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Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fortunate Son - Amy’s First Listen and Analysis (Patreon)

Published:
2024-12-20 11:48:19
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

A creative presentation of the sentiments expressed in this song. 

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Previews only

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Comments

Pedro Macedo

Great song, Amy. CCR were such a good rock group. Their music was simple but very effective. And I see some similarities with some AC/DC songs. Maybe the Australians were influenced by them.

dnlng 118

I think it's a protest song about the unfairness of conscription during Vietnam, where various well off families and well connected 'senator's sons' were able to manoever themselves out of the draft

Misty Bastian

Hi, Amy. “It ain’t me” was the catchphrase that everybody liked to sing back in the Day, and the spin people put on those three words could be very aggressive. John Fogerty’s voice was so distinctive that he could never be mistaken for anybody else. You can call them Creedence or CCR, by the way. Fogerty and his bandmates were trying to evoke exactly that backwoods revival feeling you described—which was very far away from their California origins.

jimdkc

Saw this just as it was put up and decided to take a little break from the Beatles! I'm a lover of Creedence, as well, and I always loved John Fogarty's guitar and vocal delivery. All of his songs "chug along", as you say! Hope you listen to more Creedence Clearwater Revival!

George Brady

That opening riff, Amy, was sadly taken as "talk-over time" by nearly every AM radio DJ - it was incredibly annoying!

TangoEliott

He is the one that is drafted to fight the wars. He isn't a fortunate son. He isn't a Senator's son who could miss the Draft. He isn't the gung ho military family born to fight. He is everyman, forced to fight a war he doesn't want any part of.

George Brady

Yes, Amy, John Fogarty is authentic. His complaint here is that those who "send" to war are typically not those who "go" to war (or pay their fair share of taxes!) It's about the unfairness of the draft, and the exemption corruption. Even I, a volunteer, had no argument with that.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma

You simply CAN'T go wrong when listening to a Creedence Clearwater song. (Even my sister thinks so ;) BTW - John Fogerty was facing the draft (and by extension, being sent to the war in Vietnam) when he started his music career.

Deborah June

Hi Amy! CCR are from El Cerrito, California. El Cerrito means ‘the little hill’ in Spanish. The c (before an i or an e) is pronounced as [s] in Spanish of the western hemisphere and as [th] in European Spanish. I love your song analyses. I especially love your music theory interludes. Please don’t be shy about giving us more music theory.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158848924

Just a little (embarrassing) thing you just reminded me of, Deborah: I spent two years in junior high school in Thousand Oaks CA, just north of L.A., where a lot of names have a Spanish origin. The school I attended - way back in 1974-76... was LOS CERRITOS JUNIOR HIGH. Deborah, I am such a numbnut: I only looked it up last year - it means "the little hills." Who knew??? Who knew???

TONY SURRATT

Enjoyed that. CCR takes me back, to my teens. Listening to them on an eight track tape player, in Buds 63 Ford Galaxy, he painted orange. His tape case was all CCR, except for a Frankie Vallie greatest hits, and a Richard Pryor tape. That’s how we rolled in 75 RIP Bud

steveRock

great info on the harmonic and melodic notes. John Fogerty was a prolific song writer for the time period of 1967-72. Unfortunately, the band had a terrible record deal. As the song writer and group leader, John was a task master to the other band members that eventually broke up the group. The other member wanted to write songs, which were not up to John and CCR's standards. John sued the record label and the other band members and did not play any of his CCR songs live until the late 90s. The band's sound was known as Swamp Rock.

RAD1

The Monkees (a manufactured for TV rock group trying to copy The Beatles mode of success), first hit song 'Last Train to Clarksville' (Tennessee) was an antiwar song that had to hide its real meaning to get past the TV censors. They're a very interesting story with interesting songs.

Lee Kennison

I loved this one Amy. Good background info Vlad. This has been on my list of songs for you to hear for a long time. You were spot on Amy in your saying things like, "It has a quality of genuineness about it," "It feels real," and "A very common man/working man way of looking at things." I think every CCR fan will say you got it exactly. Excellent reaction!

Steve

I guess I am a little confused because this is here after “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” even though it was obviously recorded first. Is there some way to get a sense of the order that’s songs were listened to that’s independent of the posting date?

