The anti-war anthem "Fortunate Son," by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was a booming call against the Vietnam War. Released in 1969, this song appealed to all the people of the lower and middle classes who were the most affected by the war, who also were the ones that had the most distaste for the war. The song's lyrics echo the angers of the poor, "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." Here, the song speak directly to the average American and tells them how the rich keep arguing for the war and supporting it, but they always seem to escape being drafted or having to pay for it. They don't pay the taxes for the war effort and they don't lose their lives over it either. John Fogerty, the lead singer of the song, uses different names for the rich like "fortunate one, senator's son, millionaire's son," to emphasize the people that he is criticizing. Everyone else are the one's paying the price and the song is urging them to take notice of this fault in society and to go against the war.
The message of this tune and it overall sound made this song become extremely popular to middle America and has since been heard in nearly every movie that references the Vietnam War, Although the song never directly cites the Vietnam War as its subject, its attacks against the social elite and the nationalistic imperialism of the United States are parallel to the issues towards the Vietnam War. Anyone and everyone from farmers to teachers took grasp of this song as their anthem and call for an end to the Vietnam War.
Read more about the song here: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-fogerty-addresses-fortunate-son-concert-for-valor-controversy-20141113
I really enjoyed this text. I believe that it says a lot about the past mistakes the country has made and the current ones it continues to make. I think it was important for him to speak to the average American as a audience because they were the most affected.
ReplyDeleteThis song was the perfect song for the average working class American. The lyrics were easy to understand and it had a catchy tune. Also, most could realate to the lyrics in a very legitimate way as they were being drafted themselves.
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