I know this wasn’t the intention, but I started crying when the final Will Ferrell song came on. I’m an immigrant too, and I got my citizenship in 2016. I live in the South now, and I often feel like I don’t belong in this country, people always ask me where I’m from because I never got rid of my accent, and I always feel like I have to explain why I live the way I live. But this is the first time I have heard “you are American too”, and I never thought I could be so touched. Your problems ARE my problems, America, and I am honored to help solve them.
As someone who asks people sometimes where their accent is from, please know I do it because I'm interested in you. As a born-American, I have done only a little foreign traveling and could learn cool things from you. I find it flattering that people would move far away, to our country with a totally different language. I'm glad you're here. 🤗
I worked in stage production for several years and the only time I screwed up a show was for Lee Greenwood. I missed my spot cue so the other spot operator covered me, but then I turned on my spot, so she turned off hers, but I turned off mine, so we accidentally strobed him for like 10 seconds. He was visibly upset and yelled at us while on stage. I cherish that memory.
I'm a Black American, born and raised. My BLACK family has been here since the late 1700s (not to speak of White slave owners who show up in my DNA or the Indigenous DNA I carry). This is most patriotic song I have ever heard. I would buy THIS. THIS is relatable and doesn't feel manipulative like the other one always felt like. "Where at least I know I'm free" never resonated with me. Never felt like it was talking about me.
1700s? Your family legacy in America predates mine by at least a hundred years! Thank you for sharing my fellow American! We will work together on these big problems (I hope... Day before final votes cast in Nov 2024)
I suggest you listen to Paul Robeson's "What Is America to Me?" which might resonate better with you (as it does with me). There are several different versions. Make sure you find the one with the lines, The house I live in, my neighbors White and Black, the people who just came here or from generations back
I loved that line, too. German here - we have also big problems and it would be nice to get help for them. Unfortunately, many of our politicians are too blind to see the possibilities.
We might have to start having that song played at our own community "Welcome Home" ceremonies!!! If Last Week Tonight would grant the rights... which I suspect they would.
You can also sign up to have your car be an extra. When my sister lived in California she and her car were both signed up and her car was in a couple things. It's easy money usually a few $100, well that was back like 15 years ago money. So probably the same...
I grew up in Wisconsin, and my (then) 6 year-old sister became so fatigued with how saturated the airwaves were with this song post 9/11 that she wrote this: "And I'm proud to be a Wisconsinite Where at least I know there's cheese And I won't forget the cow who thrived And gave that block to me And I'll gladly stand up Next to her In a very thrilling way 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this state I have cheddar on my plate" EDIT: Oh my goodness! Thank all you lovely people for your sweet comments! I'll definitely pass this love on to my sister, who is still the funniest person I know.
glad u got ur cry out. there is a great sense of mourning over this nation & the world at large. people like us who have working instincts & decency have to do more to try to educate people & call them out while remembering the majority of them are just deficient. "Dont let despair have the last word."
The end of that song "Wherever you come from, Wherever you roam, Fellow Americans, Welcome Home" no joke made me cry. I'm a 30 year old American that was born here and all, so no personal connection to it I guess, but just the idea of telling our new citizens "Fellow Americans, Welcome home" just has me sobbing. It's precious.
Even I was moved, and I'm not American and not an immigrant. I'm Dutch and have lived in the Netherlands my whole life. But I don't have to be American or an immigrant to be moved by the sentiment, because all you have to be for that is human!
Having worked with a few folks over the years who have had to flee their countries due to civil war, ethnic cleansing, etc., and became US citizens, you aren't the only one who got a bit choked up there.
@@ruttolomeo1987 Look, I'm a (straight) single father of a 9 year old boy, and I get teary-eyed easily, usually for happy things. Like my son giving me a squeeze hug and saying "I love you Daddy". That's just how I am, and there is nothing wrong with that. I am raising my son to be the same way ‐ open to his emotions. He goes to the school therapist about once a month if something happens in school that he needs to vent about, or just to talk. It's healthy to be in touch with your emotions.
Will Ferrell song is perfection, I’m legit tearing up. “We sure ain’t perfect, but here’s to the fight. The brightest future’s the one you’ll write. Wherever you come from, wherever you roam, fellow Americans, welcome home.” No shit it’s like Walt Whitman in 2024 ❤❤❤
It is TOTALLY Whitmanesque!!!! AND Perfection!!! Woot! "I Hear America Singing"...a great new song they learned from Will Ferrell on Last Week Tonight!
@@jof.5159People born abroad who feel so attracted to the ideals of America that they become citizens are more authentically American than those of us just lucky enough to be born here.
Genuinely, as a Brazilian immigrant, I cannot tell you how much being an American citizen has changed my life. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone tell me “you are American” as emotionally as Ferrel, thank you John Oliver, from one immigrant to another.
Hello fellow immigrant! I am from Canada. Although to be fair, I had a Lee Greenwood patriotism song in my home country too. I just didn't know about it until now.
@@factotumsAaaah. So good to see you MAGAS supporting your fellow Americans right to free speech. Why don’t you go back to your fatherland of borscht, vodka, and no bread in the stores.
How hard would it be to sing "and I'd proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless Canada, eh?" there it rhymes. Fixed your song for you, Lee. Send me $22,000.
This comment hits HOME for me who’s in the immigration process in this hard time. It’s not easy, but I think me in 10 years will thank me today for making the most important decision of my life as I did.
Given the overall iffy quality of the closed captions for this segment, I thought I'd do us all a favor by transcribing the lyrics to this fantastic song: You studied hard, you did your best filled out the forms and passed the test. Now you're part of a land that's so God blessed and starting today ... you're American. There's corn dogs and apple pie, fireworks lightin' up the sky, NASCAR, rodeo, barbecue -- that's stuff's American ... now so are you. You learned our Presidents and our laws, I think it's time to mention our flaws. We're a real big country with real big problems, we're kind of hoping you could help us solve them. Televangelists and fossil fuels, metal detectors in all our schools, private prisons and Mountain Dew, that stuff's American ... now they're your problem too. Student debt and CTE, the war on drugs, Scientology, Boeing airlines and Ted fuckin' Cruz, they're all American ... now so are you. Nowadays it's harder to be free, hard to be the country that we oughta be! You weren't born here, you volunteered, to join your faith to the great and the just plain weird! Chorus: Just plain weird! So get ready for truck nuts and jet ski tricks, SantaCon and food on sticks, thousands of medical bankruptcies, plantation weddings and Chuck E. Cheese! Big Gulps and L.L. Bean, tornadoes, Spirit Halloween, holy shit I just remembered the coup, that stuff's American! We ain't perfect but here's to the fight, the brightest future's the one you'll write! Wherever you come from wherever you roam, fellow Americans, fellow Americans, fellow Americans ... Welcome home!
The new song with Will actually made me feel more patriotic than I ever have. I dislike how conservative politics have co-opted what it means to supposedly "be a real American". This new song spoke to me
Modern conservatives are projecting a fantasy because they no longer represent the culture of this country. The last time they had it was after 9/11, and even then it only lasted for a few months.
Same. I think that speaks to the jingoistic auto response that people get to the vapid, shallow, kneejerk, saccharine patriotic song that Greenwood sings. The song Ferrell sings expresses reality and real emotion. Greenwood's song was probably written in an afternoon researching patriotic phrases in a thesaurus. My main problem with it is the line "but at least we know we're free." It implies somewhat defensively, that we have some kind of singular right to freedom. We don't even know how to define it. Most of the western world and many eastern countries are just as "free" as we are.
In 1998, they played this song during our "ball cap ceremony" at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes. Many of us had tears in our eyes as we swapped our "Recruit" ball caps for "Navy" ball caps. I'll always fondly remember that moment, but now one aspect of that memory is a bit tarnished.
You're not Catholic are you? Ba-dum-chhhhh But seriously, it's funny how honesty can do that, as opposed to the sham of jingoism foisted on people by hucksters wrapped in eagles and red, white, and blue.
I’m American born and raised, but my mother and my ex-husband are immigrants, so I have a soft spot for anyone who opts in to this madness. That song at the end touched my heart. It’s hilarious, beautiful and the most accurate depiction of what it means to be American that I’ve ever seen.
