Story Behind The Song

This guy is growing in midwest america, and has his first love and discovers the innocence of youth. He has a brother who joins the armed forces and is deployed, and realizes he might not come back. He is killed and the flag is given to his mother, who is prideful that her son dies for the country.Talks about the privelege of freedom and segueways into a reflection of the past and the possibility of the future, and dreams that are still able to come true.

Song Description

First verse is youth and possiblilty, second verse is obligation to country, third verse is hopeful dreams

Lyrics

warm summer?s evening, northern lights glimmered
out there floating, silent surface shimmered
we dove head first, and we made our way
came up together, and we weren't the same
firework kisses blew my mind
there ain?t nothing like the very first time
yea it?s so simple, innocence blessed
there ain?t no telling what?ll happen next
drinking high life and smoking on dirty hoods of cars
dreams still unbroken, yea I fell in love
under American Stars...
There?s a picture on a bookshelf
of my brother in his dress blues
he says there comes a time in life
when a man?s gotta do what he?s gotta do
he threw me his car keys
let?s take her out for a ride
just one last time past them billboard signs
in case I don?t come back alive
they gave Ma a triangle blue with red and white bars
said she?s proud she got family way up high
in those American Stars...
Every morning we wake up, got a new chance to make it
something new, something true, we can?t take it for granted
it?s just the way it should be, they can?t take that from me
these hard lessons are learned and we earned to keep it, and believe it!
as I stand in this doorway, staring down setting sky
If i just take all my chances, everything will be all right
making memories from nothing inside these smoky bars
I got faith, yea I still believe!
in American Stars...



Music and lyrics by Brent Kirby c p Red Stoplights Music (ASCAP)