It honestly depends on how you interpret patriotism. Someone here said they always thought the song was saying “America can be better than this” when referring to the Vietnam War. I personally view it as a song condemning the government actions (especially the draft) and the harsh treatment of the soldiers who came home. It’s anti-patriotic in the sense that it destroys the delusions such as that our government most flawless in the world, and it is patriotic when it instead speaks to We The People, as if saying, “This is what it means to be born an American right now. Does this really have to be the status quo, though?” That’s just how I view it, though.
@@lukebuchwald9252 Now Springsteen just mumbled the words but emphasized & clearly anunciated“ I was Born in the USA” because Springsteen is mostly deceiving & biased, as a whole. Sorry, but presidents probably didn’t have time to listen to ALL the singers lyrics. Reagan was a GREAT president and we are still living off Hos REAGANOMICS. I’m so glad Reagan was elected. My house was going to have an 18% interest (I may as well put it on my credit card!!) That was with DEMOCRATIC Jimmy Carter!! Thanks Ron, WE the little people, workers and all people really appreciated and admired you!!
@@cosmiceyness There is a long way from the republican of 1861 to the republican of today. Look for "How Republicans went from the party of Lincoln to the party of Trump, in 13 maps"...
@@tommitchell4570 Political party has nothing to do with it... There are both very patriotic and unpatriotic people in both parties! Point in hand, look at the likes of Maxine Watters, AOC, Rashida Tlaib, etc.
Agreed, this song is American as it gets. I love when irony smacks Bruce in the face because we all know what he was really trying to defame this country. He's an Ivory tower liberal
@@jasonpenn5476 I agree but the point is Republicans are the first to take any criticism of the country as unpatriotic. And you'll get "if you don't like it leave". They get very defensive.
@@Absolute42 how about the fact that they tried to stage a bloodless Coup against Trump by insisting on an impeachment without any evidence that he committed an impeachable offense. Point in hand, Waters calling for his impeachment before he even took office. Insisting that an official is impeached simply because you don't like them is the ultimate sign of being unpatriotic!
It's kind of disheartening to see how badly your lyrics can be misinterpreted. And even if you come right out and say what you meant, people can STILL get it wrong. Ugh. Great analysis, as always!
Yeah, I think the flexibility of lyrics is also part of the fun because it helps people see themselves in a song, but I agree that in the case above it was not great.
What’s up with Presidential campaigns misusing these songs? I heard a radio ad for Trump the other day and it was playing “Radioactive” which is about a nuclear fallout
It's about the great awakening....wake up one side holds the logical and one side is the illogical.....the U.S. from the beginning has always had a force of evil infiltrating the good of what this govt was slowly trying to implement....and likely this is how the whole world works, its human trait unfortunately, its not just a U.S. thing. By now, if you do not see the truth of fake news and how Trump is revealing it to the whole world. Then you wont see the wall being built, you wont see the arrests being made of the highest order of human trafficking, the control he now has over the fed by nationalizing it, or even any of his logic, if all you see is nothing but what fake news says about him... If all you see an arrogant man (ill give u that much🤔) ......Then all anyone can do is pray you will see.......then you can #walkaway your testimony on TH-cam!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏👍
I'll admit I was was one of those that thought it was racist (I'm vietnamese) And now I'm older and have friends that are veterans and contrast with the government since 1980...now I smirk at the current administrations and embrace the iconic song!
sometimes, especially if one faced dirscrimination it can be hard to destinguish between something being pointed at you, or calling those people out who are racist/sexist/whatever. One is so sensitised that one gets defensiv as soon as something gets anywhere close to it in any way, cause one got conditioned to expect it . . . but often you need to engage with that behavior to be able to call it out!
