Still one of the most misunderstood songs ever
Twenty five years ago today (June 4, 1984), Bruce Springsteen released ‘Born in the U.S.A.’. This was the album that would turn his career from being the rock evangelist for a beer-guzzling, blue-collar crowd to a worldwide, god-like and political icon. The title track was very simplistic and raw even by Springsteen standards. Yet the message was a powerful one.
However, that message was all but lost to the ears of the many listeners who helped push it up the charts. It was the anthemic chorus that fueled the frenzy here in America. A frenzy that was reborn after the tragedies of 9/11. And, while the message was lost, a point was proven.
A hit song is made by the hook. No matter the politics or meaning. Would ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ have been as big of a hit had the chorus done away with the irony and instead shot for the heart of the matter? The main character was a torn down, hurt veteran who risked his life for a country that all but forgot him. He returned to America with no future, no hope.
The thing that those who gave the song its resurgence after 9/11 can’t relate to is it was written less than ten years following the fall of Saigon. The memories and pain of the Vietnam War were still fresh. It was a very different time when the blame for war was not only placed on the shoulders of the government, but on those of the soldiers as well. No one tied yellow ribbons for those men. More often than not, they were spat upon when they came home.
And therein lies the pain and irony running thru the chorus of ‘Born in the U.S.A.’. Screaming, voice cracking. This man is not proclaiming his pride in being American as so many of the fist-pumping crowds in bars and at sporting events would like to believe. He is questioning the abhorrent treatment he was receiving despite being ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ and doing his duty by risking his life and losing his brother while fighting for his country.
The only lesson to be learned from this misunderstood slice of rock anguish is that we shouldn’t blame soldiers for the wars they fight. No matter your position on the current war may be, that is the one thing we should all agree on.
Other songs that are NOT patriotic, yet are always misconstrued to be so include, ‘American Woman’ by The Guess Who and ‘Pink Houses’ by John Mellencamp.
See Also:
Poor Misguided Patriots (July 4, 2002)
