John Fogerty Says Donald Trump Misunderstood CCR’s “Fortunate Son”
John Fogerty is once again setting the record straight about one of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s most famous songs — and why Donald Trump keeps getting it wrong.
In a new interview with Vulture, the 80-year-old rocker explained that Fortunate Son — CCR’s 1969 protest anthem — is “probably my most misunderstood song,” particularly by conservatives and, most notably, Trump himself.
Back in 2020, Fogerty even issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump blasted the track at his campaign rallies.
“He is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse,” Fogerty said at the time. “I wrote this song because, as a veteran, I was disgusted that some people were allowed to be excluded from serving our country because they had access to political and financial privilege. I also wrote about wealthy people not paying their fair share of taxes. Mr. Trump is a prime example of both of these issues.”
Despite the warning, Trump went on to feature an instrumental version of Fortunate Son at a Washington, D.C. military parade in June 2020 — which also happened to fall on his birthday.
Fogerty says that kind of use completely misses the point. “It’s happened before where people thought it was a patriotic ditty to wave the flag and all that, not really understanding the cynicism and absolute defiance I had in the song,” he told Vulture.
“Even if you don’t hear the rest of it, you should at least hear, ‘It ain’t me, I ain’t no fortunate son.’”
The irony, Fogerty adds, is almost too much. “I can’t imagine using that song as a political rallying theme, particularly when you seem to be the person who I’m screaming about in the song on all three counts,” he said. “It’s hilarious to me.”
Since its release, Fortunate Son has been covered by everyone from punk legends Circle Jerks to U2, and even re-recorded by Fogerty himself with Foo Fighters for his 2013 album Wrote a Song for Everyone.
Still, its sharp message remains the same — even if some, like Trump, don’t quite catch it.
What do you think — is Trump intentionally twisting the meaning, or just missing the point?
