Sunday, June 26, 2011

Fortunate Son - John C. Fogerty's Vietnam War Classic

I first heard "Fortunate Son" when it came out in 1969. I was sitting in my bunker north of Cu Chi, writing a letter and listening to Armed Forces Network radio. It was a passionate, angry protest song, and the lyrics were hard to make out. But the phrase, "I ain't no millionaire's son, no," struck a chord. I later learned that back then Julie Nixon was dating David Eisenhower, and Fogerty knew that privileged kids like these would not be the ones sent to fight the war.



Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, 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 fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
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,

The rock songs of that era are the only ones that move me anymore. It was some pretty powerful stuff. Fogerty also wrote "Born on the Bayou" and "Proud Mary." Creedance Clearwater Revival broke up in 1972, but I understand Fogerty is still going strong, still rocking.

Other favorites...

"Woodstock" - Crosby, Stills and Nash

"Hotel California" - The Eagles

"Imagine" - John Lennon

"Taking Care of Business - Bachmann Turner Overdrive

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2011. Building Personal Strength . (Photo used in accordance with terms of Wikimedia free use)

2 comments:

  1. squizelJune 27, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    Certainly folk songs are moving and Imagine is one of them too.
    We've been going to the Florida Folk Festival for the last 10 years....you should join us...there are inspirational poets today too...but I've heard few regarding the current wars....yet a friend wrote one and it should be out there. Tried to encourage that. They need to be sung around the world...there are revolutions going on and need for advocacy and change...and need for folk songs and poets to inspire.

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  2. WesJuly 4, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Great song, great post. I'm in the same age group so I have a lot of favorites from that era. My choices to add to the list would likely be Dylan's "Masters of War" and Lennon's "Revolution". My favorites have changed over the years, and I suspect your's have, too.

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