Throughout the years many song-writers and musicians have expressed patriotism through song. Here are some of the best examples of patriotic songs from great American songwriters.

1. God Bless the USA: American country musician Lee Greenwood penned this rousing patriotic song which appeared on Greenwood’s 1984 album; the song reached No. 7 on the Billboard magazine charts and was played at the 1984 Republican National Convention. The song was also widely played during the Gulf War of 1990-1991 to boost service member and citizen morale.

2. Born in the USA: American folk-rock superstar Bruce Springsteen’s title track off his 1984 album is a stirring tale of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War and the hardships they faced. This song became an anthem for the 1980s.

3. America: Neil Diamond wrote and recorded this patriotic song for the soundtrack of 1980s "The Jazz Singer." The song became a hit in 1981 reaching No. 8 on the Billboard magazine Hot 100 chart. The song is also known as "Coming to America" or "They’re Coming to America" because of its immigration theme. Diamond continues to play the song at concerts often displaying an American flag during his performances.

4. American Soldier: Country musician Toby Keith penned this patriotic song for his 2003 album about an American soldier going off to war with dedication, loyalty and patriotism to America because "freedom don’t come free." The song became a No. one hit on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Songs chart.

5. This Land is Your Land: American folk singer Woody Guthrie penned this patriotic folk song in 1940 with an existing melody from Irving Berlin’s "God Bless America." The song was brought back to life in the 1960s, when folk singers Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio, The New Christy Minstrels among others, all recorded versions. Bruce Springsteen also released a live version of it in 1985. The song continues to be regularly recorded by contemporary musicians including the Counting Crows, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and the Dave Matthews Band. Springsteen and Pete Seeger sang the song on January 18 of this year at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.

6. Ballad of the Green Berets: This patriotic balled co-written and sang by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler reached the No. 1 spot and stayed there for five weeks in 1966. Sadler and friend Robin Moore wrote the song about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army, while Sadler was recovering from leg wound suffered in the Vietnam war.

7. America: Paul Simon wrote this patriotic song about two companions searching for the true meaning of America in the 1960s. Simon and his musical partner Art Garfunkel released the folk-rock song in 1968.