America Is My Home Explained

America Is My Home - Pt. 1
Type:single
Artist:James Brown
B-Side:America Is My Home - Pt. 2
Recorded:1967
Genre:Soul
Length:
    • (Pt. 1)
    • (Pt. 2)
    Label:King
    6112
    Producer:James Brown
    Chronology:James Brown charting
    Prev Title:Licking Stick – Licking Stick (Part 1)
    Prev Year:1968
    Next Title:I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry
    Next Year:1968

    "America Is My Home" is a 1968 single by James Brown. It was intended as a patriotic song written by Brown and Hayward E. Moore, recorded in 1967 in response to increasing criticism of the Vietnam War by black leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Stokely Carmichael. Brown speaks rather than sings the words of the song over an instrumental backing. The lyrics affirm that "America is still the best country, without a doubt" and claim "black and white, they may fight, but if the enemy come we'll get together and run 'em out of sight."[1] Brown delayed the song's release until the summer of 1968 when he thought the timing was right. It charted #13 R&B and #52 Pop.[2] He followed it later that year with "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud".

    Notes and References

    1. Smith, R.J. (2012). The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, 194-195, 206-208. New York: Gotham Books.
    2. White, Cliff (1991). "Discography". In Star Time (pp. 54–59) [CD booklet]. New York: PolyGram Records.