What does Fortunate Son mean?

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Fortunate Son Meaning

Album cover for Fortunate Son album cover

Song Released: 1969


Fortunate Son Lyrics

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 senators son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Nov 25th 2008 !⃝

    From what I understand, this song is about Vietnam and how it was opposed in America and how so many young men (and some women) were getting shipped over seas to fight a senseless war while many of the countries leaders and more well off people were keeping their sons/daughters home and essentially dodging the draft because they were in high positions. "It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no Senators son." and "It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaires son, no no".

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Oct 12th 2011 !⃝

    this son was about the Vietnam War. The boys in this band were anti-war. The senators son meant that they wasn't rich and huge in the political views. In this time Nixon was president and his Daughter was falling in love with the former presidents grandson David Eisenhower. "it aint me, it ain't me, I ain't no Senators son." is one line from the song Fortunate Son!!

  3. anonymous
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    Jul 16th 2021 !⃝

    The "son" reference was Al Gore Jr. The "father" reference was Senator Al Gore Sr.

    Al Gore Jr did go to Vietnam but was given safe jobs.

  4. anonymous
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    May 16th 2018 !⃝

    This song could also be taken a completely different way: defending accusations of being an American communist ("It ain't me"). Also, the lyric "I ain't no Senator's son" could be referring to Senator Joe McCarthy, who became known for falsely accusing people of being communist. However, his death was 12 years prior to the release of "Fortunate Son", so this song probably had more to do with the Vietnam Conflict, which was new at the time. This is simply a different interpretation.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  5. anonymous
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    Mar 20th 2016 !⃝

    A great PRO-AMERICAN song against ''unnecessary wars'' pushed by Uncle Sam, Big Brother or The Man as Big Government Bullies that wanted to get our tax money and our Unfortunate Ones who were our sons and daughters to fight in a war for the hunger and greed of ''The Warmongers'', where to many lost their precious lives in wars that should have been avoided. While many of the fortunate sons of Millionaiers,Senators, Military Dads and even religious Pastors and Evangelists that believed more in war and owning guns to protect their family yes, but also their guilty conscience, instead of truly believing in the power and the words of JESUS[GOD] to watch over them for protection. All the while educating their sons to stay out of the real war over seas by being ''conscientious objectors'' to dodge the draft. While some of these fortunate sons found work for the government at home as undercover crypto converts that introduce LSD with the drug pushers working as or within the progressive rock and roll hippie band movements to push the drug war on the streets of our cities.

  6. anonymous
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    Mar 16th 2016 !⃝

    John Fogerty wrote and sings the song.the original title was favorite son.whatch his interview with Charlie rose

  7. stephen_melinger
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    Mar 11th 2013 !⃝

    The inequality in an otherwise democratic society is what Obama is also speaking out against. The people who use patriotism as an excuse to criticize others is also portrayed in this song.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  8. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 12th 2011 !⃝

    this son was about the Vietnam War. The boys in this band were anti-war. The senators son meant that they wasn't rich and huge in the political views. In this time Nixon was president and his Daughter was falling in love with the former presidents grandson David Eisenhower. "it aint me, it ain't me, I ain't no Senators son." is one line from the song Fortunate Son!!

  9. anonymous
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    May 17th 2011 !⃝

    War.

  10. anonymous
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    Jan 1st 2011 !⃝

    The guy who wrote and sang this song actually served in Vietnam also of all the "senators sons" only 28 where sent to Vietnam and none where killed.


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