Is it unpatriotic?? What's the meaning of patriotism?? I always thought Bruce is saying "we are better than this." That we should do better. Oddly while Bruce wasn't a Reagan supporter Reagan was running on the idea that We can do better. So it never seemed so surprising to me Reagan said what he did. Most people at that time agreed we could do better. Just like today. The disagreement comes in the HOW
@@friedsugar2701 nope bruce in the interview in the 90's clearly said it's about rebellion, about against american system that time during vietnam war. and therefore this is an anti-nationalist song. therefore i admire him
It was quite obvious to me since the first time i heard this song in the late 80s that it was not i any way patriotic but rather a protest song against american aggression overseas and the treatment of veterans of Vietnam on their return to the U.S
yeh, but to get that, you artually need to listen to anything beside the chorus. Smae problem as with grrm, who gets constantly flag for glorifying war and brutality, while he actually does the opposite if you actually care te read his storys
Born in the USA isn't an unpatriotic song, one of Springsteen's remarkable abilities is to criticize the policies of the American government while at the same time positively affirming the nation and its people.
no the issue is that it's not at all possible for anybody to be born in the usa. that's like rule #1 when our country was created: nobody's born in the usa. screaming the opposite over and over is essentially saying: death to freedom! people will be forced to represent countries! that's... unpatriotic. and it's... a negative message for both the nation and it's people.
I think this format of talking about current societal interpretations of older songs can help create a bridge between your younger demographic to older music through visions of the past. This is really great and I hope to see more of hair metal classic lyrics given light and dissembled by you! Please do more!
If the older people thought their children and grandchildren weren't "ruining the country". The upside, as dark as it is, is that this is a generational cycle, and it has been repeating itself since time immemorial.
the song "Born In the USA" is about as patriotic as it gets. It's a call to arms to fix what's wrong. A call to actually achieve the claims of what America claims to stand for. To be what America claims to be.
No not really I mean okay some of it is but more than half of it is not even close to that. Have you actually read anything about the song and its history I mean like I mean no offense to you but if you listen to the lyrics I mean really LISTENED?
I love my country but I gotta say this song is kinda accurate, because when soldiers came back from Vietnam they were hated and weren't able to get jobs. Many veterans also became homeless. So this song is kinda accurate.
Wow,, his voice was so raspy all I could understand was, 'Born in the USA.' I grew up during the Vietnam war. Many of my sister's guy friends didn't make it back or came back with what was called 'shell shock.' Like a guy named Billy in our building. Us kids called him 'Billy bang bang.' Why, because whenever he heard a car backfire or fireworks on the 4th of July he would fall to the ground like he was back in Nam. He was honorably discharged and sent home to live with his nom. Thanks for the informative video.
When Regan's people called up Bruce and asked to use Born in the USA as the theme song to his campaign, I pictured Bruce slapping his forehead and asking them "are you even listening to the words I'm signing???"
I haven't heard of this song before; maybe it's not that popular outside of the US because it's old and because of it's subject; but the lyrics gave me goosebumps! It is so sad, and you can feel the hurt in them, and they capture a time that was hard. Songs like this, and people like the artist, show love and care in a different way, some might mistake as hatred; but I think if you really like something or someone, you can get angry at them, because you really care, and you wish things were better; you don't have to lie, act as if everything is amazing, JUST to say "hey, I love my country", you know?
How can you not have heard this song before?! I mean, I can't blame you if you don't listen to radio, I pretty much never do myself these days, but this song has been played quite a lot in the radio even here in Finland after all these years.
"Brother in Khe Sanh" (pronounced Kay Son, rhymes with Saigon) refers not to an actual family member, but rather a Brother in arms fellow Marine buddy... Khe Sanh was a particularly bloody and notorious month long seige where a huge number of Marines died and it played a pivotal role in turning the US public against the War...
Born in the USA is not antipatriotic. It's a fundamentally patriotic song, being critical of how fucked up everything is and bring attention to it. It's a warning about how important it is not to repeat these same mistakes. Which we did.
The song was inspired by the story of Lt Ron Kovic, who became the head of Vietnam Vets Against the War. Bruce was on a cross country road trip,and read Ron's biography "Born on the 4th of July" along the way. He got to LA and happened to meet Ron (who was disabled and in a wheelchair) who was staying at the same motel. They became friends, and Ron introduced Bruce to many veterans who were in tragic situations. Bruce wrote the lyrics after speaking with a number of them. Incidentally the movie Born on the 4th of July (which stars Tom Cruise as Kovic) is the story of Ron's transformation from gung ho Marine Lt who went to find glory in Vietnam and came home disillusioned in a wheelchair. Here's Kovic telling the story at the Kennedy Center Honors (2009) honoring Bruce... th-cam.com/video/TsjK6B-1zf4/w-d-xo.html
I agree it's very much so a patriotic song just not in the way most people think. It's a protest song talking about the Sad truth of America that people often choose to ignore. That's just my take every one is entitled to have one.
