Fortunate Son

Creedence Clearwater Revival

About Fortunate Son

"Fortunate Son" is a song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival released on their fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys in November 1969. It was previously released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in September 1969. It soon became an anti-war movement anthem, an expressive symbol of the counterculture's opposition to U. S. military involvement in the Vietnam War and solidarity with the soldiers fighting it. The song has been featured extensively in pop culture depictions of the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement. The song reached #14 on the United States charts on November 22, 1969, the week before Billboard changed its methodology on double-sided hits. The tracks combined to climb to #9 the next week, on the way to peaking at #3 three more weeks later, on 20 December 1969. It won the RIAA Gold Disc award in December 1970. Pitchfork Media placed it at number 17 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s". Rolling Stone placed it at #99 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. In 2013, the song was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." 


Year:
1973
2:18
137 
#1

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Traffic in the city turns my head around.
No, no, no, no, no.
Backed up on the freeway, backed up in the church,
Ev'rywhere you look there's a frown, frown.

CHORUS:
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.

People keep atalkin', they don't say a word.
Jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw.
Talk up in the White House, talk up to your door,
So much goin' on I just can't hear.

CHORUS

Hurryin' to get there so you save some time.
Run, run, run, run, run.
Rushin' to the treadmill, rushin' to get home,
Worry 'bout the time you save, save.

CHORUS

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Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival (sometimes shortened to Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums. more »

26 fans

Written by: John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Creation
"Fortunate Son" was released by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) in 1969.
Writer
The song was written by the band's lead vocalist, John Fogerty.
Album
It is part of the band's fourth studio album, "Willy and the Poor Boys".
Popular Reception
"Fortunate Son" peaked at number 14 on the United States charts in 1969.
Protest Theme
The song is often associated with protests against the Vietnam War, as it criticizes the privileged who were able to avoid conscription.
Cover Versions
"Fortunate Son" has been covered by many artists, including Bob Seger and Kid Rock.
Pop Culture
The song is frequently used in films, television shows, and video games to represent the late 1960s and early 1970s in America.
Awards
In 2014, "Fortunate Son" was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Interpretation
Though it is often tied to the Vietnam War period, Fogerty stated that the song was more generally about the disparity between those who were privileged and those who were not.
Moment of Origin
Fogerty was inspired to write "Fortunate Son" after watching news coverage of a wedding, where David Eisenhower, the grandson of President Dwight Eisenhower, married Julie Nixon, the daughter of President Richard Nixon.
Record Label
The song was released under the label Fantasy, which was the band's label for all their studio albums.
Musical Features
"Fortunate Son" is a Southern Rock song played in the key of G major.
Length
The song is relatively short, lasting only two minutes and 20 seconds.
Rolling Stone
The song currently holds place number 99 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Song Structure
Unlike many popular songs, "Fortunate Son" does not include a bridge. It follows a straightforward verse-chorus-verse structure.

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    Fortunate Son

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #14


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