How Much Do You Know About These Patriotic American Songs?

By: John Miller
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Much Do You Know About These Patriotic American Songs?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Every country has a short list of patriotic songs that citizens know by heart. We all know (and mangle) the national anthem. But how much do you really know about America's catalog of patriotic songs?
What is the name of the United States national anthem?
"Yankee Doodle"
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
"America the Beautiful"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially named America's national anthem. Since then, it has been sung (often poorly) at countless public events.

Advertisement

The British sometimes used this song to mock colonists in the days before the American Revolution. Which song was it?
"Yankee My Thingie"
"Yankee Doodle"
"Yankee Panky"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the Revolution, the British rolled their eyes at colonial soldiers and mocked them with "Yankee Doodle." Once the "Yankees" sharpened their bayonets and ignited the Revolution, the British didn't think the song was funny anymore.

Advertisement

"God bless America, land that I _____"
love
loathe
like
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1918, as World War I raged in Europe, Irving Berlin wrote a song called "God Bless America." The first line of the chorus is,"God bless America, land that I love."

Advertisement

Which famous patriotic song begins with the line, "O beautiful, for spacious skies"?
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
"America the Beautiful"
"Oh Canada"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

" America the Beautiful" begins with the timeless line, "O beautiful, for spacious skies." But in the poem that inspired the song, the original line was actually, "O beautiful for halcyon skies."

Advertisement

Which song was inspired by American soldiers withstanding a British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814?
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
"Let the Eagle Soar"
"Love is a Battlefield"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During the War of 1812, the British bombarded Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, and lawyer Francis Scott Key wrote a poem about the fort's successful defense. His poem later became "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Advertisement

True or false, can Americans still see the flag that's referred to in "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You bet, you can still see the battered but glorious flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner." It's on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Advertisement

What's the complete song title? "The Stars and Stripes _____."
Forever
Occasionally
Every Other Weekend
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's one of the most famous marches in American history. Written by John Philip Sousa, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is one of the most patriotic U.S. songs ever.

Advertisement

Which patriotic song is always played for the ceremonial entrance of the Vice-President of the United States?
"Hail, Columbia"
"The Imperial March"
"Born in the U.S.A."
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the VP hits the stage, it's "Hail, Columbia" that's blaring from the loudspeakers. The song was one of several de facto national anthems in America's history.

Advertisement

Proponents of _______ have launched numerous efforts to have this tune replace the hard-to-sing national anthem.
"Rocky Mountain High"
"America the Beautiful"
"Stairway to Heaven"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the past century, numerous groups have attempted to have "America the Beautiful" replace (or match) "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the country's anthem, for varied reasons. One big reason: it's way, way easier to sing.

Advertisement

Complete the name of this popular war song. "When Johnny _______."
Blasts Another Commie
Comes Marching Home
Loads Another Bullet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"When Johnny Comes Marching Home" is a hopeful tune from the Civil War era, yearning for the day when long-lost soldiers finally returned to their homes and families.

Advertisement

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was written during which great American conflict?
Gulf War
American Civil War
The first episode of "Survivor"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was written in 1861, as the Civil War sparked conflict around the country. It's also sometimes called "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory," particularly in other countries.

Advertisement

Which patriotic song is the official Presidential Anthem of the United States?
"Hail to the Chief"
"Hail to the Thief"
"Hail to the Beef"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the president arrives at public events, his handlers make sure someone is playing "Hail to the Chief," the official presidential anthem. At especially special events, they bring in the U.S. Marine Band to play the ditty.

Advertisement

Complete this patriotic song title. "Ballad of the Green ______"
Skirts
Berets
High Heels
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1966, during the awfulness of the Vietnam War, the "Ballad of the Green Berets" celebrated the bravery and sacrifice of America's elite troops. It was written by a man named Barry Sadler, who was training to become a medic in the special forces.

Advertisement

Which gospel song also became a rallying cry for the civil rights movement?
"We Shall Overcome"
"We Might Overcome"
"We'll Probably Overcome"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"We Shall Overcome" is as patriotic as an American song can be. It's a song about struggling against oppression and finding hope in the darkest of days. It was particularly popular during the civil rights era.

Advertisement

Which patriotic American song has the exact same melody of Britain's national anthem, "God Save the Queen"?
"The Mickey Mouse Song"
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee"
"Hail Chiefs"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Samuel Francis Smith may have written the lyrics to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," but he's not getting any bonus points for the melody. He simply used the melody from "God Save the Queen."

