American Dream (Casting Crowns song)

A rock song, "American Dream" features loud electric guitars similar to those on Chapman's 2001 album Declaration.

"American Dream"'s accompanying music video, the band's first, depicts the deterioration of a relationship due to a man's neglect of his family.

Casting Crowns' lead vocalist Mark Hall said that "[American Dream] song was written from every student I’ve ever ministered to, to their dads.

Hall and the band wrote the song in about two days, in order to get it done prior to an annual NASCAR event held by their church.

[5] One of the most up-tempo songs on the Casting Crowns,[7] it was also noted as being "hook-laden"[6] and demonstrating the "in-your-face" lyrical tone of Hall.

[5] Lyrically, "American Dream" discusses "the way fathers caught up in the career rat race can neglect their kids".

[19] At an April 1, 2005 concert at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Casting Crowns performed it as the third song on their set list.

[20] At a July 10, 2005 concert at Seaholm High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Casting Crowns performed it as their third song in their set list.

[25] The video depicts a man's crumbling relationship as he neglects his family in pursuit of his career; the video interspaces the story with the band performing at a baseball field, Hall walking through the streets of a city, and the man unsuccessfully trying to maintain a sandcastle as the tide comes in to shore.