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158868471

Like Spinal Tap, The Monkees can EASILY be underrated, which is a shame. And you are very correct in saying that they have an interesting story. One of the episodes shows each of their screen tests, and Mike Nesmith was particularly funny... and the truest musician of the group. Stephen Stills (Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y) auditioned for a part, and was turned down because of his crooked teeth, and it was Stephen who suggested they test his musician friend, Peter Tork, who got the part, and looks similar to Stephen, only with straighter teeth. Mickey Dolenz and Davy Jones were child actors. I, personally, became aware of The Monkees as a group in the 4th grade. I traded my sister's Burl Ives record (and she is still waiting for my apology, some 50 years later... it's coming ;) for the Monkees first album with my (even younger than I) friend who lived down the street. It was my great fortune to see the episode with LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE on it... and I fell in love with the song. (Don't tell anyone, but... I fell in love the same way even earlier in my life with a song by a television band: I THINK I LOVE YOU by The Partridge Family. A damn fine song, even if no one will believe me ;)

David Taylor

Amy, another great listen. Someone may have already mentioned this, but when the Vietnam war was going on, they still had the draft in effect. If you were black, poor, or any sort of malcontent, you were targeted for military service. But, those who could afford college hence, fortunate sons, were exempt. CCR are one of those rare bands that always presented good rythmic rock and roll. Just four in the bar Americana. Once again, really enjoyed that.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158890056

I was way too young for the draft back then, but I lived in the Bay Area and had friends with older siblings who talked about being afraid of being drafted. As I recall, the eligibility requirements changed in the late 60s/early 70s, and the deferments (college, family) changed as well... there was a lottery system at the end, if I recall (and I don't recall well, these days ;)

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158868471

AND... wait for it! Here are THE MONKEES doing probably one of the most beautiful songs that they have EVER done, featured in their wacky 1968 movie HEAD (with Frank Zappa and other friends as cameos), called AS WE GO ALONG, written by the incomparable Carol King and her (then) husband, Gerry Goffin. It truly is a beautiful song, and I wish it were more popular than it is: https://youtu.be/XD6YLKqoTXI

Paul D. Hoffmaster III

This song came out when I was in the Air Force. Many of us that went into the Air Force did so that we would not be drafted into the Army and maybe to be sent to Vietnam. I did go to Thailand to load bombs on B52a for that war and now wear a hat so that I may meet others from that War and talk. I did again yesterday. We had a few minutes talk at the bank. Like me, most that I have met, were also support troops that did not go to the frontline and see action. I have, so-called, lost count of how many times I heard someone in the barracks play that song. We all wished that we were that Fortunate Son and not be not dealing with the war. Good review Amy.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158910146

Hey Paul... just a weird note: I was too young to be drafted... but I certainly entertained the idea that the Air Force would be better than the Army or the Marines. Kind of weird, huh, that a kid like me in the early 70s would be thinking such thoughts... but... those were the times.

jimdkc
>>158868471

The Monkees are indeed a very interesting part of rock history. A group manufactured for TV that became an actual, real (and quite good!) band. They were intended to mimic The Beatles antics in the movie HELP! Interesting story... The first time my wife and I had an all-nighter which included deep discussions (and more...) was the night that MTV was airing a marathon of the Monkees TV show. We had it running on the TV all night. At one point, I looked deep into her eyes and said, "You know what this means... Our song is "Hey, Hey We're the Monkees" (the TV show theme song!) We've been married nearly 38 years now. https://youtu.be/vHHZb7c3Qy8

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158868471

I remember when MTV (or VH1) ran the Monkees marathon. I recorded most of them on my brand new stereo VCR (quite impressive for the early 80s) - but I don't recall if I ever took the time to watch them. (There are LOTS of books and shows in my library that I plan to get around to one day... probably the day after I quit the Procrastinators Club... which I've been meaning to do for quite some time now ;)

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158865664

Yes... "Swamp rock." I read when John wrote songs like BORN ON THE BAYOU (my most favorite song of theirs) - he had NEVER been near a swamp or bayou. With the way that song comes across, you'd have thunk Mr. Fogerty was born somewhere deep inside of Louisiana.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158850520

8-track tapes should be UNinvented. Thank God for cassettes, back in the day. (John Lennon had a turntable put in the back of his psychedelically painted Rolls Royce... the rich seem to always be one step ahead of us (just me? okay.) ordinary people ;)

TONY SURRATT
>>158850520

Just about every track would split a song in the good part, Somebody gave me one, that had two speakers that I had in my bedroom. It was a cool little player.

