"Fortunate Son" was released as a single in late 1969. Songwriter John Foge… Read Full Bio ↴"Fortunate Son" was released as a single in late 1969. Songwriter John Fogerty intended the song as a protest against the Vietnam War. The song is critical of the fortunate sons of those in high places e.g. the political elite and/or the wealthy who are able to avoid the horrors of war for themselves or their relatives by benefiting from their privileged backgrounds.

Fogerty says that the song was indirectly inspired by David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight David Eisenhower who married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon in 1968. Eisenhower did later enlist in the Navy Reserve and served three years on active duty in the early 70s as an officer aboard a US Navy cruiser in the Mediterranean Sea.

Fogerty himself was drafted and served six months in various military bases in the United States.

Fortunate Son
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics

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Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooh, their 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

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

Overall Meaning

The song “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival has become a timeless anti-war anthem. The lyrics speak about the privilege of the wealthy and their lack of accountability in times of national conflict. The first verse speaks to the privilege of those who are born to wave the flag, who wear the red, white and blue with pride, and align themselves with those in power. They point the cannon at those who do not have the same privilege as them. The song emphasizes that these privileged people never have to suffer the consequences of war themselves.

The chorus of the song emphasizes that the singer cannot relate to these privileged individuals, as he is not a senator’s son, a millionaire’s son or a military son. He is none of these fortunate individuals. The second verse furthers this argument, as the writer points out how the wealthy are only too happy to help themselves during times of peace, but when the taxman arrives, the house looks like a rummage sale. They do not pay their fair share. Finally, the third verse speaks to the wealthy who have the power to make decisions about going to war, but they do not have to suffer the consequences themselves. They send down those who do not have the advantages they enjoy and always ask for more.

Line by Line Meaning

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag Ooh, their red, white and blue And when the band plays "Hail to the Chief" Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord
Some people are inherently patriotic and privileged, born with the full support of their country's government. But when it comes to conflicts or wars, they do not hesitate to use violence to suppress those who question their power.

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
I am not a son of a powerful politician, therefore, I am not privileged to receive any special advantages from the system. I am not one of the lucky ones who are born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

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
Some people are born into wealthy families and take advantage of their privileges without being aware of their actions. When the authorities attempt to collect taxes from them, they react in desperation due to their incompetence in handling their finances properly.

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
Some people are born into influential families that perpetuate the idea of patriotism, often leading to an involvement in the military. Those same families expect the military to fight without question, giving all they have to support their agenda without compromise or concern for the consequences.

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
I am not someone who either thinks that the government knows best or a person who is born into a privileged life by having political and/or monetary power. I do not blindly support war or violence just because it reinforces a flag waving nationalistic sentiment that will ultimately sacrifice the life, liberty, and happiness of so many in the process.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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