从《带我回家，乡村路》（Take Me Home, Country Roads）到《生于美国》（Born in the U.S.A.），再到《我并非参议员之子》（I Ain’t No Senator’s Son）——或许，透过那些吟咏美国的歌词，你能最清晰地勾勒出这个国家的模样。
甚至连波诺（Bono）都曾故作高深地宣称：“美国就是一首歌。”眼下，这首歌听起来像是不和谐的爵士乐，但偶尔，它也能奏出悦耳的旋律。这些旋律诉说着关于这个国家的种种。放眼全球，任何国家的艺术都深受其社会与土地的影响；而对于美国而言，那片辽阔无垠的疆域及其所激发的种种梦想，似乎正是其文化图景展开的核心所在。
若论谁最能体现“红白蓝”的美国精神，布鲁斯·斯普林斯汀（Bruce Springsteen）恐怕当仁不让；他是一位彻头彻尾的美国式艺人。当他唱到跳进一辆车身凹陷的肌肉车、一路狂飙到天际时，你总是深信不疑。你会想象他没日没夜地飞驰，轮胎摩擦地面冒出青烟，而那一轮落日仿佛永远悬挂在后视镜中。你会觉得他真的能抛下那毫无前途的旧生活，去加州、波士顿，或者任何那个“未尝败绩的主角”正驱车前往的地方，去实现自己的人生目标。
这种叙事逻辑一旦脱离了美国语境，便行不通了。试想一下，如果那个主角换成英国人，想要驾车远行去追寻新生活，那他恐怕得坐进一辆经济实惠的沃克斯豪尔Corsa（Corsa）里，规规矩矩地从纽卡斯尔出发，慢悠悠地开上一个小时，直到抵达利兹郊外的一个高速公路服务区；这时他会突然回过神来，喝杯茶，吃个香肠卷，然后调头回家。
世界上大多数人都会认同这种思维方式。在其他大多数地方，事物的格局与规模往往较小。这一点不仅体现在音乐主题上，也同样反映在音乐的音色与质感之中。以《American Girl》为例，汤姆·佩蒂（Tom Petty）这首经典之作充满了强劲有力的开放和弦，演奏风格尽显那种大开大合、自信张扬的派头。
事实上，摇滚乐这种音乐形式的诞生本身就是美国独有的现象。这一切的源头，正是新奥尔良的刚果广场（Congo Square）。这片传奇之地位于如今恰如其名地以路易斯·阿姆斯特朗（Louis Armstrong）命名的公园中心，紧邻法国区（French Quarter）北侧；在那个年代，每逢周日获准休息，非洲奴隶们便会在此聚会。这种聚会模式在1817年成为强制规定，当时新奥尔良市长特意将该广场指定为唯一允许的“聚会场所”。
试想一下，在新奥尔良这座充满活力与时尚气息的城市中心，这种欢快而嘈杂的喧闹声，是如何引发了现代音乐的喷薄而出。爵士乐、蓝调和摇滚乐，正是从这片大熔炉般的广场上激荡而出的。广场四周环绕着形态扭曲的紫树（tupelo trees）和蜿蜒曲折的尘土小径；一轮巨大的、如黏土球般的圆月——仿佛比在世界其他地方更贴近这片三角洲——高悬在闷热潮湿的夜空之中，宛如正俯身窥探着下方人们那充满喜悦的庆典之声，全然不顾那严酷凄凉的现实处境。
你可能会看到一位蓝调吉他手坐在长椅上弹奏，另一张长椅上有人在唱赞美诗，而旁边还有位鼓手敲击着伏都教（Vodou）的节奏。当来自四面八方的音乐汇聚交融时，一场充满摇摆律动的精彩即兴演奏便可能随之爆发。而这，就是摇滚乐。
明智的读者不难看出，尽管这种特质赋予了该流派一种值得称道的反叛精神，但它诞生之初所伴随的扭曲与堕落，绝非仅仅是一个微不足道的注脚。正因如此，美国音乐往往也带有极其强烈的政治色彩。正如詹姆斯·鲍德温（James Baldwin）所言：“我爱美国，胜过世界上任何其他国家；也正是出于这个原因，我坚持保留永远批评它的权利。”
该国许多顶尖艺术家都持有类似的观点。这一切共同造就了美国作为全球第二大音乐引擎的地位（眨眼）。因此，为了纪念（或感叹）美国建国250周年，我们精心挑选了250首关于美国的伟大歌曲，汇编成了一份歌单。
250首关于美国的最伟大的歌曲：
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ – Sam Cooke (1964)
‘Across 110th Street’ – Bobby Womack (1972)
‘Alabama’ – 13th Floor Elevators (1966)
‘Alabama’ – Neil Young (1972)
‘All My Friends Are in New York’ – The Stranglers (1977)
‘Allentown’ – Billy Joel (1982)
‘Alright’ – Kendrick Lamar (2015)
‘America’ – Christopher Owens (2015)
‘America’ – First Aid Kit (2014)
‘America’ – Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim (1957)
‘America’ – Prince (1985)
‘America’ – Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
‘America Drinks & Goes Home’ – Frank Zappa (1967)
‘America Eats Its Young’ – Funkadelic (1972)
‘American Dream’ – LCD Soundsystem (2017)
‘American Girl’ – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
‘American Idiot’ – Green Day (2004)
‘American Jesus’ – Bad Religion (1993)
‘American Life’ – Madonna (2003)
‘American Pie’ – Don McLean (1971)
‘American Remains’ – The Highwaymen (1990)
‘American Woman’ – The Guess Who (1970)
‘Americana’ – Ray Davies (2004)
‘Americans’ – Janelle Monae (2018)
‘Angel from Montgomery’ – John Prine (1971)
‘Angeles’ – Elliott Smith (1997)
‘Arizona’ – Kings of Leon (2007)
‘ATliens’ – Outkast (1996)
‘Avenue A’ – The Dictators (1977)
‘Back in the U.S.A.’ – Chuck Berry (1959)
‘Back in the USA’ – Linda Ronstadt (1978)
‘Baltimore’ – Randy Newman (1977)
‘Baltimore Oriole’ – Hoagy Carmichael (1941)
‘Big River’ – Johnny Cash (1958)
‘Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos’ – Public Enemy (1988)
‘Blood Buzz Ohio’ – The National (2010)
