American Woman by The Guess Who

The Canadian quartet was already on a hot streak when this song was released in 1970; and “American Woman” was their fourth major hit in just over a year (the first three were “These Eyes,” “Laughing” and “No Time”).

More metallic than the rest, “American Woman” was built on Randy Bachman’s heavy guitar-slinging. Yet a divide was growing within the group as Bachman, a clean-living Mormon, was running against his bandmates’ hard-partying ways. He exited the ranks while this song was on the charts, first forming a band that didn’t hit (Brave Belt), and then one that did (Bachman-Turner Overdrive).

The rest of the Guess Who would carry their own hit streak well into the '70s. But what did they have against "American Woman?" Bachman later explained that the woman was the Statue of Liberty and the song was meant as a Vietnam War protest. But at the time a few people got offended, including Pat Nixon who asked that the song be dropped when the Guess Who played the White House.

In 2000, the reunited Guess Who played “American Woman” on a Canadian video awards show. Joining them was Lenny Kravitz, who also had a hit with the song.

You think this sounds like a simple one-riff song, but you’re wrong. If you’re playing Expert drums on this, get used to tricky meters, because the song is full of them.

If you’re singing, watch out for the long improv at the end of the song. Singer Burton Cummings made a lot of this part up on the spot, and the tricks he employs—like dropping the register in the middle of a “bye-bye”—will only make sense if you know the record.

Bachman and singer Burton Cummings still play under their own names. But the name Guess Who is legally owned by the rhythm section, which tours with different frontmen.