Songs of America by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw

Songs of America takes an interesting approach to American history—tracing our story through popular tunes and lyrics.

Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation (Young Readers Edition) by Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw. Random House, 2023, 216 pages.

Reading Level: Teen, ages 15-18

Recommended for: ages 16-up

Heard History

“History isn’t just something we read; it’s also something we hear”—in laughter, speeches, gunfire, marching feet, and (especially) song. This book attempts to trace American history through popular songs that, in the authors’ opinion, not only expressed American thought but helped to shape it. Some of these songs and the stories behind them are well known, like “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “We Shall Overcome,” and (of course) “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Others were popular in their day but lost to us, like “Liberty Song” by John Dickinson (1768) and “We Are Coming, Father Abraham” (1861). Over half the book examines songs from the last 80 years, including hits by Johnny Cash and Bruce Springsteen. This creates an imbalance toward more contemporary issues; I would have preferred a little more weight given to pre-WWI, even though as a Baby Boomer I have personal connections with much of the music.

Jon Meacham is a respected presidential biographer and Tim McGraw is one of the top-grossing country western musicians (McGraw wrote the sidebars and created the playlist). They are friends, neighbors, and Democrats. The tone of this history tilts to the left, but is overall fair and respectful, not snarky. While almost worshipful of FDR and JFK, Meacham manages to not run down Reagan and Bush. While acknowledging deep divisions in American views, he strives to present those views fairly.

“Debate, Dissent, Dispute”

Songs of America was originally published in 2019; this is the Young Reader edition. Though shelved in the J (for Juvenile) section of my local library, late teens are a much more appropriate audience. Christian parents will object to the inclusion of “Mississippi G—d—” by Nina Simone, her gut reaction to a spate of 1930’s lynchings. A section on the Dixie Chicks’ opposition to the war in Iraq includes the notorious picture of the three nude females with slurs superimposed on their bodies. One song title by Tupac Shakur can’t be mentioned on a family-themed website. All that said, this perspective can be valuable as a way of understanding how “America is about debate, dissent, and dispute.” The two authors love their country and wish her to live up to her ideals, if we can only agree on what those are. For, “if we can hear and feel how the other guys hear and feel, we’re better equipped to press on toward a more perfect union.”  The playlist on the back cover provides a convenient aid to hearing, but feeling is up to the reader.

Considerations:

• Note language concerns, above, also the provocative Dixie Chicks pic.

Overall rating: 3.75

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.25

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Reviews: Readers seeking a more positive (but still warts-and-all) view of America should check out Land of Hope by Wilfred McKay and American History by Thomas Kidd (both starred reviews)

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