True patriotism is about the freedom to criticize your own country and trying to make it better --- that's why right wingers are traitors because they think you should wave the flag while storming the Capitol while trying to kill cops and lawmakers
you forget the main lie: the singer says "born in the usa." it's the thing that's screamed over and over. drilled into people's heads. the thing is: that's exactly what the united states is not. nobody can be born in the usa. that's like rule #1 in our founding documents. i think that's what makes the song unpatriotic. it encourages people to think they're born in countries, which is basically like trying to help people fight against freedom. against the united states. and to erase our history. if that keeps up, we'll be taking shuttles out to space to found space colonies, because our united states disappeared and we refused to be forced into serving the now tyranical united states. history all over itself.
I beg to differ... What is a patriot? It depends on the definition, of which there are many. The best definition is the historical use of the word within the confines of our country. A patriot is someone who loves their home (country, state, city, etc.) so much that they will fight in some way against injustices by the Government or General Public. So Springsteen criticizing the treatment of Vietnam Veterans by the Government and the Country at large definitely fits under my definition of the word patriotic.
Nailed it. I think the brother is also not an actual brother but rather brother in arms. It's also interesting he leaves a gap in the next bar instead of singing, kind of like a moment of silence for the fallen soldier.
I always found it ironic when Bruce sang this in East Berlin in 1988. You had a pro USA, pro Patriotism crowd rocking out to an anti USA, anti patriotic song.
PFF c'mon you can recognize America's greatness while commenting on it's imperialism and shortcomings. That is why it's such a great song, it isn't afraid of it's problems like America. It really is a patriotic song.
In my opinion, BitUSA álbum is a sunny "Nebraska", bittersweetness under a happy skin, simply fantastic. Greetings from a Brazilian Boss fan 🤠 and nice video, man 😎
"Born in the USA" is the MOST NOTORIOUS ANTI-WAR/ANTI-WEST songs ever made... by an American! It's to me one of the TOP-10 songs of all times! Ths song is a SCREAMING CRY to the world, to the US gonverment... "HEY, I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU TOLD ME TO GO - AND KILL!... AND NOW I'M BACK AND I HAVE NOTHING TO GO ON"!
Singing songs about hard times isn't unpatriotic. Calling attention to things that need our attention is quire patriotic. You can't even pronounce "Khe Sanh" correctly.
Its a clever song that fooled a lot of people at the time. A chorus of hope with verses of despair. To really appreciate this song I think you need to have some background on how USA dealt with the Vietnam war.
Man, it's music it can have different meanings to different people. How often have you listened to a song over the decades and the song has taken on a different meaning to you as life continues on. I get what he is saying, the lyrics are definitely about a Vietnam veteran facing hardships at home - but I can relate to the song in different ways. Some people may just identify with the chorus (and I think the author of this video says that). Ronald got one wrong, that doesn't mean he is out of touch with all of society.
I love Ronald lol and honestly idk why people think this song is so "anti-patriotic" it's anti-war! And the people who think this song is awesome for being "anti-patriotic" (it's not) are on the same side of the fence as those who disrespect the veterans in the first place. 🤦🏻♀️ Stupidity, so eh I don't like Bruce Springsteen, nor his views at all. But this song is great and is even MORE misunderstood by those who claim to know it's "true anti-patriotic meaning".
@@mikasadankerman8832 yeah, but wouldn't you agree that a song can have a different meaning to each of us; maybe, one song reminds you of a girl you used to date or a great next door neighbor that you had. It is open to interpretation - except the alphabet song, unless you are messed on something
Thank you!!!! Someone who gets it...this song is about a Vietnam vet. It's a cry for help, redemption, and recognition. He's a broken man , yet a vestige of pride remains. This song wrings my heart...
