Well I went to visit my grandpa last Christmas
Said I need to ask some questions 'bout some things I don't understand
Like God and what love means and payin' taxes
What does this country stands for, I'm askin' man to man
So we sat down on that front porch and we talked about this land
He said it's like a paintbrush to a canvas, like a needle to a thread
It's a preacher on the corner, yellin' above the crowd
And it's a new mom buyin' diapers, with the baby screamin' loud
It's the soldiers in the battle, fightin' to win the war
Some don't know why they're there,
But others know what they're fightin' for
Some will fall and some will stand
But that's an American
Well I grabbed my morning coffee and read the paper
Wall Street crashin', business slashin' jobs for the workin' man
I hear the politicians arguing over money
Both tellin' us who's right and wrong, and who's got the better plans
But while all the things I see today, they take that center-stage
I can't help but think of the people that are on that second page
Like sergeant Seven Davis, on a first tour in Iraq
And just like private first class Mitchell,
Didn't know he wouldn't make it back
They're all soldiers in this battle, fightin' to win the war
Some don't know why they're there,
But others know what they're fightin' for
Some will fall and some will stand
But that's an American
I think back to the front porch talk and grandpa tellin' me why
And pray for the ones who fight so we can have the right
To be the preacher on the corner, yellin' above the crowd
To be a new mom buyin' diapers, with the baby screamin' loud
They're all soldiers in this battle, fightin' to win the war
Some don't know why they're there, but I know what they're fightin' for
Some will fall and some will stand
But that's an American
That's an American
That's an American