But the Greenwood song always speaks to me about the real America. The one where a man makes millions of dollars promising to stand up NEXT to veterans. Not with them, not for them, but sure, I will take any valor that can rub off. Can you tell how much I hate that song?
I’m an American who was born here and my mom is an American who was born in Cuba. That song actually made me emotional. It’s really beautiful and funny and just very American. I hope that other people becoming Americans can actually listen to that song and know how glad we are to have them here. I love the sentiment.
Well we are glad your mom came over because we got you! And you seem smarter than most Americans already. So we're already better for having you both.🇺🇲🦅
This song hit so unexpectedly hard. I am just a visitor from Europe staying here for a few weeks with a friend in this mad, big, contradictory country.
Internationally, there is a disappointment in what the US has been up to lately. So when we show our better side and what actually makes us unique, the imperfect romance holds and many folks elsewhere welcome that image we have always sold, sometimes well and other times poorly.
The word UNITED refers to the federal government, it does not refer to all the states agreeing. California is 180deg. from Texas for example. #CaliforniaPride
I’m a veteran and I gotta say… that song made me emotional. I’m so happy to an American and to imagine people who’ve worked their whole lives to be American too. As tears stream down my face, I know that America can truly be anyone’s home. It’s wierd but that’s because we all are. ❤🇺🇸
Will be voting later today for the first time in nearly 25 years of my life thus far. Super excited for it. What a perfect new John Oliver episode to have watched just before that.
I know this song is supposed to be a joke, but that is ironically the most patriotic song I have ever heard. Extremely well produced. I hope they actually do play it for our new citizens.
Curious why you believe this song was ever meant to be a joke? From the time it was first released, I never heard that. Maybe I missed something? I do believe it has gotten mocked because of the Trump connection. Shameful
@@delece5730 InvisiblerApple is right, I was referencing the absolute banger of a song at the end of the video. It was still fresh in my mind because I like to watch the video before looking/responding to youtube comments. It didn't come across my mind that anyone else wouldn't watch the entire video first before diving into the comments.
The song inspired me to apply to study immigration law. I was afraid to come out to schools about my true interests, but the hard work and genuine conviction behind the production gave me the confidence. That's the America I still believe in, and want to serve. I'm not hiding it anymore. Thank you sincerely, Jon, and everyone.
My wife was naturalized about the same time. I threw up in my mouth to see Donald Trump giving a welcome speech to immigrants. His performance on the camera looked like a hostage situation, so fake and stiff.
This comment is pathetic, just like the rest of this comment section. What, because a musician supports a politician you don’t like? You leftists are so pitifully fragile. Seriously, grow up.
When I was stationed in Germany our sergeant major felt that we needed something to cheer us up and make us proud. So twice a day, every day, once in the morning after "Reveille" and once in the evening after "Retreat" Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA" was played across the base. There was no getting away from it, you heard it no matter where you were on base. I got to hear that song twice a day every day for three years until I finally got stationed in Texas at Ft. Hood. To say I'm a little sick of the song is an understatement.
I am still balling like a baby while I type this message out! This song hit all of the emotional buttons for me. As soon as I laid eyes on Mr. Will Ferrell (yes, indeed, he is a national treasure!) and heard him begin to sing, I was sobbing. Well, right up until he mentioned ''Ted F-ing Cruze,'' at which point, I let out a cathartic guffaw! What a beautiful song... yes, please use it at all future USA naturalization ceremonies. Many thanks to the team at ''Last Week Tonight'' for putting together this amazing display of creativity and talent! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!
As an American immigrant living in England, I’m so fucking happy for you hahaha. Most Americans hold this sentiment towards you, there is just a very loud part that is horrible and deplorable. Wishing you many blessings and a prosperous life. It’s your country too now!
Whomever wrote that song, both the music and the words, deserve(s) an award. That is incredible songwriting. Also the video and choreo were stellar! When it climaxes towards the hopeful ending, the salute the gospel choir gives in front of the Statue of Liberty gave me chills. Anyone who knows what that statue represents, should head for the polls and show the Orange Insurrectionists how many real Americans are still out there. God Bless the USA, from your friends in Europe. Emma Lazerus' poem on the Statue of Liberty says it all: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
I became a citizen in 2017. Thank God there was no speech by DT played, or that song at my ceremony. But, I would have LOVED this one from John Oliver!
there is nothing wrong with that song. sadly, it's been ruined by tying it to those people and that pathetic pumpkin. it used to mean all of us. now, it only means THEM. sad.
Well enjoy your stay with our disfunctional family, lol. In all seriousness, glad to have you hear. Most people born here couldn't pass that test, so props!
It made me cry. For as F'd up as this place is, I love it, and I don't want to have to leave, nor get deported even though I was born here. Trump's ilk have made it so clear that Trump will kick everyone else out of the country, because he and they think they're the only "Americans." He threatened to kill anyone who tries too many times to come back into the US, so what does that add up to? People born here, chased out or thrown out, not being able to return for any reason, on pain of death. That's how sick he and they are, and it's why we can't let him become President. People are "abstaining" from voting over things like Gaza and Kamala being willing to frack, or they're voting for Trump because of his anti-immigration and fracking "economy," or they're voting for Stein because they don't know the difference between identifying a problem and actually solving it (and they haven't read Kamala's "Issues" page either), but what they don't understand is that Trump won't just deport people who weren't born in the US, but he'll deport a lot of people who were, too, including some of their family members, friends, coworkers, doctors, pharmacists, grocery delivery and cab driving workers, bus drivers, police officers, military personnel, and so many more. Anyone who's not MAGA. Anyone who "donated wrong" or "voted wrong" or "supported wrong." I even nearly got run over by an Aryan woman in 2016 because my hair isn't blond, even though I'm white, and she just laughed about it and drove off. I'm white, I was born here, and she tried to run over me due to my hair not being blonde. I don't think people have really grasped just how nuts and out of control MAGA and Trump are. They think it's all just "jokes." Really? My nearly being killed is a "joke?" They don't value anyone's lives but their own and their Dear Leader's. They never did and never will. That's just a fact, whether the other 53% of this country understands that or not. I don't know if even Kamala understands that much. She says she'll give them a seat at the table. I say, give them a seat in the corner with a dunce cap and a stack of books: World History, US History, at least the New Testament (since they claim to be "Christians"), and all those banned books that would tell them real truth. Also, those people seriously need to view a copy of Ferris Beuler's Day Off. The problem with giving them a seat at the table is that hate should have no home in the White House. Even when they claim to not hate anyone, the policies they espouse exude hate toward so many groups that it's all just useless. If she's willing to compromise with hateful policy ideas, then I don't see how things will get much better for us all under her leadership, but I do know this: they'll be far, far worse under Trump. That's our real choice today: not much changes under Kamala, at least at first (she can always fire bad actors and replace them with more qualified leadership) or an absolute dumpster fire under Trump. Sometimes no news is good news, and so is not much changing. I'll take that any day over US born citizens being thrown out of the country for not bending the knee and kissing the ring.
