Lyrics

FORTUNATE SON

Live 03 Oct 2004 version


One, two
One two three four!

Some folks are born made to wave the flag
Ooh, they're red, white, blue
But when the band plays "Hail to the chief"
Ooh, they point the cannon at you

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

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

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

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

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate ???
I ain't no fortunate ???
I ain't no fortunate ???
I ain't no fortunate son

Written by John Fogerty, from Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 album Willy And The Poor Boys.

Three known off-tour performances in 1987:

  • 09 Aug 1987 at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, with the E Street Band
  • 27 Aug 1987 at The Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ, with The Cats
  • 31 Oct 1987 at McLoone's Rumrunner, Sea Bright, NJ, during a surprise Halloween party, with the
    E Street Band except Nils and Clarence (read below)

Rehearsed for the Vote For Change tour on 28 and 29 Sep 2004 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ, and performed during each of Bruce's Vote For Change tour shows, always with John Fogerty:

  • 01 Oct 2004 at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • 02 Oct 2004 at Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
  • 03 Oct 2004 at Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
  • 05 Oct 2004 at Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
  • 08 Oct 2004 at TD Waterhouse Centre, Orlando, FL
  • 11 Oct 2004 at MCI Centre, Washington, DC
  • 13 Oct 2004 at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

The above lyrics refer to the live 03 Oct 2004 performance at Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI, during the Vote For Change tour. Bruce plays guitar, and he backs up John Fogerty only in the last couple of lines (the text in italic). See also the original Creedence Clearwater Revival version (very similar).

Available Versions

List of available versions of FORTUNATE SON on this website:

FORTUNATE SON [Live 03 Oct 2004 version]
FORTUNATE SON [Original Creedence Clearwater Revival version]