Advertisement

Which famous patriotic song contains the line: "We salute him, one and all"?
"This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag"
"Hail to the Chief"
"March of the Reich"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Hail to the Chief" waxes poetic about the nation's elected commander in chief. "Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation, Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all."

Advertisement

Which song was one of the first to be celebrated by the 13 colonies before the Revolutionary War?
"The Liberty Song"
"We Don't Want Your Tea, Anyway"
"We'll Burn Your Funny Wigs"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Founding father John Dickinson wrote "The Liberty Song" as a celebration of the colonies … and as a way to refute British control of their lives.

Advertisement

Which patriotic song has the chorus, "Glory, Glory, hallelujah"?
"I Get Lost in Your Eyes"
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"Amazing Grace"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can see why "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was so popular during the Civil War, when the country's life was at stake. The rousing "glory, glory, hallelujah" chorus undoubtedly caused many patriotic folks to shed a tear or two.

Advertisement

Which song was the de facto national anthem before "The Star-Spangled Banner" was offically named the country's true anthem?
"Blowin' in the Wind"
"My Country 'Tis of Thee"
"Rhinestone Cowboy"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There were several songs that were de facto national anthems before Congress finally made "The Star-Spangled Banner" official in 1931. "My Country 'Tis of Thee" was one of them. I guess no one cared that it used the same melody as "God Save the Queen" or perhaps Americans enjoyed the irony.

Advertisement

Which country music star recorded a patriotic staple named "God Bless the USA"?
Lee Greenwood
Trisha Yearwood
Motley Crue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Speaking of de facto national anthems, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" (from 1984) might as well be the country's official tune. It's blasted at nearly every patriotic event, from baseball games to political rallies.

Advertisement

This song was created in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Praise the Lord and Pass the ______."
Ammunition
Spicy Nacho Cheese
Red, White and Blue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a story about American courage made the rounds. One soldier supposedly said, "praise the Lord and pass the ammunition," and it became the title of a popular song.

Advertisement

Which patriotic pop song hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts?
"The Battle of Seattle"
"The Battle of New Orleans"
"The Battle of Dallas-Fort Worth"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1969, Johnny Horton popularized "The Battle of New Orleans," which recounts a solider's experience during the fight. It was a huge song about the War of 1812 that became a No. 1 hit.

Advertisement

Which song is sometimes called the "unofficial anthem" of the America West?
"Home on the Range"
"Cabin in the Woods"
"Mansion on the Mountain"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You know the words, sing it with me! "Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope play." It's also the state song of Kansas.

Advertisement

Complete the lyrics to this patriotic song. "You're a grand old flag, you're a _________."
high-flying flag
a perfect fire starter
symbol of imperialism
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"You're a grand old flag, you're a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave." "You're a Grand Old Flag" was written in 1906 for a musical called "George Washington, Jr."

Advertisement

Which patriotic song is always played at military funerals?
"Taps"
"Tips"
"Ticks"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Taps" is one of the most solemn songs in the catalog of American tunes. The few bugle notes are always played to mark the passing of veterans.

Advertisement

Which of the following is a real song?
Marines' Hymn
Song of the Seaman
The S.E.A.L. Anthem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The "Marines' Hymn" is the official hymn of the Marine Corps. It was officially adopted in 1929. It begins, "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli…"

Advertisement

Folk singer Woody Guthrie created which famous patriotic song, which is actually not all that patriotic?
"This Land is Your Land"
"Born in the USA"
"The End of the Innocence"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Guthrie got sick of hearing the popular song "God Bless America" and it's sappy sentiments. He wrote "This Land is Your Land" as a testament that not everything was perfect in America.

Advertisement

During the Civil War, which song became the de facto national anthem of the Confederacy?
"Yankee Doodle"
"Dixie"
"Rebel Yell"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During the Civil War, "Dixie" was the de facto national anthem of the Confederacy. It's a wistful song about the greatness of the South. "Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land."

Advertisement

Lee Greenwood's career was made by his song, "God Bless the USA." It was so popular that he created a new version of the song for which country?
Portugal
Canada
Russia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Greenwood's iconic "God Bless the USA" was so popular that he created a (nearly identical) version called "God Bless You Canada." No, we're not kidding … it's on YouTube.

Advertisement

True or false, does the original version of the song "The Stars and Stripes Forever" have lyrics?
true
false
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When John Philip Sousa wrote the march "The Stars and Stripes Forever," he did create lyrics, too. But most people know only the melody, not the words.

Advertisement

You Got:
/30
Shutterstock