“Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) is one of the most powerful protest songs in American rock history, known for its raw energy and blunt political message.

🎸 Song Overview

• Title: Fortunate Son
• Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Released: November 1969 (as a single and on the album Willy and the Poor Boys)
• Genre: Roots Rock / Protest Rock
• Writer: John Fogerty
• Length: ~2:21
• Label: Fantasy Records
• Key: G Major
• Tempo: Fast, driving rhythm with swamp rock flair

📝 Lyrics & Theme

“Fortunate Son” is a direct critique of class privilege, especially in the context of the Vietnam War. The lyrics highlight the unfairness that wealthy, well-connected individuals often avoided the draft, while working-class Americans were sent to fight.

Notable lines:

“It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son…”
“Some folks are born made to wave the flag, ooh, they’re red, white and blue…”

Key themes:

• Anti-war sentiment
• Social inequality
• Anti-elitism and populist anger

🎶 Musical Features

• Iconic Riff: Opens with a sharp, instantly recognizable guitar riff by John Fogerty.
• Urgent Vocals: Fogerty’s delivery is fiery, almost shouted—full of righteous anger.
• Compact Power: Despite being just over 2 minutes, it delivers a fierce punch both musically and lyrically.
• Rhythm Section: The drums and bass drive the song relentlessly forward, matching the song’s tone of defiance.

📜 Legacy

• Became a defining anti-establishment anthem during the Vietnam era.
• Used in countless films and shows (Forrest Gump, Born on the Fourth of July, etc.).
• Still resonates today in discussions about war, privilege, and patriotism.
• Added to the National Recording Registry in 2014 for its cultural significance.
  

The zip file below contains the Guitar Pro file for this riff and the PDF of the tab as well.