# "Born In The U.S.A."
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 12, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119 "2001-09-12T18:21:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/1 "2001-09-12T18:21:00Z")
Right now, in the area that I live, they have started playing patriotic songs during lunch hour. The usual fare. But one sticks out in my mind: Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”. I love the song when it came out, but I have always thought this song has always been misunderstood. I have heard it play at a National Republican Convention (which Bruce protested its use), in Fourth July fireworks displays, and in many other settings. Has any actually read the lyrics?
Here is a sample:
> [@](#):
>
> Born down in a dead man’s town
> The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
> You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much
> Till you spend half your life just covering up
> Born in the U. S. A
> I was born in the U. S. A
> I was born in the U. S. A
> Born in the U. S. A
>
> Got in a little hometown jam
> So they put a rifle in my hand
> Sent me off to a foreign land
> To go and kill the yellow man
>
> Born in the U. S. A
> I was born in the U. S. A
> I was born in the U. S. A
> I was born in the U. S. A
>
> Come back home to the refinery
> Hiring man says “Son if it was up to me”
> Went down to see my V. A man
> He said “Son don’t you understand now”
For a complete at the lyrics at [http://www.thuismarkt.nl/users/springsteen/Lyrics/BornInTheUSA.html](http://www.thuismarkt.nl/users/springsteen/Lyrics/BornInTheUSA.html)
Not the most gun-ho American patriotic song ( I still like the song), so my questions are:
1. Why do people still play it in patriotic settings? (Yes, I know, probably most people don’t pay attention to the lyrics and they just hear " I was born . .")
2. Is this one of the most misunderstood song in the US pop history.
Just wondering
XicanoreX
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### Author:  [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/2 "2001-09-12T19:10:19Z")
1. I think you’ve nailed it – people don’t listen to lyrics.
2. No. That distinction almost certainly belongs to “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
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### Author:  [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/3 "2001-09-12T19:37:48Z")
1. I don’t have my Bruce bio here at work with me, so I can’t give you the exact quote, but after the Born in the USA album came out, President Regan decided to use Bruce as a poster-boy for patriotism (much against Mr. Springsteen’s wishes). Various conservative big-wigs talked about how darned patriotic that rock star from NJ was, and if more Americans were like him this’d be a better world. Hey, if the album cover’s got an American flag (of course, with the Boss’s posterior posed in denim in front of it) and the lyrics have USA in it, it must be patriotic.
To save those confused a little bit of dignity, the song sure _sounds_ patriotic, sans lyrics. But I get a kick out of it every time I think of Ronald Regan praising Bruce’s patriotism.
1. I’d say it ranks up there. The juxtoposition of lyrics lamenting the fate of the young American sent away to war either to die or come home and face the fact that he/she is unwanted with driving “up beat” sounding music is really misleading. More recently (as in his latest live album and in concert) he plays it as a solo guitar piece, slow and soulful. Had the lyrics originally gone along with the current music, it would not have been misunderstood.
(sorry for the long reply to something that probably matters so little, but I am a big Springsteen fan, and I rarely get to show off any knowledge, even if it is worthless knowledge, here on the SDMB)
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/4 "2001-09-12T19:48:25Z")
It is definitely misunderstood and misused by many.
There’s a new commercial out promoting patriotism (and jeans?) that uses a snippet of an old classic - crap! I can’t think of the song right now, Springsteen has my head caught in a sound loop and I can’t remember the one I want. _sigh_ Essentially it begins with a big guitar riff, then a line about some people being born to wave the flag. Of course they don’t quote the next line, which is That’s not me.
If I remember I’ll try to post later.
Another song commonly misunderstood - _Revolution_ by John Lennon. It was a big protest song, but Lennon is in fact protesting against violent uprising and changing the system.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/5 "2001-09-12T19:49:49Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eonwe \*
> \*\*I’d say it ranks up there. The juxtoposition of lyrics lamenting the fate of the young American sent away to war either to die or come home and face the fact that he/she is unwanted with driving “up beat” sounding music is really misleading. More recently (as in his latest live album and in concert) he plays it as a solo guitar piece, slow and soulful. Had the lyrics originally gone along with the current music, it would not have been misunderstood.
> \*\*
The thing is that the lyrics do go along with the original music. The martial beat and the proud air of the music, along with the repeated refrain “Born in the USA” are meant as irony. (Real irony, not Alanis Morrissette irony.) That’s the genius of “Born in the USA,” and why it’s such a classic peice; the patriotic facade is what makes the very sad story the lyrics tell all the more poignant. There’s so much you can take away from that song. Is the way he sings it a take on blind patriotism, or is he demanding something? Or is it a commentary on the way the downtrodden often seem to be the best patriots?
Playing the song as a slow, soulful song would work, but makes it simpler and takes much of the depth and nuance out of it.
---
### Author:  [@TexasSpur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexasSpur)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/6 "2001-09-12T20:04:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Irishman \*
> \*\*It is definitely misunderstood and misused by many.
