Lyrical Mysteries Unveiled: Famous Songs That Aren't What You Think

6. Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen

This song has a proud, patriotic attitude, much as American Girl. Even at political demonstrations, it has been used to inspire American pride. The Boss intended exactly the opposite when he created this song. When you pay close attention to the words, this is a harsh assessment of how America handled its veterans following the Vietnam war. He captures in the songs the distress of the working class in America following Vietnam. That seems hardly proud, does it? It is not supposed to be. Springsteen wanted to draw attention to how terribly America treated her veterans. He is a real patriot, one thing that speaks to me. One classic example of how a catchy chorus could eclipse a song's underlying meaning is the mistreading of "Born in the USA". The great anthem by Springsteen chronicles the experience of a Vietnam veteran returning home to discover restricted possibilities and a nation seemingly to have forgotten his sacrifice. The songs present a dark image of unemployment, disappointment, and the battle to reintegrate into society. Many confuse the chorus—which is really a cry of frustration and irony—for mindless patriotism. Springsteen's skill is in writing a song with a victorious sound but social criticism message. It's evidence of the complexity of patriotism - loving one's nation enough to highlight its shortcomings and demand better for its people.