Have you gotten that kind of a response when you've played it elsewhere?
I've gotten all kinds of responses, mostly very strong in favor of the song, standing ovations and the rest. There have been a few occasions where someone walked out. A couple got up and walked out in Rockford, Illinois. I've seen people turn to each other and shake their heads in disgust. It just doesn't agree with some people. Some people will sit on their hands at the end of the show.
Your press release emphasizes that the song is different from what the Dixie Chicks or Neil Young have been saying. Do you think that their approach is wrong or too strident?
I've had people come up to me and say, "I love that song. You're more optimistic than I am." So I know that this is to the center left. This song isn't situated all the way out there. It's been surprising to me to discover myself as a moderate. The fact that I communicate feelings of affection for my country - there's no where else I want to live. I'm not leaving. I love the geography of this country, and the vitality and creativity of this country.
I want to stay here and have it be the best thing that it can be instead of yielding to the most fearful things that it can be. In that way, it's different from some of the general nastiness going on out there right now. I appreciate where that comes from. I think we all do. There's a sense of exasperation. "How can this have happened? How can this continue to go on?" I appreciate where that comes from. My point of view is somehow more affectionate, and willing to express that openly. One thing I have said before introducing this song is that this song is a love song. In performances it becomes quite apparent that that's what it is. People laugh at first. They think, "Oh, it's going to be nasty. She's going to make smart little remarks."
Then the song turns and expresses deep concern and regret, and in the end, deep affection - even a kind of patriotism. I'm the little kid that put my hand over my heart like they told you in school and pledged allegiance to the flag. I believe that we can be a diverse society of extraordinary creativity and innovation and vitality and freedom, and those things are the best things that we can be. We should live up to that. When we do live up to that, we're extraordinary.
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