About the Song
“Fortunate Son,” a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, became one of the most iconic protest songs in rock history after its release in 1969. Written by John Fogerty, it debuted on November 1, 1969, as the second half of a double A-side single, paired with “Down on the Corner,” and was featured on their fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys.
The song is a direct commentary on the Vietnam War and the class divide in America during the 1960s. Fogerty’s lyrics criticize the privilege of the wealthy, who were able to avoid the draft and the hardships of war, while poorer young men were sent to fight and often die in a foreign conflict. The line “Some folks are born silver spoon in hand / Lord, don’t they help themselves” addresses the discrepancy between the elite and the working class, expressing the anger of the counterculture movement at the time.
Fogerty later explained that the song was less about the war itself and more about the inequality between classes: “It’s the old saying about rich men making war and poor men having to fight them.” The song reflects the frustrations of a generation that felt their voices were being ignored by those in power, particularly with regard to the Vietnam War and the way the government treated soldiers.
Legacy and Misinterpretations
“Fortunate Son” became an anthem for social justice and a critique of privilege. However, the song has often been misinterpreted or misappropriated. For example, in 2020, the Trump campaign used the song at a rally, prompting John Fogerty to issue a cease-and-desist order. Fogerty stated that Trump represented exactly the kind of privileged individual the song critiqued, reinforcing the song’s message of class disparity.
Despite its relatively low chart position, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Fortunate Son” has remained a powerful cultural statement. It became one of CCR’s signature songs and is often seen as one of the most effective protest songs in the history of rock music. It was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and remains a staple of political and social discourse.
Personal Impact
Fogerty reflected on the song’s creation in his 2015 autobiography, Fortunate Son. He revealed that he wrote the song in just 20 minutes, though the ideas behind it had been brewing for years. He wanted to avoid making the song overly solemn and instead chose to craft a sharp, direct message with the energetic style that CCR was known for. Despite its quick composition, “Fortunate Son” remains one of the most poignant critiques of social and political inequality in American history.
Lyrics
Some folks are born made to wave the flag
Hoo, they’re red, white and blue
And when the band plays “Hail to the chief”
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no senator’s son, son
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no furtunate one, no
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don’t they help themselves, Lord?
But when the taxman come to the door
Lord, the house lookin’ like a rummage sale, yeah
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no millionaire’s son, no, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate one, no
Yeah-yeah, some folks inherit star-spangled eyes
Hoo, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask ’em, “How much should we give?”
Hoo, they only answer, “More, more, more, more”
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no military son, son, Lord
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate one, one
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate one, no, no, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate son, no, no, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me…Advertisement