>
> There’s a new commercial out promoting patriotism (and jeans?) that uses a snippet of an old classic - crap! I can’t think of the song right now, Springsteen has my head caught in a sound loop and I can’t remember the one I want. _sigh_ Essentially it begins with a big guitar riff, then a line about some people being born to wave the flag. Of course they don’t quote the next line, which is That’s not me.
>
> If I remember I’ll try to post later.
>
> Another song commonly misunderstood - _Revolution_ by John Lennon. It was a big protest song, but Lennon is in fact protesting against violent uprising and changing the system. \*\*
You’re thinking of Fortunate Son by CCR
---
### Author:  [@fecal\_nugget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fecal_nugget)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/7 "2001-09-12T20:39:40Z")
> [@](#):
>
> You’re thinking of Fortunate Son by CCR
I hate that damn tommy jeans ad, they butchered the lyrics:
Some folks were born to wave the flag…
and of course they don’t play the next line which goes “but it ain’t me, it ain’t me… I ain’t no senator’s son”
I hate seeing a message twisted to mean the opposite of what was intended…
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### Author:  [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/8 "2001-09-12T20:45:03Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \*
> \*\* 2) No. That distinction almost certainly belongs to “When a Man Loves a Woman.” \*\*
Please explain
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### Author:  [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/9 "2001-09-12T21:12:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Irishman \*
> **It is definitely misunderstood and misused by many.**
Agree and I thought I was the only one that had that thought about that.
> [@](#):
>
> **There’s a new commercial out promoting patriotism (and jeans?) that uses a snippet of an old classic […] Essentially it begins with a big guitar riff, then a line about some people being born to wave the flag. Of course they don’t quote the next line, which is That’s not me.**
“Fortunate Son” by CCR
and I quote to those guys who used it in the commercial:
> [@](#):
>
> 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 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,
**Another** song, that is currently being used by Target, but misunderstood by most is Devo’s “It’s a beautiful world”. Most people remember the chorus, but always forget the last words of the song:
> [@](#):
>
> It’s a beautiful world we live in
> A sweet romantic place
> Beautiful people everywhere
> The way they show they care
> Makes me want to say
>
> It’s a beautiful world
> It’s a beautiful world
> It’s a beautiful world
> For you, for you, for you
> **It’s not for me**
> [@](#):
>
> \*\*[Another song commonly misunderstood - _Revolution_ by John Lennon. It was a big protest song, but Lennon is in fact protesting against violent uprising and changing the system. \*\*
Yep, I had forgotten about that one, but yes, you are right. This song by John Lennon is always used in “60’s” documentaries or in that famous commercial (I forget which company) toutin “revolution”, but only they read the lyrics closely they would see its a protest agains violence.
> [@](#):
>
> You say you want a revolution
> Well, you know
> We all want to change the world
> You tell me that it’s evolution
> Well, you know
> We all want to change the world
> But when you talk about destruction
> Don’t you know that you can count me out?
> …
> You say you’ll change the constitution
> Well, you know
> We all want to change your head
> You tell me it’s the institution
> Well, you know
> You’d better free your mind instead
> But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
> You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow
> …
> Don’t you know it’s gonna be
> Alright?
> Alright?
> Alright?
> Alright?
> Alright?
> Alright?
XicanoreX
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/10 "2001-09-12T21:21:16Z")
“When a Man Loves a Woman” is widely perceived as a romantic song… but if you listen closely, it’s the angry, weepy rant of a man who’s been hurt by a no-good, rotten wench! The whole point is, when a man is deeply in love, he overlooks all his beloved’s faults. He’s so smitten, he can’t see that she’s lying to him and cheating on him. He’ll even turn against friends who try to warn him!
“Born in the USA” is not the only Springsteen song that’s been awfully misinterpreted. “Glory Days” is another. The whole point of that song is that our “glory days” are fleeting. A few years from now, we’ll be washed-up nobodies who have nothing but fading memories of our youth. Years ago, I remember that they used to play Springsteen’s “Glory Days” during all the New York Giants’ games. Nobody seemed to grasp that what Springsteen was really saying: that in twenty years, Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor will be old farts, sitting at a bar and babbling to the bartender, “Did I ever tell you how I won the Super Bowl?” And the bartender will roll his eyes, and say, “Yeah, about 1000 times. LEave me alone!”
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### Author:  [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/11 "2001-09-12T21:34:25Z")
In 1998, I heard a commentary on NPR by a professional wedding singer on the music that is chosen for weddings. (I know this thread isn’t about wedding music, but work with me here.) This was after my own wedding, so I remember the piece fairly well. (I couldn’t find it in the archives, however, so I can’t provide a link.)
He said that most of the music chosen is inappropriate, because people choose it on the basis of a title or the melody. So a song like “Born in the USA” would be chosen on those grounds.
My vote for Most Misunderstood Song is “The Greatest Love of All”. Not about loving another person, but about loving yourself.
And Nike used “Revolution”.