It made me cry. For as F'd up as this place is, I love it, and I don't want to have to leave, nor get deported even though I was born here. Trump's ilk have made it so clear that Trump will kick everyone else out of the country, because he and they think they're the only "Americans." He threatened to kill anyone who tries too many times to come back into the US, so what does that add up to? People born here, chased out or thrown out, not being able to return for any reason, on pain of death. That's how sick he and they are, and it's why we can't let him become President. People are "abstaining" from voting over things like Gaza and Kamala being willing to frack, or they're voting for Trump because of his anti-immigration and fracking "economy," or they're voting for Stein because they don't know the difference between identifying a problem and actually solving it, and they haven't read Kamala's "Issues" page either, but what they don't understand is that Trump won't just deport people who weren't born in the US, but he'll deport a lot of people who were, too, including some of their family members, friends, coworkers, doctors, pharmacists, grocery delivery and cab driving workers, bus drivers, police officers, military personnel, and so many more. Anyone who's not MAGA. Anyone who "donated wrong" or "voted wrong" or "supported wrong." I even nearly got run over by an Aryan woman in 2016 because my hair isn't blond, even though I'm white, and she just laughed about it and drove off. I'm white, I was born here, and she tried to run over me due to my hair not being blonde. I don't think people have really grasped just how nuts and out of control MAGA and Trump are. They think it's all just "jokes." Really? My nearly being killed is a "joke?" They don't value anyone's lives but their own and their Dear Leader's. They never did and never will. That's just a fact, whether the other 53% of this country understands that or not. I don't know if even Kamala understands that much. She says she'll give them a seat at the table. I say, give them a seat in the corner with a dunce cap and a stack of books: World History, US History, at least the New Testament, since they claim to be "Christians," and all those banned books that would tell them real truth. Also, those people seriously need to view a copy of Ferris Beuler's Day Off. The problem with giving them a seat at the table is that hate should have no home in the White House. Even when they claim to not hate anyone, the policies they espouse exude hate toward so many groups that it's all just useless. If she's willing to compromise with hateful policy ideas, then I don't see how things will get much better for us all under her leadership, but I do know this: they'll be far, far worse under Trump. That's our real choice today: not much changes under Kamala, or an absolute dumpster fire under Trump. Sometimes no news is good news, and so is not much changing. I'll take that any day over US born citizens being thrown out of the country for not bending the knee and kissing the ring.
I did security for a Lee Greenwood concert back in the early 2000s. He was not a conservative or a country music artist. He's kind a strange mix of poolside jazz and easy listening. He played his signature song 3 times. But I could tell, even during his moments of banter with the audience he really did not identify with the small conservative crowd that showed up to hear that one song of his. I believe he has changed somewhat in the intervening years and become more openly conservative and adjusted his style to be more "country" But, clearly the guy's a phony who got lucky with one hit song.
Maximum respect to the person brave enough to be that blunt in a federal email about everyone hating a song that jerks America off as fervently as it does
OMG!!! That song has to be an instant classic!!! Down with Lee G and up with John Oliver's better song. It made me want to be American and I was born here! (Thanks for helping all of us get through the hot mess that is politics in this country! God bless ALL of you!)
This song made me cry. And I'm not even a recent immigrant! My most recent immigrant ancestry is 3 generations ago! I think I just needed to hear that yes, we are one community, and we need to work together for EACH OTHER.
I VIVIDLY remember being at my Mom's naturalization ceremony, and when they started playing "God Bless The USA", I saw a bunch of people in the room thinking the same thought......"Are...Are we in a cult????" Creepiest thing I have ever been a part of. And I grew up Mormon...
I can relate. Ironically, going to BYU and learning about every major religion on the world is what sealed my fate as Nihilist. And oddly, most Mormons support / vote for Trump... a guy that would have been excommunicated from their own religion countless times throughout his life for a long litany of immoral and illegal acts. Utah Mormons are the most staunch Trump supporters I have ever met. It's mind boggling that they can so easily champion a guy who pays to fvck porn stars--while he is married and his wife is pregnant--then pays the porn stars to keep quiet about it when he runs for president. Is that really what Joseph Smith would do?
Oh my gosh, thank you SO much, John Oliver!! I’m a professional singer and I have disliked that song for so long and have always refused to sing it when it’s been requested of me to do so. I’m so grateful to get the backstory on this. I’ve always particularly disliked the line in the song “where at least I know I’m free.” It feels to me like the song is saying, “We’re a mess, but at least we’ve got the freedom thing.” This was a joy to watch!!
I've watched this at least 15 times so far. I can't get enough of this song! I was born here in America, but I possess compassion and empathy. I have so many "friends" and family members who don't that it breaks my heart. 😢
😂😂😂 I can't believe the closing of this episode 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I'm humbled to hear you're American too from this song. Because I'm from Central Africa. I'm proud to be in America and look forward to solving its problems.
I'm not American but I prefer it to Lee Greenwood's, because it doesn't try to be the next anthem, it's just chill song about American features and is much more welcoming and uniting in my humble opinion. I listened to it twice when the whole episode appeared here on YT, it's that good for me.
And I'm _moderately_ proud to be German Where at least I know I'm free And I won't forget the men who died Stuck in bureaucracy And I'd gladly sit down Next to you and just drink beer all day 'Cause there ain't no doubt I _moderately_ love this land Not the worst is Germanaaaay
Late 1980's. Lee Greenwood USO tour met us in Naples, Italy. We were only going to be in port for 3 days and They cancelled every ones shore leave for that day to fill the seats in the hanger deck. That audience at 1:34 had about the same enthusiasm that we did.
I am not an American - and have no plans to become one - and I still have tears in my eyes after hearing the song. TWICE. And I am going to show it to all my friends and play it more.
I absolutely love this song!!! It is seriously good. As a recently proud naturalized American citizen everything about this video resonates, especially the line that most would have missed: food on sticks!!! Probably one the most insane thing I discovered when first coming to America. 😂(along side wine in box)
To be fair, the types of foods we Americans put on sticks are not the normal stick-based foods... yakitori or barbecue is one thing, but fried pickles! Corn dogs! Pies! PIZZAS! We are the country of putting strange foods on sticks, often for consumption at the state fair.
I'm Canadian-American, and I've been singing "And I'm proud to be a Canadian! Where at least my healthcare's free!" to myself for years now. I laughed myself silly hearing Lee Greenwood himself sing "God bless you, Canada!!!"
I too emigrated from the UK. Bummed that I never got a flag at my Naturalization Ceremony but very happy it was in 2006 before the Lee Greenwood song was played. Even with all its faults, becoming an American is still one of the best things I ever did. Nothing makes me happier than when I co.e home from a foreign trip and the passport agent says welcome home!
That was a wonderful song, and was a totally unexpected joy, delivered by a truly beloved American. Thank you John, now you too, are a beloved American. You bring so much of value to us.
Apparently a lot of other viewers cried a little at the end, as I did. the honesty is so rare in any expression of what might be called love of country. The lyrics make so much sense, are SO much truer than "the land of the free and the home of the brave." This is what a 'patriotic song' ought to be. And the background stuff was terrific -- & very relevant to the lyrics. the fighting Santas!
I really want to thank whoever put those 2 football players together on that play. One just red, the other just blue? Everyone dropped the ball on that play? 11/10, best new music video of 2024
I saw them, but had to re watch to fully appreciate the metaphor. Thank you pointing it out. Also singing about "CTEs," while it goes on? Doesn't it feel like Politics is giving us CTEs? Lol. I know it's meant to be literal. But with the political metaphor you pointed out? I think that CTE line is extra special 😂
That song might genuinely be the best thing this show has done. It's so empowering in the most twisted way, even to me as someone who was born here. Immigrants, please keep coming to the U.S. We need you to help us make it better, and then this country WILL be great again. (John Oliver, please release this song on streaming)
That music video: the most concise summary of the USA - in addition to the lyrics and what's happening on screen it's showing us on a meta level the US's ingenuity, humor and ability to produce the best entertainment on this planet 👏
Just genius and beautiful!! LAST WEEK TONIGHT (specifically HBO masters), please upload the song segment as a standalone video so it can spread like wildfire from sea to shining sea.
John, thank you for what you went through to become an American citizen. The benefits your insights and humor have brought to this country are immeasurable. Much appreciation from my little slice of the MidAtlantic.
Just watched ur most recent episode on hbo max and when you made you impassioned statement at the end and ur voice started to crack a little and your eyes teared a little, my ears filled with tears too. Thank you for all the work you do trying to make this country a better, more enlightened and educated place. I ❤️ you John Oliver, and don't you dare bully me for saying this. 😂😂😂
I'm in the hospital due to an extremely horrible ongoing chronic pain issue. Hooked up to a ketamine IV and the song at the end made me cry. Thanks, John and crew. 🥲🎃
Actually funny that they did play this alot in the Army as well ... but when I got my citizenship immediately after basic training on base they didn't play any messages from the president or that song haha.
@@edvelociraptor1794 I don't think the Navy did that at our graduation. But then again most of us were still sleep deprived from battle stations the day before so I don't remember a lot.
