In the song, the narrator lists off various foreign-themed items such as "Brazilian leather boots," a German car, The Beatles, Canadian bacon, French kissing, and toga parties, using each as illustrative examples of the cultural diversity in the United States.

[4] When the three were writing "American Saturday Night," they decided to make "up-tempo songs that weren't necessarily funny.

"[4] After Paisley wrote the line "It's a French kiss, Italian ice, Spanish moss in the moonlight / Just another American Saturday night" for the chorus, the three decided to use the song to illustrate "the things that are borrowed from other countries and traditions that make America great," according to Gorley.

]"[2] Chris Neal of Country Weekly magazine gave the single four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it an example of Paisley's "us[ing] his knack for clever lyrical details to address a hefty theme.

Before its release to radio, "American Saturday Night" charted at number 59 on Hot Country Songs based on unsolicited airplay.