He flat-out says it's not a song of hope. It actually is in some aspects. I myself have seen seven tours of duty in afghanistan. Second lieutenant. United States army 75th ranger regiment 3rd battalion. I wasn't you know a second lieutenant the entire time and I certainly wasn't a range of the entire time either. But this guy talking about this song I mean I don't know where the fuck he's getting his information from but not all of it is correct and things that he says this song isn't... In some aspects it actually is. I'm assuming that the fella narrating and talking in this video is probably just regurgitating semi correct information from somebody else that thinks they know. I mean sure he got some of it right. But quite a bit of it... NOPE
Thanks man for this reaction. As I was very prominet english student back in the time when this came out the first thing that I regognized was this anger in this song even before Bruce said 'go kill the yelllow man', and at that point but as a minor I knew this was about Vietnam War and the pain it left to americans. I learned english before I even went to a school as I was babysitted by TV from 4 to 6 years old by myself and most of the movies and programs back in the day were in english and as I couldn't read I have to just learn to know what these people where talking about.LoL. But YES indeed this is an anti war song. Nothing to do with patrionism.
I like the song and think it's technically patriotic, not anti-american at all for sure. I have always proudly blasted protest songs on the 4th. To me the 4th of July is much more meaningful and contemporary than some blind support of the current state. But yes, even war hawks love the song. Most people really don't listen to lyrics at all.
Being someone who disagrees with Bruce Springsteen's views. I do also really like this song and think it's very patriotic. Because it's clear as day the message is anti-war and critical of the government. I'm all for criticizing the government! 🙋🏻♀️ I'm not sure how people on both sides of the fence, either thought this was either super pro everything America (including war) or some anti-American anthem. It's not, just calling out the government which deserves a little more than being called out. I think people on all sides of the fence can agree on that 🙋🏻♀️
You’re wrong. There is nothing antipatriotic in this song. To be patriotic doesn’t mean one has to see just good things about one-s country, and say there are no problems.
I like how the first thing that was in my recommendations was "Born in the USA." music video, it's like either TH-cam wanted me to hear the song again to learn the verses or it try to forget what I learn in this video by watching Born in the USA.
Songs can take on new meanings at different times. Obviously, the lyrics are concrete in its meanings, but the catchy part "Born in the USA" is used in a different capacity. How many songs are probably about drugs, but they show up in pop culture in another way?
We've got a similar song in Austria. Rainhard Fensrich's I am from Austria, which is about how the singer is not afraid to say where he is from while acknowledging (spelling?) that there are many imperfections here but it's just the place where he grew up and knows the ways...
Bruce Springsteen wrote Born In The USA after reading Born on the Fourth of July the Ron Kovics book .The book became the Movie Born on the Fourth of July Tom Cruise
That's why Colin Kaepernick is a hero --- he called out the govt. and corrupt cops and the filthy right-wing creeps call him a traitor --- he's a total patriot
@@tommitchell4570 Debatable. His work honestly caused more division than solutions in my opinion, as he kneeled during the national anthem, disrespecting what many consider sacred, and brought his politics to a place where many go to escape it. I won't go as far to call him a traitor, but he's no patriot.
@@skippingstep1515 --- you're just spewing a lot of right wing gibberish --- you're the kind of dummy who thinks Trump is great for encouraging his terrorists to overthrow democracy --- at least Kaepernick was expressing peaceful protest like all good patriots have done, like MLK Jr
Agreed. I don't like Bruce Springsteen, nor his views at all. But this song is pretty good, and imo very patriotic when seen for it's ACTUAL anti-war/criticizing the government (all of it, not just the right or left) message, rather than pretending it is against patriotism. It's really not 🤷🏻♀️
@@tommitchell4570 Oh please, I disagree with the views and tactics of a man, and now I'm a dummy who thinks attempting to overthrow democracy is a good idea. Quit assuming, prick.
It's not un patriotic! It's the opposite exactly. He is pointing out the things in the country that needed to change, that is a prime example of being a patriot!