It's embarrassing just how far some humans go with their cognitive dissonance. They're SO unbelievably tone-deaf about humanity and reality, it causes them to CONSTANTLY state non-sequitur nonsense and believe in equally disgusting garbage that truly does harm to everyone and everything around them.
I know this wasn’t the intention, but I started crying when the final Will Ferrell song came on. I’m an immigrant too, and I got my citizenship in 2016. I live in the South now, and I often feel like I don’t belong in this country, people always ask me where I’m from because I never got rid of my accent, and I always feel like I have to explain why I live the way I live. But this is the first time I have heard “you are American too”, and I never thought I could be so touched. Your problems ARE my problems, America, and I am honored to help solve them.
❤🤍💙
Welcome, fellow American! I was born here and this song made me emotional too.
🫂 The only non-immigrants in America are the Native Americans.
Welcome home!!
As someone who asks people sometimes where their accent is from, please know I do it because I'm interested in you. As a born-American, I have done only a little foreign traveling and could learn cool things from you. I find it flattering that people would move far away, to our country with a totally different language. I'm glad you're here. 🤗
You belong. We're just going through some stuff. It will get better.
I worked in stage production for several years and the only time I screwed up a show was for Lee Greenwood. I missed my spot cue so the other spot operator covered me, but then I turned on my spot, so she turned off hers, but I turned off mine, so we accidentally strobed him for like 10 seconds. He was visibly upset and yelled at us while on stage. I cherish that memory.
You're an American hero!😂
As a fellow follow spot operator, I approve of your "mistake"
Thanx for sharing!!😂😂😂
You are truly a gottdamn American hero!
You were an instrument of God's will
I am watching this from South Korea and this video made my thermostat display temperatures in Farenheit. That song was formidable.
You just made me chuckle so hard! Great response. LOL
🫡🦅🫡
I seriously 😂😂
Hahhahaha brilliant
Fahrenheit.
I'm a Black American, born and raised. My BLACK family has been here since the late 1700s (not to speak of White slave owners who show up in my DNA or the Indigenous DNA I carry). This is most patriotic song I have ever heard. I would buy THIS. THIS is relatable and doesn't feel manipulative like the other one always felt like. "Where at least I know I'm free" never resonated with me. Never felt like it was talking about me.
We are all here aginst our will
1700s? Your family legacy in America predates mine by at least a hundred years! Thank you for sharing my fellow American! We will work together on these big problems (I hope... Day before final votes cast in Nov 2024)
I suggest you listen to Paul Robeson's "What Is America to Me?" which might resonate better with you (as it does with me). There are several different versions. Make sure you find the one with the lines,
The house I live in,
my neighbors White and Black,
the people who just came here
or from generations back
Any idea what a so called "Black Job" is? Trump won't shut up about black jobs, but no one seems to know what the hell he is talking about.
Nobody is free anymore. We are all tied tight to obligatory jobs, money, and taxes.
“We’re a real big country with real big problems. We're kind of hoping you can help us solve them.” One of the most patriotic lyrics ever written. 😢🇺🇸
Will Ferrell is the GOAT!
@@Tysto Word. 💙🇺🇸💙
WORD
I loved that line, too. German here - we have also big problems and it would be nice to get help for them. Unfortunately, many of our politicians are too blind to see the possibilities.
@@lazyknowledge6286it’s basically planet wide. I don’t understand how we got here. Is it truly human nature to hate?
I always love watching John Oliver blow HBO’s budget on stuff like this
Right?! I saw the cybertruck and wished I could have been a fly on the wall when accounting saw that expense sheet.
We might have to start having that song played at our own community "Welcome Home" ceremonies!!! If Last Week Tonight would grant the rights... which I suspect they would.
@@danilarance He probably got a broken one for 10k...
You can also sign up to have your car be an extra. When my sister lived in California she and her car were both signed up and her car was in a couple things. It's easy money usually a few $100, well that was back like 15 years ago money. So probably the same...
@JEDonnert you think our money has the same value it had 15 years ago?
I grew up in Wisconsin, and my (then) 6 year-old sister became so fatigued with how saturated the airwaves were with this song post 9/11 that she wrote this:
"And I'm proud to be a Wisconsinite
Where at least I know there's cheese
And I won't forget the cow who thrived
And gave that block to me
And I'll gladly stand up
Next to her
In a very thrilling way
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this state
I have cheddar on my plate"
EDIT: Oh my goodness! Thank all you lovely people for your sweet comments! I'll definitely pass this love on to my sister, who is still the funniest person I know.
That's hysterical. A six year old did that? Send it to John Oliver.
future poet laureate of Wisconsin right there
You have an amazing sister. 🌟
Lol! That's awesome!
I am a Wisconsinite as well and that is absolutely amazing. I will sing this proudly if I ever hear the God Bless the USA song.
Watching this the day after the election and the song at the end was the thing to finally make me cry today, shockingly.
Cry! 😂😂
glad u got ur cry out. there is a great sense of mourning over this nation & the world at large.
people like us who have working instincts & decency have to do more to try to educate people & call them out while remembering the majority of them are just deficient.
"Dont let despair have the last word."
The end of that song "Wherever you come from, Wherever you roam, Fellow Americans, Welcome Home" no joke made me cry. I'm a 30 year old American that was born here and all, so no personal connection to it I guess, but just the idea of telling our new citizens "Fellow Americans, Welcome home" just has me sobbing. It's precious.
@@ruttolomeo1987gay for… experiencing emotions?
Even I was moved, and I'm not American and not an immigrant. I'm Dutch and have lived in the Netherlands my whole life. But I don't have to be American or an immigrant to be moved by the sentiment, because all you have to be for that is human!
Having worked with a few folks over the years who have had to flee their countries due to civil war, ethnic cleansing, etc., and became US citizens, you aren't the only one who got a bit choked up there.
@@ruttolomeo1987 Look, I'm a (straight) single father of a 9 year old boy, and I get teary-eyed easily, usually for happy things. Like my son giving me a squeeze hug and saying "I love you Daddy". That's just how I am, and there is nothing wrong with that.
I am raising my son to be the same way ‐ open to his emotions. He goes to the school therapist about once a month if something happens in school that he needs to vent about, or just to talk. It's healthy to be in touch with your emotions.
Stop it!! Now I’m all teary. I just got done voting for a woman for the first time in my life and I’m already pretty damn emotional.
Will Ferrell song is perfection, I’m legit tearing up. “We sure ain’t perfect, but here’s to the fight. The brightest future’s the one you’ll write. Wherever you come from, wherever you roam, fellow Americans, welcome home.” No shit it’s like Walt Whitman in 2024 ❤❤❤
💯 agree . . I want that song for the 4th !!
It is TOTALLY Whitmanesque!!!! AND Perfection!!! Woot!
"I Hear America Singing"...a great new song they learned from Will Ferrell on Last Week Tonight!
and then the immigrants learn all about segregation, racial profiling and talk of deportation. The American dream is a long dead joke.
Me too 😮
Walt fuckin’ Whitman ovaaaa heeere
That song with Will is surprisingly well composed and produced. And 120% accurate
That’s a very American way to do math 😆
💯 I live in far south Texas, all the characters are here, down to the cows & cyber truck.
That was the most Murican song *EVER*
I thought it was Chad Smith.
I was too distracted by the terrible lip-synching to be able to enjoy it.
I am from Belgium and always have felt very at home in the US. I hope one day I can become a citizen, hear that song and help solving problems! ❤
I hope you do to 😊
Fix Belgium then, go home
@@jof.5159 I am IN Belgium, and you are a Native American? If not; follow your own advice!
@@jof.5159People born abroad who feel so attracted to the ideals of America that they become citizens are more authentically American than those of us just lucky enough to be born here.
We hope you do, too!🇺🇲🦅 Here's to a swift and smooth journey to citizenship from Oregon🍻
Genuinely, as a Brazilian immigrant, I cannot tell you how much being an American citizen has changed my life. I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone tell me “you are American” as emotionally as Ferrel, thank you John Oliver, from one immigrant to another.
@@ShoreFell You are more than welcome.