‘Blue Coupe’ – Twin Peaks (2017)
‘Blue Ridge Mountains’ – Fleet Foxes (2008)
‘Born in the U.S.A.’ – Bruce Springsteen (1984)
‘Boys of Summer’ – Don Henley (1984)
‘Breakfast in America’ – Supertramp (1979)
‘Brooklyn’ – Steely Dan (1972)
‘Buckskin Boy’ – Hataali (2023)
‘California’ – Joni Mitchell (1971)
‘California Dreamin” – The Mamas & the Papas (1965)
‘California Nights’ – Best Coast (2010)
‘California Soul’ – Marlena Shaw (1969)
‘California Stars’ – Billy Bragg & Wilco (1998)
‘California Über Alles’ – Dead Kennedys (1979)
‘Calling America’ – ELO (1986)
‘Campfire Song’ – Levon Helm (2009)
‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ – Vampire Weekend (2008)
‘Carolina Drama’ – The Raconteurs (2008)
‘Casey Jones’ – Grateful Dead (1970)
‘Central Park West’ – John Coltrane (1964)
‘Changes’ – Tupac (1992)
‘Chicago’ – Graham Nash (1971)
‘Chicago’ – Sufjan Stevens (2005)
‘Chimacum Rain’ – Linda Perhacs (1970)
‘Cissy Strut’ – The Meters (1969)
‘Clay Pigeons’ – Blaze Foley (1989)
‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ – Loretta Lynn (1970)
‘Community of Hope’ – PJ Harvey (2016)
‘Copperhead Road’ – Steve Earle (1988)
‘Country Roads’ – John Denver (1971)
‘County Lines’ – Cass McCombs (2011)
‘Crossroad Blues’ – Robert Johnson (1936)
‘Crosstown Traffic’ – Jimi Hendrix (1968)
‘Dallas’ – Silver Jews (1996)
‘Dancing in the Street’ – Martha and the Vandellas (1964)
‘Detroit Rock City’ – Kiss (1976)
‘Dirty Blvd’ – Lou Reed (1989)
‘Do You Know the Way to San Jose’ – Dionne Warwick (1968)
‘Do You Know This Town’ – The Jesus and Mary Chain (1994)
‘Don’t Go Back to Rockville’ – R.E.M. (1984)
‘Don’t Worry About the Government’ – Talking Heads (1977)
‘Don’t Underestimate Midwest American Sun’ – Kevin Morby (2020)
‘Down in the Street’ – The Stooges (1970)
‘East St. Louis Toodle-Oo’ – Duke Ellington (1927)
‘East Virginia’ – Joan Baez (1961)
‘El Paso’ – Marty Robbins (1959)
‘End of Beginning’ – Djo (2022)
‘Eve of Destruction’ – Barry McGuire (1965)
‘Everyday People’ – Sly and the Family Stone (1968)
‘Everybody’s Coming to My House’ – David Byrne (2018)
‘Fairytale of New York’ – The Pogues (1987)
‘Fast Car’ – Tracy Chapman (1988)
‘Feels Blind’ – Bikini Kill (1991)
‘Fire and Brimstone’ – Link Wray (1971)
‘For What It’s Worth’ – Buffalo Springfield (1966)
‘Fortunate Son’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)
‘Frank’s Wild Years’ – Tom Waits (1987)
‘Frankie’s Gun’ – The Felice Brothers (2007)
‘Freedom Highway’ – The Staple Singers (1965)
‘Freedom of Choice’ – DEVO (1980)
‘Freedom of ‘76’ – Ween (1993)
‘Gardenia’ – Kyuss (1994)
‘Georgia on My Mind’ – Ray Charles (1960)
‘Going to a Town’ – Rufus Wainwright (2007)
‘Going to California’ – Led Zeppelin (1971)
‘Graceland’ – Paul Simon (1986)
‘Grand Canyon’ – The Magnetic Fields (1999)
‘Greenwich Village Folk Song Salesman’ – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood (1968)
‘Harlem’ – Bill Withers (1971)
‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ – Cocteau Twins (1990)
‘Hills of West Virginia’ – Phil Ochs (1964)
‘Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings’ – Father John Misty (2012)