Robin
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### Author:  [@BuddhaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaDog)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/12 "2001-09-12T21:38:20Z")
[QUOTE]
\*Originally posted by xicanorex \*
[snip]
Yep, I had forgotten about that one, but yes, you are right. This song by John Lennon is always used in “60’s” documentaries or in that famous commercial (I forget which company) toutin “revolution”, but only they read the lyrics closely they would see its a protest agains violence.
> [@](#):
>
> You say you want a revolution
> Well, you know
> We all want to change the world
> You tell me that it’s evolution
> Well, you know
> We all want to change the world
> But when you talk about destruction
> Don’t you know that you can count me out?
> …
> [SNIP]
IIRC, During the second verse John says"
> [@](#):
>
> Well, you know
> We all want to change the world
> But when you talk about destruction
> Don’t you know that you can count me out?
> **[quitely sung] In…**
Which means, according to the movie IMAGINE, that he (John) felt on certain days that he could find truth on both
sides of the argument…
{BOLDING MINE}
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### Author:  [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/13 "2001-09-12T21:38:48Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by astorian \*
> **"When a Man Loves a Woman" is widely perceived as a romantic song… but if you listen closely, it’s the angry, weepy rant of a man who’s been hurt by a no-good, rotten wench! The whole point is, when a man is deeply in love, he overlooks all his beloved’s faults. He’s so smitten, he can’t see that she’s lying to him and cheating on him. He’ll even turn against friends who try to warn him!**
You know, NOT being a M. Bolton fan, I had never put much attention to the lyrics and, ya know, after further review, . . .you are right.
> [@](#):
>
> When a man loves a woman
> Can’t keep his mind on nothin’ else
> He’d trade the world
> For a good thing he’s found
> If she is bad, he can’t see it
> She can do no wrong
> Turn his back on his best friend
> If he puts her down
>
> When a man loves a woman
> Spend his very last dime
> Trying to hold on to what he needs
> He’d give up all his comforts
> And sleep out in the rain
> If she said that’s the way
> It ought to be
> …
> When a man loves a woman
> Deep down in his soul
> She can bring him such misery
> If she is playing him for a fool
> He’s the last one to know
> Loving eyes can never see
XicanoreX
---
### Author:  [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/14 "2001-09-12T21:45:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by astorian \*
> \*\*Nobody seemed to grasp that what Springsteen was really saying: that in twenty years, Phil Simms and Lawrence Taylor will be old farts, sitting at a bar and babbling to the bartender, “Did I ever tell you how I won the Super Bowl?” And the bartender will roll his eyes, and say, “Yeah, about 1000 times. LEave me alone!” \*\*
LOL
> [@](#):
>
> I had a friend was a big baseball player
> Back in high school
> He could throw that speedball by you
> Make you look like a fool, boy
> Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
> I was walking in and he was walking out
> We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks but all he kept talking about was–
>
> Glory days, well they’ll pass you by
> Glory days, in the wink of a young girl’s eye
> Glory days, glory days
> …
>
> Think I’m going down to the well tonight
> And I’m going to drink till I get my fill
> And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
> But I probably will
> Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
> A little of the glory of
> But time slips away and leaves you with nothing, mister, but boring stories of–
>
> Glory days, well they’ll pass you by
> Glory days, in the wink of a young girl’s eye
> Glory days, glory days
XicanoreX
---
### Author:  [@BuddhaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaDog)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/15 "2001-09-12T21:49:28Z")
FTR When A Man Loves a Women was originally sung my [Percy Sledge](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000DD4/107-9176734-1509337).
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### Author:  [@xicanorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xicanorex)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/16 "2001-09-12T21:53:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BuddhaDog \*
> \*\*FTR When A Man Loves a Women was originally sung my [Percy Sledge](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000DD4/107-9176734-1509337). \*\*
Doh!
FTR?
XicanoreX
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### Author:  [@rushtopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rushtopher)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/17 "2001-09-12T21:54:46Z")
Damn you BuddhaDog, you beat me to it.
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### Author:  [@BuddhaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuddhaDog)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/18 "2001-09-12T22:00:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by xicanorex \*
> \*\*
>
> > [@](#):
> >
> > \*Originally posted by BuddhaDog \*
> > \*\*FTR When A Man Loves a Women was originally sung my [Percy Sledge](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000DD4/107-9176734-1509337). \*\*
>
> Doh!
>
> FTR?
>
> XicanoreX \*\*
…sung **BY** Percy…but you know that
FTR = For the Record
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### Author:  [@bugg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bugg)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/19 "2001-09-12T22:13:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \*
> \*\*1) I think you’ve nailed it – people don’t listen to lyrics.
>
> 1. No. That distinction almost certainly belongs to “When a Man Loves a Woman.” \*\*
What’s misinterpreted about “When a Man Loves A Woman”?
Another commonly misinterpreted song is American Woman by The Guess Who, as well as (although some people may disagree with me) Alice Cooper’s School’s Out- which talks about not having to go to school because it was lost to the war, NOT because he’s a rebellious punk.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2001, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/born-in-the-u-s-a/81119/20 "2001-09-12T22:40:39Z")
What about Sting and “Every Breath You Take”?
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