FORTUNATE SON

LYRICS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyzUIEW-Q5E

SIGNIFICANT POINTS• Voiced the thoughts of many Americans

• Didn’t want to be forced into a pointless war• “It ain’t me”

• Emphasized the difference of social classes• Made a point of describing how the rich acted

about the war• “And when the band plays ‘Hail to the Chief’/Ooh

they point the cannon at you”

• Short and simple• Got the point across• Appealed to audience

INTENDED AUDIENCE

• Targeted the social elite, who supported the Vietnam War without making any commitment to it • “I ain’t no Senator’s/millionaire’s son”

• Appealed to the draft dodgers and counterculture (aka hippies) • Anti-military lyrics

• “And when you ask them, how much should you give?/Oh, they only answer More! More! More!”

• Defiant tone• “It ain’t me”

INSPIRATION

• Was written after the wedding of Julie Nixon to David Eisenhower

• Talked about politics• Criticized the governent’s role in the Vietnam

War• 3rd verse—emphasizes the military

• Talked about society• Pointed out the hypocrisy of the social elite, who

supported the war but didn’t “pay the price” of it• “And when the band plays ‘Hail to the Chief’/Ooh

they point the cannon at you”Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower

CONCLUSION• Has become an anti-war symbol

• Used to protest militarism and elitism

• Artist is trying to point out the unfairness of war

• Has appeared in modern culture• Movies: Forrest Gump, Live Free and Die Hard,

Battleship• TV: American Dad!, Lights Out, Sons of

Anarchy, Chuck• Video Games: Battlefield Vietnam, Call of Duty:

Black Ops