I'm sure you're wondering "Tierani, what is your issue with Carrie Underwood?" Well, it's not that I have any issue with Oklahoma's Sweetheart, I just have an issue with one of her songs: "All American Girl."
While the song is catchy and she sings it well, the lyrics are...wrong. So, now that I have your attention, allow me to explain everything wrong with this song.
The song opens with:
"Since the day they got married
He'd been praying for a little baby boy"
I honestly have no issue with this line because that's like every. man. ever. Men dream of having their son--to pass on the blood-line, legacy or whatever. Blah.
Here's the next few lines:
"Someone he could take fishing Throw the football and be his pride and joy
He already see him holding that trophy Taking his team to State"
Again, I don't have a big issue with this. Father-Son bonding, raising the son to be a man and just enjoying the role of fatherhood. GREAT! WE LOVE DADS WHO LOVE TO BE DADS.
Here is where my problems begin...the next lines are:
"But when the nurse came in with a little pink blanket
All those big dreams changed"
*Record needle scratch* EXCUUUUUUUSE ME?! WHAT?! His "big dreams" changed because he had a DAUGHTER?! Now wait just a dang minute. A father can't take his daughter fishing? A father can't throw a football to his daughter? Don't even get me started on the pride and joy part.
My dad may have never taken me fishing (he didn't take my brother either, we aren't a hunting/fishing family), but he certainly threw a football to me, hit fly-balls and grounders to me, and played 1-on-1 with me in the driveway. The fact that I was a girl did not stop my dad from teaching me sports and spending that type of quality time with me. ALSO, the fact I was a girl didn't mean my dad was going to take it easy on me. I would win when I earned it--we may be a bit competitive. (My mom also coached me but that's besides the point right now because we are talking about dads).
The next part says the future dad can see his son holding the trophy and taking his team to state...that's great and all but....GIRLS CAN DO THAT TOO. In fact, my dad has a son and a daughter, and would you like to guess which one went to state? That's right, the daughter! To imply the daughter can't do that or the dad thinks she won't is WRONG. My dad was very proud of me for going to state in basketball and track. He was even more proud when we won. If my dad had a dream of a child going to state, it was certainly not ruined because he had a daughter. Also, if that was my dad's dream, it wasn't diminished because a daughter did it instead of a son.
Just for fun, this is the chorus:
"And now he's wrapped around her finger
She's the center of his whole world
And his heart belongs to that sweet little beautiful, wonderful, perfect all-American girl"
Okay, so that's sweet. He loves his daughter very much and he would do anything for her. No issues here except what exactly was she "All-American" in? Baking? Knitting? Whatever it is the dad thinks girls are supposed to do since it's not sports. I'm probably reading too much into this part but I'm already salty so I'm going to marinate in it (HA!) But as a side note, if you're a woman who does these things and does not do sports, that's totally okay! My issue is more with the song alluding to that girls can't, won't or shouldn't do athletic competition--leave that to the sons. BLEH!
Okay, time for the second verse:
"Sixteen short years later
She was falling for the senior football star
Before you knew it he was dropping passes
Skipping practice just to spend more time with her"
PAUSE. So, this "sweet, perfect, all-American girl" is just okay with her boyfriend skipping practice to be with her? She's okay with him playing like garbage to spend time with her? She's okay being the reason he is letting his team down? Plus it's probably a small town, so she's okay with letting him let the town down? GOODNESS. An understanding, selfless person would not allow someone they care about to neglect a commitment (especially to a team) to spend "more time" with them. That sounds controlling and needy. It sounds WRONG.
It gets WORSE. Here's the next part:
"The coach said "Hey son, what's your problem?
Tell me, have you lost your mind?"
Daddy said "You'll lose your free ride to college.
Boy you better tell her goodbye"
The boy skipped so much practice and played so poorly that he was going to lose a FREE ride to college because of HER. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? She's just like "la ti da" about that? She's just like "wow babe, you love me so much that you're throwing away an opportunity to better your future?!" I CAN'T. I'm just more annoyed because, as a former athlete, there's no way I would've been okay with high school or college boyfriends skipping practice or not playing to their potential because of me. No way, José.
Honestly, if that was my son, I would be taking him to practice myself and sitting through the whole thing to make sure he's honoring his commitment to the team. If he chooses not to go to college or play sports in college: fine, but I'm not letting you lose a free chance to go because you want to skip for a girl. NOPE.
The chorus begins again but now it's the high school boy who is wrapped around her finger and in love with her. Blah, blah, blah.
Here is the last verse:
"And when they got married and decided to have one of their own
She said "Be honest, tell me what you want?"
And he said "Honey, you wanna know
Sweet, little, beautiful, one just like you
Oh, a beautiful, wonderful, perfect all-American"
What this implies to me is the husband stayed home with this girl because he lost his scholarship and did not get a free education. Sure, it's possible that he still went to college and paid for it; but based on the last verse, he was so in love with her that he likely just stayed home to be with her. Again, I'm implying here but eh. So, the fact the wife is the reason this man likely did not get a college experience, college-athlete opportunity, or a free education sounds like it could build a lot of resentment over the next 10-20 years.
The song ends with the chorus, which means the husband got a daughter that he adores. All I can say is, I hope he takes his daughter fishing or teaches her how to throw a football.
As you can see from the picture above, I was not lying when I said I grew up with sports. This is my uncle throwing the football with me at three years old. It's how I was raised, and created some of my best memories. My dad, uncles, brother, cousins and brother's friends all played sports with me. Believe me, none of them took it easy on me either. I was to be a girl: sugar, spice and everything nice, if you will. But given the right environment: I was to hold my own with the boys.
I will admit that "All American Girl" is in my music library, and I enjoy listening every now and then...but it still gets under my skin. I just think Carrie got it wrong, but that's just me.
In conclusion: Dads, play catch with your daughters.
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." -Proverbs 22:6
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