Welcome to you, from us 🇺🇸
What can you do in amerikkka that you couldn't in Brazil? And why?
Glad you're here!
Hello fellow immigrant! I am from Canada. Although to be fair, I had a Lee Greenwood patriotism song in my home country too. I just didn't know about it until now.
I AM BEGGING YALL TO PUT THIS ON SPOTIFY IT IS SUCH A BANGER 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I SECOND THAT SENTIMENT!!!
Yeah I just looked for it this morning to my UTTER disappointment.
Yes! It's amazing!
...ya gotta love criticizing an audience while using canned laughter.....
@@factotumsAaaah. So good to see you MAGAS supporting your fellow Americans right to free speech. Why don’t you go back to your fatherland of borscht, vodka, and no bread in the stores.
The entire Song @14:20 needs to be in a separate posting so it can be shared easily.
Agreed. This oughta be the second national anthem.
Totally THIS
You can share the time it starts
HEY! Still watching the episode, spoilers!
Share it with the timecode. Use the Share button, then tick the box-- or, if you want to, add `?T=` to the end of the URL.
That song totally brought me to tears. It's exactly what we all needed right now. Thank you, John and Will and all who made this happen!
I never thought I needed to hear a choir sing "Truck nuts" but I'm so glad it happened
Wasn't on my bingo card, but I love it!😂
Gave you a thumbs up but took it back to keep you at 420
Indeed!! Bingo!
@hillbillykoi5534 🙌🤣🤣 Puff puff pass!✌️
I coulda sworn I heard Trump nuts, but I guess not...
How hard would it be to sing "and I'd proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land. God bless Canada, eh?" there it rhymes. Fixed your song for you, Lee. Send me $22,000.
LMFAO perfect!
🤣
He also said "I'm proud to be in Canada" instead of "I'm proud to be a Canadian." Does he not know what a person from Canada is called?
Was fully expecting Lee to spell out C-A-N-A-D-A on that last line.
"Patriotism" for Money is as Phony as it gets!
John Oliver helps to lighten the load we carry through this stressful political era. Thank you!
This comment hits HOME for me who’s in the immigration process in this hard time. It’s not easy, but I think me in 10 years will thank me today for making the most important decision of my life as I did.
I lighten my load daily.
@@shimomiaizoyou're doing great!
he brilliant thank you john!
Given the overall iffy quality of the closed captions for this segment, I thought I'd do us all a favor by transcribing the lyrics to this fantastic song:
You studied hard, you did your best
filled out the forms and passed the test.
Now you're part of a land that's so God blessed
and starting today ... you're American.
There's corn dogs and apple pie,
fireworks lightin' up the sky,
NASCAR, rodeo, barbecue --
that's stuff's American ...
now so are you.
You learned our Presidents and our laws,
I think it's time to mention our flaws.
We're a real big country with real big problems,
we're kind of hoping you could help us solve them.
Televangelists and fossil fuels,
metal detectors in all our schools,
private prisons and Mountain Dew,
that stuff's American ... now they're your problem too.
Student debt and CTE,
the war on drugs, Scientology,
Boeing airlines and Ted fuckin' Cruz,
they're all American ...
now so are you.
Nowadays it's harder to be free,
hard to be the country that we oughta be!
You weren't born here, you volunteered,
to join your faith to the great and the just plain weird!
Chorus: Just plain weird!
So get ready for truck nuts and jet ski tricks,
SantaCon and food on sticks,
thousands of medical bankruptcies,
plantation weddings and Chuck E. Cheese!
Big Gulps and L.L. Bean,
tornadoes, Spirit Halloween,
holy shit I just remembered the coup,
that stuff's American!
We ain't perfect but here's to the fight,
the brightest future's the one you'll write!
Wherever you come from wherever you roam,
fellow Americans, fellow Americans, fellow Americans ...
Welcome home!
Thank you!
The new song with Will actually made me feel more patriotic than I ever have. I dislike how conservative politics have co-opted what it means to supposedly "be a real American". This new song spoke to me
Amen😢
Me too.
Modern conservatives are projecting a fantasy because they no longer represent the culture of this country. The last time they had it was after 9/11, and even then it only lasted for a few months.
Likewise
Agreed!!
Okay I know the ending song was supposed to be a joke but I'm crying, that was beautiful.
I had the same reaction.
Was literally coming to say this, almost verbatim. That song made me feel more UNITED than i have in a long time lol
Very cool song!
Same. I think that speaks to the jingoistic auto response that people get to the vapid, shallow, kneejerk, saccharine patriotic song that Greenwood sings. The song Ferrell sings expresses reality and real emotion. Greenwood's song was probably written in an afternoon researching patriotic phrases in a thesaurus. My main problem with it is the line "but at least we know we're free." It implies somewhat defensively, that we have some kind of singular right to freedom. We don't even know how to define it. Most of the western world and many eastern countries are just as "free" as we are.
I got emotional too!
This is not the main segment, which was on Mass Deportation. Please upload that as well, it's incredibly important!
anywhere i can see that?
@@Julian1blol yeah HBO where this airs. 🤦🏻♂️
Correction: the episode had TWO main segments. This is one of them.
@Luxinox16 Well, hopefully, they upload the other one soon, as it's extremely important like OP said.
@@jamesbeyer i meant anywhere besides that of course, i didnt think i needed to clarify that
In 1998, they played this song during our "ball cap ceremony" at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes. Many of us had tears in our eyes as we swapped our "Recruit" ball caps for "Navy" ball caps. I'll always fondly remember that moment, but now one aspect of that memory is a bit tarnished.
OK but the ending song unironically made me proud to be an American. The sincerity touched me in a way that I haven't felt since childhood.
You're not Catholic are you? Ba-dum-chhhhh But seriously, it's funny how honesty can do that, as opposed to the sham of jingoism foisted on people by hucksters wrapped in eagles and red, white, and blue.
Dude, me too!
You should write a song about it. 🤣vote blue!!
This is the brilliance of John Oliver's show. They deserve a fricking medal for this one.
Um. Why?
Lee Greenwood wishes he had a song as powerful and widely beloved as Purple Rain
He wishes he was half as big as Limp Bizkit
I have never heard of Lee Greenwood, Prince on the other hand...
Im dutch and ive honestly never heard of lee greenwoods song in my life. Purple rain on the other hand i lovs to death.
Even Chocolate Rain has him beat.
but he would stand up, next to me, and defend the country still today!!!! -- lets let him put his money where his mouth is and send him to israel
I’m American born and raised, but my mother and my ex-husband are immigrants, so I have a soft spot for anyone who opts in to this madness. That song at the end touched my heart. It’s hilarious, beautiful and the most accurate depiction of what it means to be American that I’ve ever seen.
But the Greenwood song always speaks to me about the real America. The one where a man makes millions of dollars promising to stand up NEXT to veterans. Not with them, not for them, but sure, I will take any valor that can rub off. Can you tell how much I hate that song?
I’m an American who was born here and my mom is an American who was born in Cuba. That song actually made me emotional. It’s really beautiful and funny and just very American. I hope that other people becoming Americans can actually listen to that song and know how glad we are to have them here. I love the sentiment.
Well we are glad your mom came over because we got you! And you seem smarter than most Americans already. So we're already better for having you both.🇺🇲🦅
I never thought I'd say this about any patriotic song, but this was amazing!! A balance of love, perspective and humor.
Accuracy is what makes for the best comedy. Always been one of the greatest strengths of this show.
Who cares
Have they made that ending song into a separate short yet, so we can make it go viral? It's so good I cried!
Maybe they’ll put it on iTunes and Spotify..
It's a very good song.
It is a "short" already. I saw it last night.
I’ve been looking for the song on its own too!!
Me, too🎉
This song hit so unexpectedly hard. I am just a visitor from Europe staying here for a few weeks with a friend in this mad, big, contradictory country.
Internationally, there is a disappointment in what the US has been up to lately. So when we show our better side and what actually makes us unique, the imperfect romance holds and many folks elsewhere welcome that image we have always sold, sometimes well and other times poorly.
