Looking for a cool collection of songs to play on your ipod at your 4th of July celebration? Here are a bunch of American celebration classics for any backyard barbeque.

They are the songs that bring that deep feeling of American pride to the surface, reminding us of our freedom and how thankful we should be for it. Let's take a look at some of the patriotic songs that capture our national pride.

Big Bands and Flags

John Philip Sousa had the corner on the market of patriotic American music. The most famous of his marches is Stars and Stripes Forever, although if you heard a bunch of his songs you would probably recognize them all! There are several collections of big band playing Sousa music available on amazon.com and other music sites. Other high-flying popular flag songs include You’re a Grand Old Flag and The Star Spangled Banner.

American Classics

You can’t go wrong with America, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, Dixie, I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and other true patriotic classics. Reverend Samuel Smith wrote in America:

My country, 'tis of Thee,

Sweet Land of Liberty

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountain side

Let Freedom ring.

Modern Patriotic Songs

There are many songs that are more contemporary that would also make for a great 4th of July soundtrack. God Bless the USA has been an incredibly popular country song played every year on Independence Day. Even reading some of its lyrics (by Lee Greenwood) evoke a patriotic emotional response:

And I’m proud to be an American,

where at least I know I’m free.

And I wont forget the men who died,

who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,

next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,

God bless the USA.

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen is another great modern patriotic song. There are a number of patriotic compilations available on CD if you don’t want to collect individual songs.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

This classic American song was written dur­ing the Amer­i­can ci­vil war, when Julia W. Howe vis­it­ed a Un­ion Ar­my camp on the Po­to­mac Riv­er near Wash­ing­ton, D. C. She heard the sol­diers sing­ing and was inspired by their strong march­ing beat. She wrote the words the next day:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on.

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.