Fortunate Son
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:16:46 PM Wikipedia source
"Fortunate Son" is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, written by the group's frontman John Fogerty. It was released as a single in September 1969, and appeared on the band's fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys, released the following month. The song became a Vietnam anti-war movement anthem and an expressive symbol of the counterculture's opposition to executive power grabs, including opposition to the draft and solidarity with the soldiers fighting the Vietnam War. The song has been featured extensively in pop culture depictions of the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement.
Infobox
B-side
"Down on the Corner"
Released
September 1969
Recorded
1969
Studio
Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California
Genre
Hard rock rock and roll roots rock blues rock
Length
2:18
Label
Fantasy
Songwriter
John Fogerty
Producer
John Fogerty
Tables
· Johnny Hallyday version › Charts
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (1971)
France (SNEP)
Peakposition
4
| Chart (1971) | Peakposition |
| France (SNEP) | 4 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Chart (1969–2024)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)
Peakposition
12
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Chart (1969–2024)
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)
Peakposition
6
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)
Chart (1969–2024)
Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)
Peakposition
37
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Chart (1969–2024)
France (SNEP)
Peakposition
144
Global 200 (Billboard)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Chart (1969–2024)
Global 200 (Billboard)
Peakposition
199
US Billboard Hot 100
US Billboard Hot 100
Chart (1969–2024)
US Billboard Hot 100
Peakposition
3
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Chart (1969–2024)
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)
Peakposition
20
| Chart (1969–2024) | Peakposition |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 12 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 6 |
| Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard) | 37 |
| France (SNEP) | 144 |
| Global 200 (Billboard) | 199 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) | 20 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (1970)
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
Position
93
| Chart (1970) | Position |
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) | 93 |
· Certifications
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
Region
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Region
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)
Germany (BVMI)
Region
Germany (BVMI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)
Italy (FIMI)
Region
Italy (FIMI)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
70,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
5× Platinum
Certified units/sales
150,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Region
Spain (PROMUSICAE)
Certification
2× Platinum
Certified units/sales
120,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
2× Platinum
Certified units/sales
1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
8× Platinum
Certified units/sales
8,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Gold | 30,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 2× Platinum | 120,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | 8× Platinum | 8,000,000‡ |
| ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Songs of the Vietnam Conflict
- A Change is Gonna Come: Music, Race & the Soul of Americahttps://archive.org/details/changeisgonnacom00wern_0/page/152
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/arts/music/john-fogerty-is-closer-to-peace-with-a-label.html
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival"https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/creedence-clearwater-revival
- History Todayhttps://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/vietnam-war-history-song
- Songfacts.comhttp://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1916
- The Voice (US), Season 9 Episode 7. Originally aired October 12, 2015.
- Snopes.comhttp://www.snopes.com/music/songs/fortunate.asp
- Fortunate Son: My Life, My Musichttps://books.google.com/books?id=PwZ4BgAAQBAJ&q=David+Eisenhower+fortunate+son&pg=PT154
- The Billboard Hot 100 Charts: The Sixties (October 25, 1969 through December 27, 1969)
- Billboardhttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1969/BB-1969-10-18.pdf
- Record Worldhttps://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-10-25.pdf
- The Book of Golden Discshttps://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/257
- "Staff Lists: The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s"https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/6405-the-200-greatest-songs-of-the-1960s/?page=10
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-protest-songs-1235154848/
- "Top 10 John Fogerty Lyrics"https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-fogerty-lyrics/
- Johnny en chanson, dictionnaire des chansons de Johnny Hallyday
- lescharts.comhttps://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Johnny+Hallyday&titel=Fils+de+personne&cat=s
- Rolling Stone
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-john-fogerty-fortunate-son-bruce-springsteen-concert-for-valor-20141112-story.html
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/john-fogerty-donald-trump-fortunate-son-1058488/
- "John Fogerty on X: "https://t.co_XFCwiOadr2""https://x.com/John_Fogerty/status/1317148924176596992
- 'Fortunate Son,' a song about draft dodging, was played at Trump's military parade Snopes. June 17, 2025. Retrieved Junehttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-parade-fortunate-son/
- "Fogerty to Wrangler: Song in ad 'ain't me' - SFGate"https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Fogerty-to-Wrangler-Song-in-ad-ain-t-me-2757730.php
- "Their 'Son' was Fogerty's baby; The last thing the singer wants is a Creedence corporate revival, but he doesn't own the rights, so 'Fortunate Son' now sells jeans"https://web.archive.org/web/20121105062309/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/219869391.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+23%2C+2002&author=Bob+Baker&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=E.2&desc=Their+%27Son%27+was+Fogerty%27s+baby%3B+The+last+thing+the+singer+wants+is+a+Creedence+corporate+revival%2C+but+he+doesn%27t+own+the+rights%2C+so+%27Fortunate+Son%27+now+sells+jeans
- "John Fogerty Experiences a Musical and Personal 'Revival'"https://web.archive.org/web/20080512091925/http://www.spinner.com/2007/10/05/john-fogerty-experiences-a-musical-and-personal-revival/
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 29, 2021.https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&titel=Fortunate+Son&cat=s
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 29, 2021.https://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&titel=Fortunate+Son&cat=s
- Billboardhttps://www.billboard.com/artist/creedence-clearwater-revival/chart-history/cns/
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved June 29, 2021.https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&titel=Fortunate+Son&cat=s
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2024.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/chart-history/GLO
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/chart-history/HSI
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2021.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Creedence-Clearwater-Revival/chart-history/ARK
- "Jaaroverzichten 1970"https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1970
- "Brazilian single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/?busca_artista=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&busca_tipo_produto=SINGLE
- "Danish single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"http://ifpi.dk/node/12090
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Creedence Clearwater Revival; 'Fortunate Son')"https://www.musikindustrie.de/wie-musik-zur-karriere-werden-kann/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Fortunate+Son&strInterpret=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&strTtArt=1&strAwards=checked
- "Italian single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/targhette/richiedi-targhetta/?id=9329
- "New Zealand single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/
- El portal de Músicahttps://www.elportaldemusica.es/awards/index?AwardsSearch%5Bartist%5D=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&AwardsSearch%5Btitle%5D=Fortunate+Son&AwardsSearch%5Bgroup%5D=CANCIONES
- "British single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/14215-1136-1
- "American single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son"https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&ti=Fortunate+Son&format=Single&type=#search_section