Released August 1990 Length 3:12 Writer(s) Eddie Rabbitt | Genre Country Label Capitol Nashville Producer(s) Richard Landis | |
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"American Boy" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Eddie Rabbitt. It was released in August 1990 as the fourth single from his album Jersey Boy. The song reached number 11 on country charts and was his final song to reach the top 40 on the chart.
Contents
The song was popular among United States servicemen and their families during the 1991 Gulf War and was used by Senator Bob Dole during his 1996 campaign for President of the United States. A re-recorded version of the song was later released on Rabbitt's 1997 album Beatin' the Odds
Content
In the song, Rabbitt expresses his desire to "live in a place where they name their kids Billy", "hear [his] man Willie" on the radio, cheer at Football games on Friday Night, and "go where [he] want[s] to." He states that he is a free man at this place. He then goes on to explain that he is an "American Boy" who drives a Chevy, whose "older brother is a G.I. Joe, whose "little brother watched Saturday morning cartoons" and who goes to the beach to look at "pretty women." During the song, Rabbitt states:
I'm an American boy I buy American.
I'm an American boy yes I am.
I'm an American boy I'll die an American.
The song features speeches from Martin Luther King Jr., Neil Armstrong and John F. Kennedy, which are placed at certain points during the course of the song.
Campaign song
In October 1996, Bob Dole asked Rabbitt to use the song at political rallies for his campaign for presidency, according to Rabbitt he stated "I'm really a big fan and I really enjoy your music and I really like your song." Rabbitt answered Dole's request by stating "With my pleasure, you can use my song." "American Boy" replaced "Dole Man" (a rework of the 1967 song Soul Man) and "Born in the USA" as the campaign song of Bob Dole's run against incumbent president Bill Clinton.