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sheshe2

(93,302 posts)
18. Lyrics
Sat Jun 14, 2025, 08:31 PM
Jun 14

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...


Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: John Cameron Fogerty
Fortunate Son lyrics © Jondora Music, Shanty Kelyn Music, Concord Copyrights

"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a protest song that critiques social inequality and the privileges afforded to the wealthy during the Vietnam War draft. The lyrics highlight the disparity between those who could avoid military service due to their status and those who were drafted, often from less privileged backgrounds.
Here's a breakdown of the key elements:
"Some folks are born, made to wave the flag, ooh, they're red, white and blue":
.
This line introduces the theme of inherited privilege and the idea that some people are automatically associated with patriotism due to their background.
"And when the band plays 'Hail to the Chief,' ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord":
.
This line suggests that those in power, often from wealthy families, benefit from the system while ordinary citizens bear the brunt of its consequences.
"It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son":
.
This recurring refrain emphasizes that the singer, and by extension, many others, are not part of the privileged elite and are not exempt from the draft.
"Some folks inherit star-spangled eyes, ooh, they send you down to war":
.
This line implies that those with inherited wealth and status are more likely to avoid conflict, while those from less privileged backgrounds are more likely to be sent to war.
"And when the band plays 'Hail to the Chief,' ooh, they point the cannon at you":
.

https://www.google.com/search?q=fortunate+son+lyrics+meaning&sca_esv=9e68c97366d5d17a&rlz=1CALAYK_enUS1085&sxsrf=AE3TifMwBqbZJs8gUDuQdG-VrRwM7RAQDw%3A1749946772263&ei=lBFOaJTwD8mtptQPgpuomQs&oq=fortunate+son+lyrics&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFGZvcnR1bmF0ZSBzb24gbHlyaWNzKgIIADIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzIKEAAYsAMY1gQYRzINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBTINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBTINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBTINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBUitIVAAWABwAXgBkAEAmAEAoAEAqgEAuAEByAEAmAIBoAIVmAMAiAYBkAYMkgcBMaAHALIHALgHAMIHAzMtMcgHEQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Unbelievable. He/they have no clue what the lyrics mean...or maybe they do and are just giving the troops the middle finger.

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Hooo! They'll point the cannon at you! dchill Jun 14 #1
Travesty ALBliberal Jun 14 #2
actually... markie Jun 14 #3
Fogerty's tried to call him off senseandsensibility Jun 14 #4
Clearly they don't understand the song. choie Jun 14 #5
Bet they didn't mcar Jun 14 #7
I doubt it MustLoveBeagles Jun 14 #8
They never do. With equally tin ears... dchill Jun 14 #21
JOhn Fogerty just had his 80th birthday on May 28. Wiz Imp Jun 14 #37
Next up, "YMCA," which is totally not gay. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jun 14 #6
... mcar Jun 14 #9
Taco Taco Man. pwb Jun 14 #10
I just hope this post is true... Enter stage left Jun 14 #11
Play it. I did before I posted mcar Jun 14 #13
Not doubting you, but AI is making me question everything now. Enter stage left Jun 14 #20
Totally get that mcar Jun 14 #43
I walked nearly that well on my way to No Kings today- rzemanfl Jun 14 #12
I feel for them mcar Jun 14 #14
Fortunate Son diehardblue Jun 14 #15
Yes SheltieLover Jun 14 #22
You mean like Cadet Bone Spurs Raven123 Jun 14 #29
Jesus, Mary & Joseph and all of his carpenter friends. progressoid Jun 14 #16
Thanks for posting the lyrics mcar Jun 14 #19
"...advanced level trolling or some advanced level cluelessness." dchill Jun 14 #24
I know right? progressoid Jun 14 #26
Hanlon's Razor: sir pball Jun 15 #58
about troops marching in step CatWoman Jun 14 #33
Yeah. progressoid Jun 14 #39
BARNEY!!! CatWoman Jun 14 #41
Oh, it Do show! My DI in boot would have turned purple and ran us til we puked! "Hippity-hop, mob stop!" nt albacore Jun 14 #52
Conservatives don't understand lyrics. Remember when they wanted Born in the USA as our National Anthem? Midnight Writer Jun 14 #17
Yup SheltieLover Jun 14 #23
All they ever hear is the Jingo. dchill Jun 14 #25
Lyrics sheshe2 Jun 14 #18
They're just tone-deaf to everything but what they want to hear. dchill Jun 14 #28
I read that Trump has previously played Fortunate Son at some of his rallies also. riversedge Jun 14 #36
I honestly think they're clueless mcar Jun 14 #44
he just likes the line "when the band plays "Hail to the chief" " Jack Valentino Jun 14 #49
Precisely. All they know is that B.See Jun 14 #51
LOL... sheshe2 Jun 14 #53
You too, Sheshe. B.See Jun 15 #55
That's not the actual CCR record. A bad instrumental version. They also had a bad instrumental version highplainsdem Jun 14 #27
Of course it was instrumental mcar Jun 14 #31
I just read on Bluesky that they also played Heart's Barracuda. highplainsdem Jun 14 #35
Wasn't this a military parade? mcar Jun 14 #45
OH! Well.... I guess someone DID "get" the lyrics, since they censored them... Jack Valentino Jun 14 #50
"As one of the most famous protest songs of the Vietnam War era, "Fortunate Son" revives this timeless message riversedge Jun 14 #30
They played it at our local No Kings protest, too! regnaD kciN Jun 14 #32
Who is playing the music? Norrrm Jun 14 #34
I couldn't tell if it was a band or over the PA mcar Jun 14 #46
I wonder who gets the credit/blame. Norrrm Jun 14 #48
Next up on the setlist: "I ain't marching anymore" by Phil Ochs 0rganism Jun 14 #38
I watched on c-span and heard the music. I was surprised. I figured they would play march music. Srkdqltr Jun 14 #40
I wonder who approved this selection? Grammy23 Jun 14 #42
But I guess they won't be playing Springsteen's "Born In The USA" ! LMAO Jack Valentino Jun 14 #47
This might be a white mutiny chowmama Jun 14 #54
That is embarrassing on so many levels genxlib Jun 15 #56
G.O.P. draft-dodger-in-chief is such a disgrace BoRaGard Jun 15 #57
From 2020 he's done it before...unreal NowsTheTime Jun 16 #59
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