10 Songs That Don't Mean What You Think

6. Born In The USA (Bruce Springsteen)

What You Think It Means: Strap 'Old Glory' over your shoulders, grab some apple pies and start whoopin' an' a hollerin' for the good old United States. Bruce Springsteen's impassioned chorus about being "Born In The USA" was so patriotic that it even became the go-to melody for patriotism and nationalistic pride.

What It's Actually About: It's a social commentary about the ill effects of the Vietnam war on people in the United States, and follows the story of a working-class solider who returns home to find there's no heroic welcome waiting on him. In fact, he struggles to find work and slot back into normal life after the atrocities he experienced overseas.

Everybody was fooled by Springsteen's gusto and the flag-waving spirit of the chorus. His singing reeks of pride, but it's false. That didn't stop Ronald Reagan from using the tune as an example of all that's right with America as part of his campaigning.

Read the lyrics again, Ron.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.