "Chevy Van," by the time of "America" Johns' career had sidled over to Nashville and country music. Indeed, Johns' "Common Man" was recorded by and hit No. 1 for John Conlee in 1982. By the turn of 1984, several shifts in Jennings' career were in motion. Primarily, he was about to leave his record label, RCA, after 20 years. Those were his golden years. A new hits album, "Waylon's Greatest Hits Vol. 2," was planned for release. But he needed one new song for the album. Given that the Olympics were scheduled to occur in Los Angeles during the summer of 1984, Jennings decided that he wanted a patriotic song. He turned to Johns. Released in September 1984, "America" debuted on Billboard's country singles chart on Sept. 29, 1984. Enroute to becoming Jennings' 37th solo top 10 single, the song with its loping melody about America's people reached No. 6 in the fall of 1984.It gets better. During 1984, the Statue of Liberty went under deep restoration. Two years later, from July 3, 1986 through July 6, 1986, Liberty Weekend was staged at Governor's Island in New York Harbor to celebrate America's lady liberty. President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan attended and spoke. Composer John Williams premiered his composition, "Liberty Fanfare." Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Gregory Peck spoke. Jennings' friend, Neil Diamond, sang "They're Coming to America." Diamond is the son of Jewish parents of Russian and Polish descent. Sinatra, the son of Italian immigrants, performed "The House I Live In." Closing ceremonies shifted to the stadium home of the New York Giants football team in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A tribute to sports and pop culture featured a litany of legendary figures Singers included Frankie Avalon, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Rogers, The Pointer Sisters, Manhattan Transfer, Liza Minnelli, and Jennings' buddy Willie Nelson. Broadcast on ABC television and hosted by Peter Jennings and Barbara Walters, the finale proved to be quite schmaltzy. Not exactly Waylon Jennings' forte. But when called upon, dressed in his signature black with cowboy hat on top and guitar in hand, the country music legend from the dustbowl-like town of Littlefield, Texas, strode across the stage. Dozens of dancers and stage dwellers surrounded him. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eQ9zPOhzLc.You shiver a bit when Waylon's voice elevates within the song's chorus: "And my brothers are all black and white, yellow, too, and the red man is right to expect a little from you, a promise and then follow through, America." It's the most political and sociological song in Jennings' widespread catalog. A longtime friend of Muhammad Ali (who was the godfather of Jennings' son, Shooter), Jennings rarely spoke of or sang about anything remotely political. He left that to his friend, Kris Kristofferson. So, "America" was not really a political song. It's eyes and mind open patriotism. Take the line about America's tumultuous Vietnam War years and its many dissenters: "And the men who could not fight in a war that didn't seem right, you let them come home, America." Incredibly poignant.Issues of societal and political strife are indeed lightly touched upon. Yet, not even close as to throw another log on an oft-simmering fire. Regardless of waves of tumult throughout the years, hinted at in the chorus, Jennings sings that "it's home sweet home, America." In other words, the song strikes as an echo of "We Shall Overcome." And have. Likewise, "This Land is Your Land." Accurate, indeed. A nation of 325-plus million cannot possibly refrain from or avoid occasional cavalcades of chaos. Even now. It's an election year. All sorts of fireworks, on July 4 and well beyond that platform of patriotism have and will continue to blast skyward and into the American consciousness. Perhaps Waylon Jennings knew. The year he recorded "America" was an election year, too. Republican incumbent President Ronald Reagan battled democrat challenger Walter Mondale. At least given the electoral college tally, it wasn't much of a battle, but it was waged with occasional teeth aimed for the jugular. Jennings' rendering of "America" implored otherwise. Embrace our differences. Recognize that we may have been created equally but society has employed ways in which that equality somehow has not always manifested as such. Well, forgive one another. Attempt understanding. And then, by all means, bond as if in New York Harbor before the gift from France that should remind us all. America, yes indeed, Waylon Jennings, is home sweet home.