The word UNITED refers to the federal government, it does not refer to all the states agreeing. California is 180deg. from Texas for example.
#CaliforniaPride
Welcome!
Enjoy the show!
Safe travels. Thanks for coming by.
Welcome to the US!
that song should unironically be our welcome anthem it is so perfect and genuinely touching
I’m a veteran and I gotta say… that song made me emotional. I’m so happy to an American and to imagine people who’ve worked their whole lives to be American too. As tears stream down my face, I know that America can truly be anyone’s home. It’s wierd but that’s because we all are. ❤🇺🇸
Thank You for your service and I am glad it made an impact on you.
Same brother.
Thanks for your service, and you came out alright. You're a good man.
Will be voting later today for the first time in nearly 25 years of my life thus far. Super excited for it. What a perfect new John Oliver episode to have watched just before that.
As long as the electoral college is still in place, your presidential vote don't matter.
Good on you! Proud for you!
Congrats, and yayee! !💥💥💥
Well? How’d it go? Hope all was smooth and thank you for voting!!
There goes another sheep
I know this song is supposed to be a joke, but that is ironically the most patriotic song I have ever heard. Extremely well produced. I hope they actually do play it for our new citizens.
Why do you force your view onto others without asking for permission?
Curious why you believe this song was ever meant to be a joke? From the time it was first released, I never heard that. Maybe I missed something? I do believe it has gotten mocked because of the Trump connection. Shameful
@@delece5730 I think they were referring to the absolute banger at the end.
@@delece5730 InvisiblerApple is right, I was referencing the absolute banger of a song at the end of the video. It was still fresh in my mind because I like to watch the video before looking/responding to youtube comments. It didn't come across my mind that anyone else wouldn't watch the entire video first before diving into the comments.
@@delece5730 someone didn't finish the video
The song inspired me to apply to study immigration law.
I was afraid to come out to schools about my true interests, but the hard work and genuine conviction behind the production gave me the confidence. That's the America I still believe in, and want to serve. I'm not hiding it anymore.
Thank you sincerely, Jon, and everyone.
Awesome, I hope you do! You are SO needed out there!
Just when I asked, "How can I love John Oliver and Will Ferrell even more?" THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG you creative people! LOVE YOU!
I think will farell has a weird eye to eyebrow ratio
Can you imagine John Oliver´s face when he learned he had to endure an "inspirational speech" by DT?
I would have paid for a ticket to that.
No one likes the DTs.
It is an effect "wall" to immigrants!
My wife was naturalized about the same time. I threw up in my mouth to see Donald Trump giving a welcome speech to immigrants. His performance on the camera looked like a hostage situation, so fake and stiff.
Especially after finally being able to renounce the Queen 😂
I have never clicked on a video fast enough. I am so glad someone is finally taking Lee Greenwood to task. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I fondly remember the GOP being outraged when he wrote the Canadian knockoff of his song.
@@ertsec That's what grifters trying to make a quick buck do.
This comment is pathetic, just like the rest of this comment section. What, because a musician supports a politician you don’t like? You leftists are so pitifully fragile. Seriously, grow up.
When I was stationed in Germany our sergeant major felt that we needed something to cheer us up and make us proud. So twice a day, every day, once in the morning after "Reveille" and once in the evening after "Retreat" Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The USA" was played across the base. There was no getting away from it, you heard it no matter where you were on base. I got to hear that song twice a day every day for three years until I finally got stationed in Texas at Ft. Hood. To say I'm a little sick of the song is an understatement.
I am still balling like a baby while I type this message out! This song hit all of the emotional buttons for me. As soon as I laid eyes on Mr. Will Ferrell (yes, indeed, he is a national treasure!) and heard him begin to sing, I was sobbing. Well, right up until he mentioned ''Ted F-ing Cruze,'' at which point, I let out a cathartic guffaw! What a beautiful song... yes, please use it at all future USA naturalization ceremonies. Many thanks to the team at ''Last Week Tonight'' for putting together this amazing display of creativity and talent! ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!
Secondary effect, I am brimming with American pride!
You’re bawling, hon! 🥹
As an American immigrant living in England, I’m so fucking happy for you hahaha. Most Americans hold this sentiment towards you, there is just a very loud part that is horrible and deplorable. Wishing you many blessings and a prosperous life. It’s your country too now!
I love that the new song is ironically beautiful and soul-touching
Agreed!
Send this link to everyone you know and try to get it on social media. It absolutely needs to spread and not waste all that talent.
You need church
@@jof.5159 I have church.
Will Ferrell nailed the America song, even I felt emotional when it ended and I’m from Hong Kong!
Lee Greenwood might make a Hong Kong version soon. He's currently trying to find a rhyme for Kongian.
Dutchman here. Same feeling. I actually started to cry.
Cant wait for his Canadian version
Sus
@@qazatqazah cringe
This song definitely has to be clipped and allowed to be shared! It’s amazing!
Whomever wrote that song, both the music and the words, deserve(s) an award. That is incredible songwriting. Also the video and choreo were stellar! When it climaxes towards the hopeful ending, the salute the gospel choir gives in front of the Statue of Liberty gave me chills. Anyone who knows what that statue represents, should head for the polls and show the Orange Insurrectionists how many real Americans are still out there. God Bless the USA, from your friends in Europe.
Emma Lazerus' poem on the Statue of Liberty says it all:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
His name is Mike Viola.
@@lornatrexler9854 Thanks Lorna! I just saw he wrote a bunch of songs for the Dewey Cox movie, which I love
@@OGSiX33 Walk hard! :)
Yeah. I didn't expect the goosebumps. Applause to Mr. Ferrell for agreeing to it.
We must remember to thank France for our beloved icon.
I became a citizen in 2017. Thank God there was no speech by DT played, or that song at my ceremony. But, I would have LOVED this one from John Oliver!
there is nothing wrong with that song. sadly, it's been ruined by tying it to those people and that pathetic pumpkin. it used to mean all of us. now, it only means THEM. sad.
Welcome Home, Fellow American. Don't forget your truck nuts
Well enjoy your stay with our disfunctional family, lol. In all seriousness, glad to have you hear. Most people born here couldn't pass that test, so props!
I want this song on Spotify, so I can listen to it on repeat every day! Get it done, John! PLEASE!!
Gods bless John Oliver and company. My father just became naturalized and this hits home
Congrats to your dad!!
Why, this country is going to fail anyways
The song at the end SLAPS
So nice I watched it twice
It's legit good
It's more like slapps.
It made me cry. For as F'd up as this place is, I love it, and I don't want to have to leave, nor get deported even though I was born here. Trump's ilk have made it so clear that Trump will kick everyone else out of the country, because he and they think they're the only "Americans." He threatened to kill anyone who tries too many times to come back into the US, so what does that add up to? People born here, chased out or thrown out, not being able to return for any reason, on pain of death. That's how sick he and they are, and it's why we can't let him become President.
People are "abstaining" from voting over things like Gaza and Kamala being willing to frack, or they're voting for Trump because of his anti-immigration and fracking "economy," or they're voting for Stein because they don't know the difference between identifying a problem and actually solving it (and they haven't read Kamala's "Issues" page either), but what they don't understand is that Trump won't just deport people who weren't born in the US, but he'll deport a lot of people who were, too, including some of their family members, friends, coworkers, doctors, pharmacists, grocery delivery and cab driving workers, bus drivers, police officers, military personnel, and so many more. Anyone who's not MAGA. Anyone who "donated wrong" or "voted wrong" or "supported wrong."
I even nearly got run over by an Aryan woman in 2016 because my hair isn't blond, even though I'm white, and she just laughed about it and drove off. I'm white, I was born here, and she tried to run over me due to my hair not being blonde. I don't think people have really grasped just how nuts and out of control MAGA and Trump are. They think it's all just "jokes." Really? My nearly being killed is a "joke?" They don't value anyone's lives but their own and their Dear Leader's. They never did and never will. That's just a fact, whether the other 53% of this country understands that or not. I don't know if even Kamala understands that much. She says she'll give them a seat at the table. I say, give them a seat in the corner with a dunce cap and a stack of books:
World History, US History, at least the New Testament (since they claim to be "Christians"), and all those banned books that would tell them real truth. Also, those people seriously need to view a copy of Ferris Beuler's Day Off.