‘Hollywood Hopeful’ – Loudon Wainwright III (1973)
‘Hollywood Swinging’ – Kool & The Gang (1973)
‘Holocene’ – Bon Iver (2011)
‘Hotel California’ – Eagles (1976)
‘Hotel Yorba’ – The White Stripes (2001)
‘House of the Rising Sun’ – The Animals (1964)
‘I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City’ – Harry Nilsson (1969)
‘I Love the USA’ – Weezer (2016)
‘Imagine’ – John Lennon (1971)
‘In America’ – The Radio Dept (2010)
‘In California’ – Joanna Newsom (2004)
‘Indian Reservation’ – Paul Revere & the Raiders (1971)
‘Inner City Blues’ – Rodriguez (1971)
‘Jesusland’ – Ben Folds (2005)
‘Joshua Tree’ – U2 (1987)
‘Kentucky Rain’ – Elvis Presley (1970)
‘Kids in America’ – Kim Wilde (1981)
‘King of New York’ – Fun Lovin’ Criminals (1996)
‘Knoxville Girl’ – The Louvin Brothers (1956)
‘L.A. Woman’ – The Doors (1971)
‘Lawyers, Guns, and Money’ – Warren Zevon (1978)
‘Like a Rolling Stone’ – Bob Dylan (1965)
‘Little Pink Houses’ – John Mellencamp (1983)
‘Living for the City’ – Stevie Wonder (1973)
‘Living in America’ – James Brown (1985)
‘Long Black Veil’ – Lefty Frizzell (1959)
‘Long Island City Here I Come’ – Geese (2025)
‘Los Angeles’ – X (1980)
‘Louisiana’ – The Walkmen (2008)
‘Low Rider’ – War (1975)
‘Mannish Boy’ – Muddy Waters (1955)
‘Marquee Moon’ – Television (1977)
‘Massachusetts’ – Bee Gees (1968)
‘Me and Bobby McGee’ – Kris Kristofferson (1970)
‘Memphis’ – Johnny Rivers (1964)
‘Memphis Soul Stew’ – King Curtis (1967)
‘Miami’ – Short Porch (2023)
‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ – Gladys Knight & the Pips (1973)
‘Mississippi Goddam’ – Nina Simone (1964)
‘Mississippi Queen’ – Mountain (1970)
‘Mississippi River’ – JJ Cale (1982)
‘Moon Over Miami’ – Sarah Vaughan (1960)
‘Morning, Morning’ – The Fugs (1966)
‘My City Was Gone’ – Pretenders (1982)
‘My Country’ – Tune-Yards (2011)
‘New Hampshire’ – Sonic Youth (2004)
‘New York’ – Cat Power (2008)
‘New York’ – St Vincent (2017)
‘New York City Cops’ – The Strokes (2001)
‘New York Groove’ – Ace Frehley (1978)
‘Night Moves’ – Bob Seger (1976)
‘No Sleep Till Brooklyn’ – Beastie Boys (1986)
‘NYC’ – Interpol (2002)
‘October in the Railroad Earth – Jack Kerouac (1959)
‘Ode to Billy Joe’ – Bobbie Gentry (1967)
‘Ohio’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
‘Okie from Muskogee’ – Merle Haggard (1969)
‘Old Crow’ – James Taylor (1997)
‘Only in America’ – Jay and the Americans (1963)
‘Pacific Coast Highway’ – Hole (1998)
‘Pancho and Lefty’ – Townes Van Zandt (1972)
‘Parties in the USA’ – Jonathan Richman (1992)
‘People Get Ready’ – Curtis Mayfield (1965)
‘Philly’s Been Good To Me’ – Kurt Vile (2013)
‘Please Mr Postman’ – The Marvellettes (1961)
‘Portland’ – The Replacements (1987)
‘Private Idaho’ – The B52s (1980)
‘Radlands’ – Mystery Jets (2012)
‘Ramblin’ Man’ – The Allman Brothers Band (1973)
‘Reagan’ – Killer Mike (2012)
‘Red Dirt Girl’ – Emmylou Harris (2000)
‘Redondo Beach’ – Patti Smith (1975)
‘Rock & Roll’ – The Velvet Underground (1970)
‘Rockaway Beach’ – Ramones (1977)
‘Rocket USA’ – Suicide (1977)
‘Roll Bus Roll’ – Jeffrey Lewis (2009)
‘Route 66’ – Nat King Cole Trio (1946)
