10 Upbeat Rock Songs With Darker Meanings
4. Born In The U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen (1984)
Bruce Springsteen is up there with the great American Song writers, brushing shoulders with your Bob Dylans and Johnny Cashes of the world. His song, Born In The U.S.A. is possibly one of the greatest examples of his ability to imbue irony and nuance into his music.
The musical tone of this track is celebratory, with the chorus presented as a rallying cry of patriotic pride. But, the lyrics paint an entirely different picture.
Juxtaposing the ideas of the American sense of pride, freedom and liberty against the story of the song's protagonist. Springsteen's ability as a narrator is exquisitely displayed here; a young man, born into an impoverished town, with no other prospects than to join the army, sent to Vietnam were he is traumatised by the death of his brother and the killings he also took part in.
Upon returning home the young soldier's prospects have not improved, realising he was sold the lie of patriotism, only to be shunned by his country.
Rather than the song being an expression of American pride it highlights its failures as a nation.
In a wonderfully tragic demonstration of Donald Trump's ignorance, Born in the U.S.A. was played at a number of his rallies... , sounds like a scenario straight out of a South Park episode doesn't it?