The problem with giving them a seat at the table is that hate should have no home in the White House. Even when they claim to not hate anyone, the policies they espouse exude hate toward so many groups that it's all just useless. If she's willing to compromise with hateful policy ideas, then I don't see how things will get much better for us all under her leadership, but I do know this: they'll be far, far worse under Trump.
That's our real choice today: not much changes under Kamala, at least at first (she can always fire bad actors and replace them with more qualified leadership) or an absolute dumpster fire under Trump.
Sometimes no news is good news, and so is not much changing. I'll take that any day over US born citizens being thrown out of the country for not bending the knee and kissing the ring.
It made me cry. For as F'd up as this place is, I love it, and I don't want to have to leave, nor get deported even though I was born here. Trump's ilk have made it so clear that Trump will kick everyone else out of the country, because he and they think they're the only "Americans." He threatened to kill anyone who tries too many times to come back into the US, so what does that add up to? People born here, chased out or thrown out, not being able to return for any reason, on pain of death. That's how sick he and they are, and it's why we can't let him become President.
People are "abstaining" from voting over things like Gaza and Kamala being willing to frack, or they're voting for Trump because of his anti-immigration and fracking "economy," or they're voting for Stein because they don't know the difference between identifying a problem and actually solving it, and they haven't read Kamala's "Issues" page either, but what they don't understand is that Trump won't just deport people who weren't born in the US, but he'll deport a lot of people who were, too, including some of their family members, friends, coworkers, doctors, pharmacists, grocery delivery and cab driving workers, bus drivers, police officers, military personnel, and so many more. Anyone who's not MAGA. Anyone who "donated wrong" or "voted wrong" or "supported wrong."
I even nearly got run over by an Aryan woman in 2016 because my hair isn't blond, even though I'm white, and she just laughed about it and drove off. I'm white, I was born here, and she tried to run over me due to my hair not being blonde. I don't think people have really grasped just how nuts and out of control MAGA and Trump are. They think it's all just "jokes." Really? My nearly being killed is a "joke?" They don't value anyone's lives but their own and their Dear Leader's. They never did and never will. That's just a fact, whether the other 53% of this country understands that or not. I don't know if even Kamala understands that much. She says she'll give them a seat at the table. I say, give them a seat in the corner with a dunce cap and a stack of books:
World History, US History, at least the New Testament, since they claim to be "Christians," and all those banned books that would tell them real truth. Also, those people seriously need to view a copy of Ferris Beuler's Day Off.
The problem with giving them a seat at the table is that hate should have no home in the White House. Even when they claim to not hate anyone, the policies they espouse exude hate toward so many groups that it's all just useless. If she's willing to compromise with hateful policy ideas, then I don't see how things will get much better for us all under her leadership, but I do know this: they'll be far, far worse under Trump.
That's our real choice today: not much changes under Kamala, or an absolute dumpster fire under Trump.
Sometimes no news is good news, and so is not much changing. I'll take that any day over US born citizens being thrown out of the country for not bending the knee and kissing the ring.
Elementary music teacher here. Every time this is requested for Veterans Day I die inside. I always talk my way out of it.
"sorry we don't have the budget to pay for the expensive license. They want a lot for playing it at events"
Just tell them that he's a draft dodger.
@@caveman18 or show the Canadian version
I did security for a Lee Greenwood concert back in the early 2000s.
He was not a conservative or a country music artist. He's kind a strange mix of poolside jazz and easy listening. He played his signature song 3 times. But I could tell, even during his moments of banter with the audience he really did not identify with the small conservative crowd that showed up to hear that one song of his.
I believe he has changed somewhat in the intervening years and become more openly conservative and adjusted his style to be more "country"
But, clearly the guy's a phony who got lucky with one hit song.
It should be the national anthem.
Well, that new song has got my vote. Welcome to the U.S.A., new citizens! We're glad you're here.
"Am I the only one who loves that song?????"
"Yes. You are." 😁
Yeah. I hated having to be forced to sing that song when I was a kid in the 80s. Everyone seemed to have a hard-on for it. It's pure cringe.
Maximum respect to the person brave enough to be that blunt in a federal email about everyone hating a song that jerks America off as fervently as it does
The full stop in there is just brutal.
I want to know who wrote that song Will sang! And what a production!
@@Kostchei *Period
NO WONDER he wins the Emmy every year. This was amazing.
He wins cause hes a libby nutter like the rest of hollywood
I completely agree.❤
The actual main segment was about the logistics of mass deportations. This one is fun, but the other is *important.*
@@MariaMartinez-researcher is there a logistic for if we don't 😂
@@RumblesBettr Member of the National Council on the Arts “in office 2008 -2022” Nominated by W.
Funny his title is “member”. 😊
The ending of the song, 'welcome home', is absolutely beautiful.
And big ups for bringing up CTE.
Wonderfully done.
I appreciate y'all.
Take care.
OMG!!! That song has to be an instant classic!!! Down with Lee G and up with John Oliver's better song. It made me want to be American and I was born here! (Thanks for helping all of us get through the hot mess that is politics in this country! God bless ALL of you!)
His research team is absolutely incredible!
That’s why his show wins an Emmy every year.
What about his songwriting team?
Indeed! Always like watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. And, you can thank DM Brent among others. ;-)
The worst thing you could hear while your name, face, company name, industry is in the Chiron over John’s right shoulder is “we did some digging….”
😂😂😂
I watched the fellow American song like 5 times. Made my year.
this is easily one of the funniest segments they've done in a long time, the twist reveal of God Bless Canada is PEAK LWT
This song made me cry. And I'm not even a recent immigrant! My most recent immigrant ancestry is 3 generations ago! I think I just needed to hear that yes, we are one community, and we need to work together for EACH OTHER.
I VIVIDLY remember being at my Mom's naturalization ceremony, and when they started playing "God Bless The USA", I saw a bunch of people in the room thinking the same thought......"Are...Are we in a cult????" Creepiest thing I have ever been a part of. And I grew up Mormon...
😂❤
😂
well... you might not be right but you're not exactly wrong
A lot of us are. Yes.
I can relate. Ironically, going to BYU and learning about every major religion on the world is what sealed my fate as Nihilist. And oddly, most Mormons support / vote for Trump... a guy that would have been excommunicated from their own religion countless times throughout his life for a long litany of immoral and illegal acts. Utah Mormons are the most staunch Trump supporters I have ever met. It's mind boggling that they can so easily champion a guy who pays to fvck porn stars--while he is married and his wife is pregnant--then pays the porn stars to keep quiet about it when he runs for president. Is that really what Joseph Smith would do?
I'm a 4th-generation American and, gosh dang it! That song at the end is excellent. "Welcome home." Love it to pieces!
@@KellyNaylor one side Mayflower and one side Poland
Oh my gosh, thank you SO much, John Oliver!! I’m a professional singer and I have disliked that song for so long and have always refused to sing it when it’s been requested of me to do so. I’m so grateful to get the backstory on this. I’ve always particularly disliked the line in the song “where at least I know I’m free.” It feels to me like the song is saying, “We’re a mess, but at least we’ve got the freedom thing.” This was a joy to watch!!
I can't say I've heard you make it up on any chart.
I've watched this at least 15 times so far. I can't get enough of this song! I was born here in America, but I possess compassion and empathy. I have so many "friends" and family members who don't that it breaks my heart. 😢
God bless you John Oliver and Will Ferrell. The song at the end was epic.
😂😂😂 I can't believe the closing of this episode 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 I'm humbled to hear you're American too from this song. Because I'm from Central Africa. I'm proud to be in America and look forward to solving its problems.
We're glad to have you, and welcome home!
Welcome, fellow American!!
Who cares
@@jof.5159you, enough to comment
That song is SO GOOD! It got my eyes all watery. Well done! They really should use that now.
I'm not American but I prefer it to Lee Greenwood's, because it doesn't try to be the next anthem, it's just chill song about American features and is much more welcoming and uniting in my humble opinion. I listened to it twice when the whole episode appeared here on YT, it's that good for me.
