Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing
Period 4
January 30, 2009
Cause and Effect
“Fortunate Son”
Throughout history events have swept across the nation causing powerful lyrics to be written about certain issues that artists or a large group of people find controversial. We call such a genre a “song of protest”. “Fortunate Son” by Creedece Clearwater Revival is no exception. The song, written in the 1960’s, during the much hated war in Vietnam has powerful lyrics dealing with the draft and not wanting to fight in a war unsupported by the American people.
All the people hated the Vietnam War. Everyone thought that our government was corrupt because of it. All of the soldiers felt as if they were fighting for no reason, and many lives were lost for no reason. This upset the lives of many United States citizens. Throughout the war moral was lost in the troops and all support was lost from the troops at home. The war also brought disappointment to people because they were fighting in a war for other people, and losing their loved ones for no reason because they were not fighting for their own country.
The song “Fortunate Son” was written by John Fogerty. He was 23 years old and in the military. He saw the treatment of people first hand. By the treatment, I mean the difference between the rich and the poor. The people that were rich were for the war in Vietnam, They thought that the war would be good for America. The only reason they thought the war would be good was because their sons were “fortunate”, they didn’t have to go to war. But, on the other hand the poor people in America were against the war.
Their sons were what you would call “unfortunate”, because they had to go fight in the war. None of them wanted to fight because they new that it was pointless and that they would probably die for nothing. John Fogerty wrote this song because there was no support for the war or our government. Fogerty saw men refusing the draft in drastic ways. No one wanted to fight in the war and the ones that were not “fortunate sons” would try every way possible to get out of the draft. Fogerty saw people burning their draft cards, and willing to go to jail in order to stay out of the war. He also saw many of the rich and powerful people getting out of being drafted. Many of the rich “fortunate sons” were able to refuse the draft if they just went to college, so that’s what most of them did. Many of our political leaders today were some of those who dodged the draft. Two of them would be Bill Clinton, and George Bush (“The Vietnam War”). Therefore, it is for these reasons why Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote “Fortunate Son”, to expose what was going on in the country.
There were many effects and responses from the song. All of the troops felt that Creedence Clearwater Revival got them through the war. It brought up a very sensitive issue and exposed draft dodgers even more. Now everyone was refusing the war, and thought that our government was corrupt. For all the troops that were already in the war at Vietnam, the song “Fortunate Son” made them feel like they had more support. The song made them feel better about everything that was going on, and that they had a reason to fight now. The song made troops stand up for themselves against a corrupt
government. It also made them support what they believe in (“Creedenc Clearwater Revival”).
This “song of protest” is one that will always be remembered by all. Credence Clearwater Revival had a popular song with powerful lyrics, written by John Fogerty. The song had a great impact on our nation during the time of the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. It has helped the lives of many troops get through the war and survive. As well as millions of Americans to help support the troops once again, and also to help support the government again in the 1960’s.
Bibliography
"Creedence Clearwater Revival." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. 02 Feb. 2009.
"Vietnam War - MSN Encarta." MSN Encarta : Online Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Atlas, and Homework. 02 Feb. 2009.
"The Effects of the Vietnam War." Welcome to Cyberlearning World by George Cassutto. 02 Feb. 2009.
Throughout history events have swept across the nation causing powerful lyrics to be written about certain issues that artists or a large group of people find controversial. We call such a genre a “song of protest”. “Fortunate Son” by Creedece Clearwater Revival is no exception. The song, written in the 1960’s, during the much hated war in Vietnam has powerful lyrics dealing with the draft and not wanting to fight in a war unsupported by the American people.
All the people hated the Vietnam War. Everyone thought that our government was corrupt because of it. All of the soldiers felt as if they were fighting for no reason, and many lives were lost for no reason. This upset the lives of many United States citizens. Throughout the war moral was lost in the troops and all support was lost from the troops at home. The war also brought disappointment to people because they were fighting in a war for other people, and losing their loved ones for no reason because they were not fighting for their own country.
The song “Fortunate Son” was written by John Fogerty. He was 23 years old and in the military. He saw the treatment of people first hand. By the treatment, I mean the difference between the rich and the poor. The people that were rich were for the war in Vietnam, They thought that the war would be good for America. The only reason they thought the war would be good was because their sons were “fortunate”, they didn’t have to go to war. But, on the other hand the poor people in America were against the war.
Their sons were what you would call “unfortunate”, because they had to go fight in the war. None of them wanted to fight because they new that it was pointless and that they would probably die for nothing. John Fogerty wrote this song because there was no support for the war or our government. Fogerty saw men refusing the draft in drastic ways. No one wanted to fight in the war and the ones that were not “fortunate sons” would try every way possible to get out of the draft. Fogerty saw people burning their draft cards, and willing to go to jail in order to stay out of the war. He also saw many of the rich and powerful people getting out of being drafted. Many of the rich “fortunate sons” were able to refuse the draft if they just went to college, so that’s what most of them did. Many of our political leaders today were some of those who dodged the draft. Two of them would be Bill Clinton, and George Bush (“The Vietnam War”). Therefore, it is for these reasons why Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote “Fortunate Son”, to expose what was going on in the country.
There were many effects and responses from the song. All of the troops felt that Creedence Clearwater Revival got them through the war. It brought up a very sensitive issue and exposed draft dodgers even more. Now everyone was refusing the war, and thought that our government was corrupt. For all the troops that were already in the war at Vietnam, the song “Fortunate Son” made them feel like they had more support. The song made them feel better about everything that was going on, and that they had a reason to fight now. The song made troops stand up for themselves against a corrupt
government. It also made them support what they believe in (“Creedenc Clearwater Revival”).
This “song of protest” is one that will always be remembered by all. Credence Clearwater Revival had a popular song with powerful lyrics, written by John Fogerty. The song had a great impact on our nation during the time of the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. It has helped the lives of many troops get through the war and survive. As well as millions of Americans to help support the troops once again, and also to help support the government again in the 1960’s.
Bibliography
"Creedence Clearwater Revival." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. 02 Feb. 2009
"Vietnam War - MSN Encarta." MSN Encarta : Online Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Atlas, and Homework. 02 Feb. 2009
"The Effects of the Vietnam War." Welcome to Cyberlearning World by George Cassutto. 02 Feb. 2009
