In my opinion, this is the most misunderstood song of all time - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 08-16-2003, 10:11 PM

Bruce Springsteen has been known to come up with hit songs like "I'm on Fire" and other stuff. One of his biggest hits ever, "Born in the U.S.A.", appears to be a patriotic song about someone being proud to be born in the United States and it also appears to define America. If you pay attention to the lyrics, though, as our very own music expert, AKA, has pointed out several times, what you hear and see is a different story.

Born In The U.S.A.
(Bruce Springsteen)

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.
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."

Had a brother at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Now here to run ain't got nowhere to go

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.

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

Now after reading the lyrics, can you see what this song is all about now? It's about hardships in the U.S. It is not a rah-rah America song that many people often assume. Just because the song title reads, "Born in the U.S.A." does not necesarily mean it is patriotic.

Basically what I am saying is that this is, imo, the most misinterpreted and misunderstood song ever made. I didn't know what the song really was until AKA posted the lyrics several months back. Hopefully this thread will be a reminder or a first-time exposure to those who assume that the song is a rah-rah America song.

AKA · 08-16-2003, 10:27 PM

Yep. Like you said, even you were even confused about it until you read the lyrics. I was, too, at first.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...threadid=64338

ABlairican Pie · 08-17-2003, 01:23 AM

It was especially misunderstood 19 years ago when Reagan tried to co-opt Bruce's song to sound cool and relevant, when in fact Bruce had major problems with Reagan's policies. It was cool to be patriotic in the year of Big Brother (while ignoring the real issues facing middle-class American families).

ap3ab · 08-17-2003, 05:02 PM

I thought it was a patriotic American song too until my Dad showed me the lyrics and I thought it seemed more anti-war than patriotic.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 08-17-2003, 05:44 PM

Oh yeah... I remember AKA pointing that out. Altough, IMO, the most misunderstood song to me will always be: Luoie Louie.

Cactus Jack · 08-17-2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ?MsConanOBrien?
Oh yeah... I remember AKA pointing that out. Altough, IMO, the most misunderstood song to me will always be: Luoie Louie.

Ditto LOL

Steve M. · 12-05-2003, 05:00 PM

And don't forget Randy Newman's "Short People."

People heard that song back in 1978 and though Newman was really picking on short people, the song got banned all over the place, and people asked, "Doesn't Randy Newman know that it's stupid to hate people just because they're short?"

That was the point of the song! The point is/was that all bigotry - especially racial prejudice - is stupid. Remember the key lyrics of the bridge, which the Eagles sing along with Newman:

"Sort people are just the same as you and I / A fool such as I / All men are brothers until they the day they die / It's a wonderful world."

Except for Baltimore, where it's actually against the law to play "Short People" on the radio.

SBTB Geek · 12-05-2003, 05:07 PM

I think that VH1's TrueSpin also went into detail about what this song means.

Janice · 12-05-2003, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
I think that VH1's TrueSpin also went into detail about what this song means.

I saw that a few week's ago, and they said the song was a slam on the Vietnam War.

Dean Winchester · 12-05-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
It was especially misunderstood 19 years ago when Reagan tried to co-opt Bruce's song to sound cool and relevant, when in fact Bruce had major problems with Reagan's policies. It was cool to be patriotic in the year of Big Brother (while ignoring the real issues facing middle-class American families).

wow, 1984 sounds a lot like 2003. People boycotted Dixie Chicks over Natalie Maines making comments that pre-9-11 would've been applauded, and some psychos even boycotted Springsteen for defending her. And Madonna's album also suffered by a lot of "Patriots" comdemning it as an anti-American album, when there's nothing about it at all.

08-16-2003, 10:11 PM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	In my opinion, this is the most misunderstood song of all time Bruce Springsteen has been known to come up with hit songs like "I'm on Fire" and other stuff. One of his biggest hits ever, "Born in the U.S.A.", appears to be a patriotic song about someone being proud to be born in the United States and it also appears to define America. If you pay attention to the lyrics, though, as our very own music expert, AKA, has pointed out several times, what you hear and see is a different story. Born In The U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen) 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. 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." Had a brother at Khe Sahn Fighting off the Viet Cong They're still there he's all gone He had a woman he loved in Saigon I got a picture of him in her arms now Down in the shadow of the penitentiary Out by the gas fires of the refinery I'm ten years burning down the road Now here to run ain't got nowhere to go 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. I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A. I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A. Now after reading the lyrics, can you see what this song is all about now? It's about hardships in the U.S. It is not a rah-rah America song that many people often assume. Just because the song title reads, "Born in the U.S.A." does not necesarily mean it is patriotic. Basically what I am saying is that this is, imo, the most misinterpreted and misunderstood song ever made. I didn't know what the song really was until AKA posted the lyrics several months back. Hopefully this thread will be a reminder or a first-time exposure to those who assume that the song is a rah-rah America song.

08-17-2003, 01:23 AM	#3
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	Born in the U.S.A. It was especially misunderstood 19 years ago when Reagan tried to co-opt Bruce's song to sound cool and relevant, when in fact Bruce had major problems with Reagan's policies. It was cool to be patriotic in the year of Big Brother (while ignoring the real issues facing middle-class American families).
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

08-17-2003, 05:44 PM	#5
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	Oh yeah... I remember AKA pointing that out. Altough, IMO, the most misunderstood song to me will always be: Luoie Louie.
	__________________ DAVID COOK FOR AMERICAN IDOL

12-05-2003, 05:00 PM	#7
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	And don't forget Randy Newman's "Short People." People heard that song back in 1978 and though Newman was really picking on short people, the song got banned all over the place, and people asked, "Doesn't Randy Newman know that it's stupid to hate people just because they're short?" That was the point of the song! The point is/was that all bigotry - especially racial prejudice - is stupid. Remember the key lyrics of the bridge, which the Eagles sing along with Newman: "Sort people are just the same as you and I / A fool such as I / All men are brothers until they the day they die / It's a wonderful world." Except for Baltimore, where it's actually against the law to play "Short People" on the radio.
	__________________ I don't really get out a lot. When I do go out, I couldn't be happier. I love being in a nice milieu. I'm as happy as a clam. Just as long as I'm not in some club playing hip-hop. You hear that sort of thing in a lot of places. That's not my milieu. Rock and roll is good-time music. I love rock. So did my parents.

08-16-2003, 10:27 PM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Yep. Like you said, even you were even confused about it until you read the lyrics. I was, too, at first. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...threadid=64338

08-17-2003, 05:02 PM	#4
ap3ab Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2003 Location: Canada, hopefully someday in Tchortoria uncovering my family roots Posts: 75	I thought it was a patriotic American song too until my Dad showed me the lyrics and I thought it seemed more anti-war than patriotic.

12-05-2003, 05:07 PM	#8
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	I think that VH1's TrueSpin also went into detail about what this song means.