American Oxygen by Rihanna Lyrics Meaning – Breathing Life into the Pursuit of the Dream
Lyrics
American oxygen
Every breath I breathe
Chasin’ this American Dream
We sweat for a nickel and a dime
Turn it into an empire
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American oxygen
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen
Oh say can you see, this is the American Dream
Young girl, hustlin’
On the other side of the ocean
You can be anything at all
In America, America
I say, can’t you see
Just close your eyes and breathe
Breathe out, breathe in
American oxygen
Every breath I breathe
Chasin’ this American Dream
We sweat for a nickel and a dime
Turn it into an empire
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American oxygen
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen
Oh say can you see, this is the American Dream
Young boy, hustlin’
Tryna get the wheels in motion
But he can be anything at all
In America, America
I say, can’t you see
Just close your eyes and breathe
Breathe out, breathe in
American oxygen
Every breath I breathe
Chasin’ this American Dream
We sweat for a nickel and a dime
Turn it into an empire
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American oxygen
This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America
Breathe out, breathe in
American oxygen
Every breath I breathe
Chasin’ this American Dream
We sweat for a nickel and a dime
Turn it into an empire
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American oxygen
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen
American oxygen
Breathe in, this feeling
American, American Oxygen
This is the new America
We are the new America
This is the new America
We are the new America
With a lungful of fresh perspective, Rihanna’s ‘American Oxygen’ takes the listener on a breath-taking journey through the highs and lows of the famed American Dream. Intertwining themes of aspiration, struggle, and identity, this anthemic powerhouse of a track serves more than just melodious riffs—it’s a cultural narrative folded into rhythmic poetry.
‘American Oxygen’ isn’t just another song; it’s a modern musical manifesto. Through its intense lyrics and Rihanna’s emotive delivery, listeners are invited to examine the very air they breathe—an air thick with ambition, tension, and the relentless pursuit of success that defines the American zeitgeist. This song is an inhalation of hope and a bitter-sweet exhalation of reality.
The Aspirational Anthem of a Generation
From the opening line, ‘Breathe out, breathe in, American oxygen,’ Rihanna captures the essence of an entire generation gasping for success and relevance. She portrays the ubiquitous hustle intertwined with the pursuit of making it in America, where every breathe and effort counts towards building an ’empire’ out of humble ‘nickels and dimes.’
The repetition of ‘American oxygen’ as a life force suggests the inextricable link between one’s efforts and the American soil—the same soil that promises unlimited potential. The song becomes an anthem, not just for the young hustling dreamer, but for any and all chasing a vision of prosperity and thriving amidst adversity.
Visualizing the Dream: From Lyrics to National Narrative
‘Oh say can you see, this is the American Dream,’ sung with almost a quiver of questioning, Rihanna rearticulates the national anthem’s vision within her own narrative—framing the dream as both visible and elusive. The song brings into sharp focus the stories of ‘young girl, hustlin” and ‘young boy, hustlin’,’ painting a vibrant picture of youthful ambition and the relentless push for progress.
These vignettes are not tales of guaranteed success but snapshots of the unwavering spirit that propels the American ethos. The dream is presented as an active verb, ‘chasin’,’ which underscores the ongoing nature of this pursuit, never final and always in motion.
Unveiling the Song’s Hidden Meaning: A Breath of Reality
While ‘American Oxygen’ exudes the optimism and energy of achievement, a deeper inhalation reveals a subtext of strife and survival. The lyrics offer more than patriotic platitudes; they unfurl the fabric of an America grappling with its own promises versus realities—raising questions about what the American Dream signifies in today’s age.
When Rihanna sings ‘We sweat for a nickel and dime,’ she’s relaying the underlying narrative of income inequality and capitalist struggle. It’s a reminder that the American Dream often comes with a price, paid in the currency of hard work, resilience, and sometimes, the very breath that sustains life.
Breathe In the Melody: The Sound of Contemporary America
Rihanna’s music has always had a knack for infusing contemporary soundscapes with deeply layered meaning. With ‘American Oxygen,’ she marries an uplifting melody with a weighted subject, allowing the powerful percussion to drive home the urgency of the message while the chords inspire a kind of hopeful melancholy.
The track’s soundscape is a formidable marriage of beats and bravery, encapsulating the pulse of a nation ever on the edge of embracing its potential or confronting its limitations. The music itself becomes a metaphor for the journey, oscillating between major and minor, success and struggle.
Memorable Lines: Echoing Through the Halls of Fame
‘This is the new America, we are the new America,’ these lines chant towards the end of the song, a declaration and an acceptance. Rihanna asserts that America itself is an evolving concept, one that is constantly being redefined by those who dare to dream—and more importantly, by those who dare to breathe life into those dreams.
These lyrics are a rally cry for the present and the future, a recognition of the change-makers and the dreamers who shape what America means. It’s a refreshing iteration that breaks away from nostalgia, urging listeners to acknowledge and become active participants in the ‘new’ America that is emerging from the very oxygen they inhale.
