Posted 3:43 PM by John A. Seafisk

Red, White & Blue Jeans

There is this TV ad for Wrangler Jeans that has me perplexed. It's a partiotic-themed spot showing the American flag, loading heavy stuff onto pick-ups, shoveling dirt, walking....all sorts of rugged stuff.

During these scenes, a '70s rock song with guitars wailing plays throughout. The only lyric you hear is "Some folks were born made to wave the flag...ooh, they're red, white & blue." This All-American song, of course, is "Fortunate Son", by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

So, what's so perplexing? Well, this song isn't necessarily "good ol' US of A" propaganda...it's actually a protest song. "Fortunate Son" is railing against those hypocritical 'patriots' who, when things get bad, shift the responsibility to those not as rich or powerful or lucky, i.e. fortunate. Here's the whole song, to show you what I'm talking about:

Fortunate Son
Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,

--

Yes, it ain't me. I ain't no Wrangler-wearing son.