Thanks for standing up for Prince and for all you do, you are awesome! 💜
That song was freaking awesome!
And so are you John Oliver.
Wow, that song in the end was epic. The production value was off the charts.
They even custom painted a Tesla cyber truck! Good nose-thumbing to Leon…😹
Watching from Germany! John Oliver is a natural treasure! This Song is one of the funniest things, the show did!
What do you think of his Brexit song, to the tune of Ode to Joy?
Watching from Berlin, best episode since the Clarence Thomas tour bus episode.
@@carultch I have to say, I was expecting more of it. More insults towards the italiens, germans and especially the french.
And I'm _moderately_ proud to be German
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Stuck in bureaucracy
And I'd gladly sit down
Next to you and just drink beer all day
'Cause there ain't no doubt I _moderately_ love this land
Not the worst is Germanaaaay
I would say, since you are from Germany and I'm from the Netherlands and he's a Brit living in America, he is an international treasure as well!
Late 1980's. Lee Greenwood USO tour met us in Naples, Italy. We were only going to be in port for 3 days and They cancelled every ones shore leave for that day to fill the seats in the hanger deck. That audience at 1:34 had about the same enthusiasm that we did.
I am not an American - and have no plans to become one - and I still have tears in my eyes after hearing the song. TWICE. And I am going to show it to all my friends and play it more.
Maybe you shouldn't listen to it while peeling onions
I have never cried for God Bless the U.S.A. I haven't cried at any patriotic song honestly. But that song at the end... My god.
That song is actually inspirational. Well done.
I absolutely love this song!!! It is seriously good. As a recently proud naturalized American citizen everything about this video resonates, especially the line that most would have missed: food on sticks!!! Probably one the most insane thing I discovered when first coming to America. 😂(along side wine in box)
There are some countries in the world where most of the food is on sticks. It facilitates cooking over an open flame.
Yakatori
Boxed wine is a cornerstone of American culture, followed closely by powdered sugar and bagged wine 😂
To be fair, the types of foods we Americans put on sticks are not the normal stick-based foods... yakitori or barbecue is one thing, but fried pickles! Corn dogs! Pies! PIZZAS! We are the country of putting strange foods on sticks, often for consumption at the state fair.
Welcome home!
I love your rendition of your "Welcome home" song! It's catchy, and more fitting.... Thank you! It must have cost a bunch!!!
Bravo!! John Oliver you beautiful man. What a great song.
I'm Canadian-American, and I've been singing "And I'm proud to be a Canadian! Where at least my healthcare's free!" to myself for years now. I laughed myself silly hearing Lee Greenwood himself sing "God bless you, Canada!!!"
I too emigrated from the UK. Bummed that I never got a flag at my Naturalization Ceremony but very happy it was in 2006 before the Lee Greenwood song was played. Even with all its faults, becoming an American is still one of the best things I ever did. Nothing makes me happier than when I co.e home from a foreign trip and the passport agent says welcome home!
American born and I still get choked up when the passport agent says "Welcome home!"
That was a wonderful song, and was a totally unexpected joy, delivered by a truly beloved American. Thank you John, now you too, are a beloved American. You bring so much of value to us.
i didn't know ricky bobby could sing !
Apparently a lot of other viewers cried a little at the end, as I did. the honesty is so
rare in any expression of what might be called love of country. The lyrics make
so much sense, are SO much truer than "the land of the free and the home of the brave."
This is what a 'patriotic song' ought to be. And the background stuff was terrific -- & very
relevant to the lyrics. the fighting Santas!
Welcome to America. My deepest condolences.
I need that song at the end to share with my family and everyone I know. God bless you, Mr Oliver!
I really want to thank whoever put those 2 football players together on that play. One just red, the other just blue? Everyone dropped the ball on that play? 11/10, best new music video of 2024
it's the attention to each detail that makes this so comedy rich
Had to come back & play at normal speed.
I saw them, but had to re watch to fully appreciate the metaphor.
Thank you pointing it out.
Also singing about "CTEs," while it goes on? Doesn't it feel like Politics is giving us CTEs? Lol.
I know it's meant to be literal. But with the political metaphor you pointed out? I think that CTE line is extra special 😂
@@nigelparry And invites several replays.
15:04 "we're a real big country with real big problems, we're kinda hoping you can help us solve them"
Now THAT'S a welcome message I can get behind!
Amen!
Best line!
It's actual patriotism, something sad flag waving Bible floggers like Greenwood would never understand.
That song might genuinely be the best thing this show has done. It's so empowering in the most twisted way, even to me as someone who was born here. Immigrants, please keep coming to the U.S. We need you to help us make it better, and then this country WILL be great again.
(John Oliver, please release this song on streaming)
I'd argue that the song is the best thing the USA has ever done...
That music video: the most concise summary of the USA - in addition to the lyrics and what's happening on screen it's showing us on a meta level the US's ingenuity, humor and ability to produce the best entertainment on this planet 👏
Just genius and beautiful!! LAST WEEK TONIGHT (specifically HBO masters), please upload the song segment as a standalone video so it can spread like wildfire from sea to shining sea.
That song of yours actually brought tears to my eyes... fellow Americans: welcome home!
"And I'm proud to be a Rwandan...." 🎶
Excellent comment
Where at least I know I’m free
And I'm proud to be a Green Alien 👽
Where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't 4get the Gleebs who Fleeped
Who fargled that right for me🛸
@@Missunderstood103Gleep glorb the beefaydaay!!🎉
@@RealBradMiller oddly enough it said translate to English 😂
We're damn glad you're here John it's an absolute gift!
John, thank you for what you went through to become an American citizen. The benefits your insights and humor have brought to this country are immeasurable. Much appreciation from my little slice of the MidAtlantic.
Excellent comment
I wish John could run for office
@@LisaDiazAppleLisa He can, just not for President.
Seconding this, I’m thrilled you’ve made the leap! Congrats!
Just watched ur most recent episode on hbo max and when you made you impassioned statement at the end and ur voice started to crack a little and your eyes teared a little, my ears filled with tears too. Thank you for all the work you do trying to make this country a better, more enlightened and educated place. I ❤️ you John Oliver, and don't you dare bully me for saying this. 😂😂😂
I'm neither American not aspiring to be but that song at the end still made me choke up a bit. The power of music and good writing!
Whatever
'Wherever you come from, wherever you roam, follow Americans welcome home' instant tears, this song is fire 🔥❤️🤍💙
I was born in the U.S., and that was a beautiful tribute to my deeply weird homeland.
I also was born in the U.S. and can totally relate to your "deeply weird homeland" belief
Absolutely brilliant!
I'm in the hospital due to an extremely horrible ongoing chronic pain issue. Hooked up to a ketamine IV and the song at the end made me cry. Thanks, John and crew. 🥲🎃
That is terrible. Hope you get pain free soon
Sorry. Wish you well.
May you heal well and quickly after treatment. Hang in there
i’m in the hospital too. just got diagnosed with a genetic disorder. i watched this for the laughs, ended up crying haha
Thanks, everybody. It's rough going, but doing my best to stay positive. Take care! 🙂☮️❤️
They totally played this song at my USMC boot camp graduation ceremony.. I was eye rolling so hard lol
Air force graduations too, can confirm 😅
Not: " From The Halls of Montezuma..."?
Not our woke military
Actually funny that they did play this alot in the Army as well ... but when I got my citizenship immediately after basic training on base they didn't play any messages from the president or that song haha.
@@edvelociraptor1794 I don't think the Navy did that at our graduation. But then again most of us were still sleep deprived from battle stations the day before so I don't remember a lot.
I just witnessed Lee Greenwood perform at a migrant center in South Texas part of a company profiting off of immigrants. You can’t make this up
It's embarrassing just how far some humans go with their cognitive dissonance. They're SO unbelievably tone-deaf about humanity and reality, it causes them to CONSTANTLY state non-sequitur nonsense and believe in equally disgusting garbage that truly does harm to everyone and everything around them.
Good God!
You can make it up we just don’t have too!
And Trump probably got a cut from it.