The catchphrase “We Used To Be A Country. A Proper Country” has made waves on social media.
But if you are unfamiliar with where it stemmed from, you’ve come to the right place.
The phrase originated from a Twitter post on December 2.
People were originally baffled by it, with some speculating that it had a pandemic-themed message and the tweeter was trying to show how much better life used to be in America without masks.
The account, @DarnelSugarfoo, posted the tweet that showed an image of an American 7-Eleven photographed in 1973 with the caption, “We used to be a country. A proper country.”
But people pointed out just how limited life was back then, with one pointing out that the woman in the image may have struggled to get a credit card in her own name due to misogyny, and the lack of racial diversity in the image.
A "7-Eleven" in 1973.
— Rosie's Omicron Dance Party (@DarnelSugarfoo) December 2, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/OGoPh2mdh8
The first variants of the meme occurred within the replies of the original tweet, where Twitter users started pairing the catchphrase with other images depicting strange, nostalgic bits of American culture.
One parody meme, which was posted on December 4, showed a hot dog and jello cake mold cake that’s said to be from 1973.
A "7-Eleven" in 1973.
— Rosie's Omicron Dance Party (@DarnelSugarfoo) December 2, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/OGoPh2mdh8
People on Twitter took it up a step further, sharing pictures of nostalgic shows, games, dolls, restaurants and more, further suggesting how the US used to be “a proper country.”
Here at Indy100, we rounded up 27 of the best memes that will help with a trip down memory lane.
Check them out below:
A McDonalds Gamecube kiosk. We used to be a country. A real country. pic.twitter.com/30dky4WdNG
— Schaffrillas (@Schaffrillas) December 7, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. #MACHeroine pic.twitter.com/65M1knKo47
— maccosmetics (@MACcosmetics) December 8, 2021
A&W used to sell root beer, now RB.
— Roman Akramovich (@SyedAkramin) December 7, 2021
Auntie Anne's used to sell pretzel dog, now pretzel sausage.
Because some people thought that root beer is a beer and pretzel dog is made from dog.
We used to be a country. A proper country. https://t.co/RIGF9mSlao
This is what cities used to look like.
— meuw (@meowmeowmia) December 4, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/o9RjkM0lrs
we used to be a country. a proper country. https://t.co/4Lw3l4vfeY pic.twitter.com/fhbOrdBW7D
— muse. (@jeska_perez) December 9, 2021
we used to be a country. a proper country. pic.twitter.com/eDks5zV3ju
— SCOUT (@scoutmagph) December 9, 2021
Back when it really didn’t matter what you wore to the reunion. 😩 #RHOA
— The Peach Report Daily™ (@ThePeachReport) December 8, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/NOl7o8uHDl
We used to be a proper country. pic.twitter.com/DyxkX5BQwk
— taurus supremacist (@JAjueny) December 9, 2021
we used to be a country. a proper country. pic.twitter.com/7kzkJNrBHF
— J name girl (@maplesutory) December 8, 2021
we used to be a country. a proper country. pic.twitter.com/7kzkJNrBHF
— J name girl (@maplesutory) December 8, 2021
A Disney store in the 1990’s .
— Jeff (@jeffgordonla) December 5, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/f5KVyQBZke
A "7-Eleven" in 2018.
— hanna jvne (@ativhanna) December 4, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/CgnWcR71hy
we used to be a country. a proper country pic.twitter.com/lClR9Molzr
— Mads²⁸ misses harry and fia (@orlandorry) December 9, 2021
Wendy's sunrooms have practically disappeared!
— Alex (@alex_00082) December 5, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/eliPGDWeoA
we used to be a country. a proper country. pic.twitter.com/lGOfbdvqtG
— Monster Reactions (@LMonsterReacts) December 9, 2021
a combination pizza hut and taco bell
— todd bonzalez (@doinkpatrol) December 5, 2021
we used to be a country. a proper country pic.twitter.com/DGr0r6exWF
A Little Caesars inside a KMart c.1994. We used to be a country. A real country. pic.twitter.com/SMW5ZozuXo
— 🦌Alternate Jingle-Jangle Hub 🦌 (@AltHistoryHub) December 5, 2021
we used to be a real country. pic.twitter.com/qjQhXTMt8p
— 🧟♀️ (@witchcreft) December 7, 2021
A "Taco Bell" in 1983.
— ⛄ĦØ ĦØ Ħ€ΔŦĦ€ŘŞ🎄 (@fatnudes) December 4, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/b1352hpvt2
we used to be a proper country etc etc pic.twitter.com/Sun3ZRvEgZ
— kirk (@kirk_61) December 8, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper nation. pic.twitter.com/BNCUruWzl7
— It ain’t fun Paramore! (@stuckiny2k) December 7, 2021
A playground built in 1973.
— phage 🥶 (@cIubmoss) December 5, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. pic.twitter.com/kKOGC4kG9z
An American river during the late Cretaceous
— Karl Ziktor's Iguana (@Zaku_Sama) December 4, 2021
We used to be a country, a proper country pic.twitter.com/GGJaCPatO0
we used to be a country. a proper country. pic.twitter.com/mtbBzAbeZz
— Oriana Nichelle (@OrianaNichelle) December 7, 2021
We used to be a country. A proper country. #SunnyFXX pic.twitter.com/1mbP1L2ERH
— It's Always Sunny (@alwayssunny) December 8, 2021