‘Runaway’ – Del Shannon (1961)
‘Running on Empty’ – Jackson Browne (1977)
‘San Francisco’ – Scott McKenzie (1967)
‘San Francisco’ – Foxygen (2013)
‘Saturday in the Park’ – Chicago (1972)
‘Seattle’ – Public Image Ltd (1986)
‘Seattle Party’ – Chastity Belt (2013)
‘Silver Springs’ – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
‘Sin City’ – The Flying Burrito Brothers (1969)
‘Son of a Preacher Man’ – Dusty Springfield (1968)
‘Soul Man’ – Sam & Dave (1967)
‘South City Midnight Lady’ – The Doobie Brothers (1973)
‘Southbound’ – The Allman Brothers Band (1973)
‘Spanish Harlem’ – Ben E King (1960)
‘St. Louis Blues’ – Bessie Smith (1929)
‘Stars Fell on Alabama’ – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1957)
‘Straight Outta Compton’ – NWA (1988)
‘Subway Train’ – The New York Dolls (1974)
‘Summer in the City’ – The Lovin’ Spoonful (1966)
‘Summertime’ – Porgy and Bess (1935)
‘Summertime in New York City’ – Gil Scott-Heron (1976)
‘Surfin’ USA’ – The Beach Boys (1963)
‘Sweet Home Alabama’ – Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
‘Sweet Virginia’ – The Rolling Stones (1972)
‘Take Me to the River’ – Al Green (1974)
‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ – Mahalia Jackson (1956)
‘Texas Flood’ – Stevie Ray Vaughan (1983)
‘Texas Sun’ – Khruangbin & Leon Bridges (2020)
‘That’ll Be The Day’ – Buddy Holly (1957)
‘The Banks of the Ohio’ – The Kossoy Sisters (1956)
‘The Battle of New Orleans’ – Johnny Horton (1959)
‘The History of Utah’ – Camper Van Beethoven (1986)
‘The House I Live In’ – Frank Sinatra (1945)
‘The House that Built Me’ – Miranda Lambert (2009)
‘The Lady Came from Baltimore’ – Scott Walker (1967)
‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’ – The Band (1969)
‘This Is America’ – Childish Gambino (2018)
‘This Land’ – Gary Clark Jr (2019)
‘This Land Is Your Land’ – Woody Guthrie (1945)
‘This Side of the Island’ – Hamilton Leithauser (2014)
‘This Tornado Loves You’ – Neko Case (2009)
‘Total Football’ – Parquet Courts (2018)
‘Transatlanticism’ – Death Cab For Cutie (2003)
‘Tulsa County’ – The Byrds (1968)
‘Tulsa Jesus Freak’ – Lana Del Rey (2021)
‘Tupelo’ – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (1985)
‘United States of Whatever’ – Liam Lynch (2002)
‘Uptown’ – The Crystals (1962)
‘Ventura Highway’ – America (1972)
‘Washington Bullets’ – The Clash (1980)
‘We Are An American Band’ – Grand Funk Railroad (1973)
‘We Are The People’ – A Tribe Called Quest (2016)
‘We Shall Overcome’ – Pete Seeger (1963)
‘Welcome to the Jungle’ – Guns N’ Roses (1987)
‘What’s Going On’ – Marvin Gaye (1971)
‘When the President Talks to God’ – Bright Eyes (2005)
‘When the Revolution Comes’ – The Last Poets (1970)
‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’ – Lead Belly (1944)
‘Wichita Lineman’ – Glen Campbell (1968)
‘Will the Circle be Broken’ – The Carter Family (1935)
‘Working Titles’ – Damien Jurado (2012)
‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ – Gordon Lightfoot (1976)
‘Yakety Yak’ – The Coasters (1958)
‘Young Americans’ – David Bowie (1975)
‘Youngstown’ – Richard Hawley (2012)
‘Your Best American Girl’ – Mitski (2016)