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158868471

Hah! Tony! Can you recommend any of their songs for me to hear first? Be forewarned though: I'm not much impressed with "Britpop." I mean, if Oasis is any indication, then it's pure reincarnated drivel. Except, I do like CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA - I always try to find at least one song to like from a popular group... only Slipknot has eluded me so far... So, I've heard of that group, but had to look them up on Wikipedia: Gorillaz are a British virtual band created in 1998 by British musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums). Their universe is presented in media such as music videos, interviews, comic strips and short cartoons. Gorillaz's music has featured collaborations with a wide range of featured artists, with Albarn as the only permanent musical contributor. With Gorillaz, Albarn departed from the distinct Britpop sound of his band Blur, exploring a variety of musical styles including hip hop, electronic and world music.[2] The band's 2001 debut album, Gorillaz, which features dub, Latin and punk influences, went triple platinum in the UK and double platinum in Europe, with sales driven by the success of the lead single, "Clint Eastwood". Their second studio album, Demon Days (2005), went six times platinum in the UK,[3] double platinum in the US, and spawned the successful lead single "Feel Good Inc."[4][5][6] The band's third album, Plastic Beach (2010), featured environmentalist themes, synth-pop elements[7] and an expanded roster of featured artists. Their fourth album, The Fall, was recorded on the road during the Escape to Plastic Beach Tour and released on 25 December 2010.

TONY SURRATT
>>158868471

My understanding of the Monkeys, is they were created for television. A media that Amy doesn’t or hasn’t explored. Gorillaz is as much visual as listening. Their art work is so cool, and it represents the time period. 2000s Videos Yeah, start with Clint Eastwood https://youtu.be/1V_xRb0x9aw?si=dIXnXB6Zl7GwaEfb On Melancholy Hill https://youtu.be/04mfKJWDSzI?si=9caS5ejNimZ6coHx And Feel Good Inc. one of my favorite https://youtu.be/HyHNuVaZJ-k?si=1gV32vbpJ86vYc6D

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>158868471

Tanks a lot, Tony! Wikipedia: Aspiring filmmaker Bob Rafelson developed the initial idea for The Monkees in 1962 [the year I was born... a LOT of good things happened in that year - like Mick and Keith meeting Brian Jones on 7 April 1962, the second best thing that happened after I was born - Seattle had a world's fair and built the Space Needle in my honor... but enough about that!] and tried selling it to Revue Productions, the television division of Universal Pictures, but was unsuccessful. In May 1964, while working at Screen Gems, Rafelson teamed up with Bert Schneider, whose father, Abraham Schneider, headed the Colpix Records and Screen Gems Television units of Columbia Pictures. Rafelson and Schneider ultimately formed Raybert Productions. The Beatles' films A Hard Day's Night and Help! inspired Rafelson and Schneider to revive Rafelson's idea for The Monkees. As "Raybert Productions", they sold the show to Screen Gems Television on April 16, 1965.

TONY SURRATT
>>158868471

I’m 64, like Amy’s selection today. I remember watching the Monkeys, and liking their music. They where good, but as music critics, not quite the Beatles, and shows where a little childish. They deserve more credit. They were like the first (TV) virtual band. 25 or 30 years later another virtual band comes along, but made for video. Gorillaz . Just another monkey, just a little younger and bigger

Michael Faklis

The Korean Was lasted three years. The Viet Nam (Police Action, as it was not called a war at the time) lasted more than 15 years, leaving lots of time for us to learn the truth and question our government. Viet Nam was fought largely by unfortunate sons drafted by our government. Sons in college got a draft deferment until graduation. Sons of millionaires were able to enroll in college even if they were otherwise unqualified intellectually (i.e., Donald Trump), or they were excused for questionable medical diagnoses like bone spurs (i.e., Donald Trump, again). There were a small few sons of senators (i.e., Al Gore) who voluntarily served as officers after college. Poor non-white Americans were fodder for this war. "Fortunate Son" was an anti-war anthem.

Gary Wilmot
>>158868471

The Partridge Family was based on a real-life family pop group, The Cowsills.

Gary Wilmot
>>158850520

Don't knock 8-track tapes, they're keeping the Voyager 1 & 2 space probes computer systems running up to today. State-of-the-Art in 1977!

Gary Wilmot

Ever notice he never actually sings "fortunate son" until the very last line of the fadeout?