Help me with my homework!

Okay, so there's this ancient Greek poem. (no, you don't have to read it.) 

It's basically telling all these strapping young Greek men to go pick up their spears and kick some barbarian behind, saying that dying in defense of your land is the greatest honour, no one cares about the people left behind, blah blah blah..

My question reads, "What songs can you think of from American history that have a similar purpose to this lyric?"

I'm Canadian.  I have no idea where to start looking.  Can someone give me a couple words to google, a point in the right direction?

 

"The Patriotic Diggers" by Samuel Woodworth. You don't much more patriotic, pro-violence lyrics than these.

ooooh - ncxcnnr I was just looking at that one and was going to recommend it!

Check out this website for others: http://www.contemplator.com/america/

Cheater!  Do your own homework!

Over There - Words & Music by: George M. Cohan

Kennesaw Line - Words by Sam Watkins, music unknown

Hope this helps

Thanks, everyone!  *scurries off to check links*

look up the history of the Star Spangled Banner...

Weren't there a slew of country songs like that right after 9/11? "Don't mess with the red white and blue we'll put a boot in your @$$" type things?

I don't know many Kid Rock songs but I know he's publicly spoken in favor of the war so maybe check out some of his lyrics?

Wilfred Owen - Dulce et Decorum Est

WWI poem (we read it when we read All Quiet on the Western Front).  The end of the poem is "dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (Latin for "it is sweet and honorable to die for your fatherland"). It's English, not American, but whatever.

Original Post by coffincritter:

Weren't there a slew of country songs like that right after 9/11? "Don't mess with the red white and blue we'll put a boot in your @$$" type things?

I don't know many Kid Rock songs but I know he's publicly spoken in favor of the war so maybe check out some of his lyrics?

 Yes there were!  Ballad of the Green Berets and all that.

What about The Battle Hymn of the Republic?  I know it's about the wrath of God, but  it's very warlike - terrible swift sword, fateful lightning, glory glory etc

edited to add:  YouTube - Civil War Songs  Two really good examples here

That was Toby Keith.

Lee Greenwood- Proud to be an American

Yeah, that Lee Greenwood song was the first to come to mind. That's huge in my hometown...they play it at every ball game, 4th of July, etc, and everyone stares off into the distance wistfully thinking about putting a boot in someone's ass...