In 1969, politically and emotional America was in the midst of a turmoil. In just two and a half minutes, Creedence Clearwater Revival spat out enough venom via ‘Fortunate Son’ to fight back at the political administration. ‘Fortunate Son’ was written with middle finger in full flight towards Nixon and those that occupied his administration, the legacy of the “silver spoon in hand” kids, and the contradictions and struggles of a wartime America.
People like to remember the “peace and love” aspect of the ’60s, but it was a violent, brutal time as well. Putting flowers in their hair may have been a novel pastime for bored kids with nothing to do a couple years prior, but by 1969, another voice was erupting, with the force of anger and frustration behind it. Where is the modern day equivalent?
That being said, even if you take the politics out of it, ‘Fortunate Son’ remains one hell of a record. Released in the fall of 1969 as a double A-side (with ‘Down on The Corner’ as the flip), it made the top 10 and helped the band’s ‘Willy And The Poor Boys’ album hit the gold standard. The emotion and energy in the playing shines through and lets the listener know that something important is going on. One of John Fogerty‘s best vocals sends the song through the roof.
Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooo, their 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
This song is a protest song, a song that rails against the system. With overtones of anti war and a longing for something different. This song at the time was also seen as a rail against nationalist pride. An attack against the patriotic system if you like. Some of the the lyrics are filled with sarcasm "It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no, no, no".
In 1962 the Byrds produced Turn, Turn, Turn. In 1963 Bob Dylan wrote and produced "Blowin in the wind" In 1964 Bob Dylan produced and sung "the Times They are a Changin" In 1964 Sam Cooke penned "A change is gonna come" In 1965 Donovan sung Universal Soldier which was written by Buffy Sainte-Marie.Phil Ochs performed "I ain't marching any more" at anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights rallies. His song is from the point of view of a soldier as he is called on to fight through America’s history, culminating in the atomic bomb attack on Japan. It became a signature song for Ochs and was at its most powerful at the infamous Chicago Democratic National Convention in 1968 when members of the crowd burnt their draft cards during his performance.In 1969 John Lennon sung and produced "Give Peace a chance"
People have sung protest songs throughout human history. Wherever people are oppressed or united in a common struggle, someone will voice strong feelings in song. The 1960s came to be known as the decade for protest with the twin causes of the Vietnam War and the lack of civil rights for African Americans. Some of these songs became anthems and still resonate today. They were the inspiration in countless demonstrations and marches. The same political turmoil and chaos was the seed bed that brought about the creation of CCR's "Fortunate Son"
Jesus too was not ashamed at protest, he was not ashamed to stand up for the rights of the poor, those on the margins, the lepers, the widows, the orphans, women, children, the sick, the old, those of other nations, creeds, times, and languages. He railed against the inadequate system that did not look out for the last, the lost, the least, the lonely. When you read the gospels you see the protesting Jesus at work.
By far the most interesting of those protests is when Jesus arrives at the temple and vents his anger at the injustice of the system.
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.”
The place in the temple courts that Jesus encountered people buying and selling was called the court of the Gentiles. This was an area where anyone could access. But on this occasion no one could gain access because it had been crammed full of people buying and selling. No space for outsiders, no access, no welcome, no drawing near. Of course Jesus was having go at those who were making money off of "Big Religion". He was more infuriated at the space being used for religious business, rather than being a space for those who were seen as outsiders. For Jesus this was the last straw. He drove out, or he cleared some space, he de-cluttered, and re-established the area as a space for prayer. " A house of prayer" Jesus was protesting about power against those who had no voice. Just as in every protest song written or march ever attended.
When Injustice flourishes than the is a place for clearing some space, de-cluttering. In order that injustice is exposed. some do that with song, others with over turning tables. Jesus especially has anger reserved for those who are religious and who use power to oppress people. If we, who say we are the followers of Jesus, do nothing about injustice then our words and prayers are shallow. There is a place in our world still for protest songs and also standing against injustice. Especially injustice done in the name of religion.
The place in the temple courts that Jesus encountered people buying and selling was called the court of the Gentiles. This was an area where anyone could access. But on this occasion no one could gain access because it had been crammed full of people buying and selling. No space for outsiders, no access, no welcome, no drawing near. Of course Jesus was having go at those who were making money off of "Big Religion". He was more infuriated at the space being used for religious business, rather than being a space for those who were seen as outsiders. For Jesus this was the last straw. He drove out, or he cleared some space, he de-cluttered, and re-established the area as a space for prayer. " A house of prayer" Jesus was protesting about power against those who had no voice. Just as in every protest song written or march ever attended.
When Injustice flourishes than the is a place for clearing some space, de-cluttering. In order that injustice is exposed. some do that with song, others with over turning tables. Jesus especially has anger reserved for those who are religious and who use power to oppress people. If we, who say we are the followers of Jesus, do nothing about injustice then our words and prayers are shallow. There is a place in our world still for protest songs and also standing against injustice. Especially injustice done in the name of religion.
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