Story Behind The Song

Was just thinking one day about what makes us American, and had just broken up with this French girl (she is the debutante eating croissants in the song)... got to thinking about the Brady Bunch, Vietnam and (ironically) French Fries. So like REM did in "Its the End of the World (I Feel Fine)", I strung some pop culture and American history together, and "voila, ici"!

Song Description

Why are we "American"? This song offers one explanation that it may be due to where we live, what we have experienced, and who we may have interacted with. Also, Americans have pop culture icons which serve as a shared identity, and historical events which serve as shared memories. The combination of all these factors tends to define a diverse population as "American". This is a song that is cross- generational, as well as one that will connect with both men and women. The song is recorded as a power pop song here, but could easily be re-arranged in other styles, esp. Country and Folk.

Lyrics

never consider a debutante eating french croissants
to have you in a bind so what if she can say parlez-vous francais
and you can only grin and say “i speak american”

i like simple things like ketchup on my hotdog
i like simple things like homemade apple pie
i like simple things like small block chevrolets
i like simple things and can i have more ketchup on my french fries

so you say perrier at a quaint café
goes down better than kool-aid on a summer’s day
well i don’t speak european fluently
but if i did i rather grin and say “i speak american”

i like simple things like the icing of an oreo
i used to know ken barbie and g.i. joe
i grew up with good time rock‘n roll
and i’d like stealing home if i wore a big league uniform

stop filling me with useless information
you’re not running for a presidential nomination
stop filling me with useless information
come back later for a meaningful conversation

now i grew up with mickey mouse and superman
with holden caulfield and vietnam
these i know but you can’t understand
let me begin to teach you to speak american

i like simple things like greg and marcia brady
local all-night dinners with their turkey and gravy
i like simple things like faceless fm dj’s
they make the hours pass and when they spin i know they speak american

never consider a debutante eating french croissants to have you in a bind
so what if she can say voulez-vous couchez
and you can only grin and say “i speak american”
i speak american
i speak american
i speak american