Fortunate Son

Creedence Clearwater Revival

About Fortunate Son

"Fortunate Son" is a song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival released on their fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys in November 1969. It was previously released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in September 1969. It soon became an anti-war movement anthem, an expressive symbol of the counterculture's opposition to U. S. military involvement in the Vietnam War and solidarity with the soldiers fighting it. The song has been featured extensively in pop culture depictions of the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement. The song reached #14 on the United States charts on November 22, 1969, the week before Billboard changed its methodology on double-sided hits. The tracks combined to climb to #9 the next week, on the way to peaking at #3 three more weeks later, on 20 December 1969. It won the RIAA Gold Disc award in December 1970. Pitchfork Media placed it at number 17 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s". Rolling Stone placed it at #99 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. In 2013, the song was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." 


2:19

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooo, they're red, white and blue
And when the band plays "hail to the Chief"
Ooo, 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

Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, y'all
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks 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
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask 'em "how much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer "more! more! more!", y'all

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

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival (sometimes shortened to Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums. more »

26 fans

Written by: John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Creation
"Fortunate Son" was released by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1969.
Writer
The song was written by the band's lead vocalist, John Fogerty.
Album
It is part of the band's fourth studio album, "Willy and the Poor Boys".
Popular Reception
"Fortunate Son" peaked at number 14 on the United States charts in 1969.
Protest Theme
The song is often associated with protests against the Vietnam War, as it criticizes the privileged who were able to avoid conscription.
Cover Versions
"Fortunate Son" has been covered by many artists, including Bob Seger and Kid Rock.
Pop Culture
The song is frequently used in films, television shows, and video games to represent the late 1960s and early 1970s in America.
Awards
In 2014, "Fortunate Son" was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Interpretation
Though it is often tied to the Vietnam War period, Fogerty stated that the song was more generally about the disparity between those who were privileged and those who were not.
Moment of Origin
Fogerty was inspired to write "Fortunate Son" after watching news coverage of a wedding, where David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight Eisenhower, married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon.
Record Label
The song was released under the label Fantasy, which was the band's label for all their studio albums.
Musical Features
"Fortunate Son" is a Southern Rock song played in the key of G major.
Length
The song is relatively short, lasting only two minutes and 20 seconds.
Rolling Stone
The song currently holds place number 99 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Song Structure
Unlike many popular songs, "Fortunate Son" does not include a bridge. It follows a straightforward verse-chorus-verse structure.

Discuss the Fortunate Son Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Fortunate Son Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/35266063/Creedence+Clearwater+Revival/Fortunate+Son>.

    Missing lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival?

    Know any other songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Fortunate Son

    79.4M
    598.9K     0

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #14


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Which Spanish singer sang the lyrics : "Monday night, and I feel so low I count the hours but they go slow..."?
    A Selena - "Dreaming Of You"
    B Ricky Martin - "Livin' La Vida Loca"
    C Jennifer Lopez - "Waiting For Tonight"
    D Enrique Iglesias - "Be With You"

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Creedence Clearwater Revival tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    Fortunate Son

    »