Fortunate Son

"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.

[Verse 1] 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 [Chorus ] 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 [Verse 2] Some folks are born silver spoon in hand Lord, don't they help themselves, no But when the taxman come' to the door Lord, the house lookin' like a rummage sale, yeah [Chorus] 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 [Verse 3] 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!" [Chorus/Outro] 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