EXACTLY! Finally someone with common sense. I don't agree with Bruce Springsteen's views generally but this song is definitely very good and as patriotic as it gets. Because America belongs to the people, NOT the government. People on all sides of the fence can agree to that :)
This song is not anti-patriotic it talks about one of the worst mistakes the government and the majority of Americans and recognizing your mistakes is an amazing reflection on one’s self also you pronounced kne sanh wrong
And then that same mistakes were repeated in Afghanistan in 2001 only to be humiliated again 20 years later with the fall of US-backed Afghan Government..
I won't say it's anti-patriotic just that it's not a patriotic song like so many of us probably thought just casually listening to it. Just because you're not pro-something doesn't mean you're anti-something either.
I served in the Navy on a carrier just off the coast of N. Vietnam sending tons of bombs deep into N. Vietnam & Laos. Served with a guy who had the option of going to jail or going into the service so that part of the lyrics rings true. "My brother was at Khe Sanh fightin off the Viet Cong (the VC), they're still there he's all gone". Fact is that the Marines there were fighting elements of the PAVN (peoples army of Vietnam) rather than the VC which were guerilla style warriors similar to the Green Berets or Navy Seals. Poetic license I guess. And the treatment at the VA? That was real because the VA system was mostly run by WWII vets at the time and they didn't much care for the ones coming back from Vietnam, considered us losers. I was retired & on medicare before I finally decided to get into the medical system there. I spent 9 months off & on in a combat zone (Navy called it hostile fire zone).
@@ajh8350 it's not possible for anybody to be born in the usa. by screaming "born in the usa" over and over, you're basically saying "people are born in countries and have no freedom. there's no such thing as the united states" i get the irony. but it's a pretty bad message and i don't think that message comes from an american, since americans uphold our natural rights. they don't try to take them away or to trick people into thinking we don't have them in the first place.
I remember an interview with Springsteen, where he talked about the fact that the inspiration from this song came from the book I was born on the Fourth of July but I could be wrong
Regardless of the people’s version of what America should look like, we are all Americans and should be damn proud of that fact. This is still the greatest country ever! Bruce bags on our country but he also is given his opinion because of this great country!! God bless America!
actually there is. it's the thing that the singer screams over and over: "born in the usa!" that states that he hates the usa. the reason is because it's not possible for anybody to be born in the usa. the very definition of our country is that all people are born in nature and are not born into countries. we all have the natural right to freely determine our citizenship and it can't be forced onto us according to birth or bloodlines. so, the point here is that the singer hates freedom. hates the usa. by promoting the idea that people are born in countries, with no freedom. if we didn't have the declaration of independence to still remind us that we're all born in nature, then people might actually start to believe things like this harmful song and unknowingly betray the united states. hell, if this went on, we might even one day have a president that uses a birth certificate. that would completely betray the constitution and the declaration of independence. so you see. we need to hurry up and reject songs like this. reject birth certificates. and repeal the 14th amendment. before people forget what the united states is and why it was created.
@@FreddieFraggs a lot of what i said isn't an opinion: the declaration of independence does say that all people are born in nature, under nature's god, with liberty and equal station. we all have a natural right to freedom. citizenship can't be forced onto us according to birth. i can quote the document if you like and link you to government resources, so that you can understand it's not an opinion. i can also show you that the 14th amendment, which claims we are not free anymore and that citizenship will be forced onto us, was added almost 100 years later. if you like, i can give you reputable public sources that record that birth certificates only started in the 1900s here and national or international news reports document from mainstream stations documenting and following the recent history of people being alienated according to birth or imprisoned and relocated according to birth. what i've been saying is a fact. the only opinion i've had is about what the singer feels or what's the right and wrong thing to do.
@@subterranea9095 That was written for the American people. The same statement is not valid for people outside America. It is wrong to think otherwise.
@@FreddieFraggs that is an opinion that's not based on fact. the united states declaration of independence literally declares the existence of the united states to the world and says all people, everyone, has these natural rights. it even says that you don't have to call these natural rights american or usa rights. that information is based on fact. that's not an opinion. that's literally what's written on the paper and being broadcast online.
Born in the USA is not patriotic or even unpatriotic, It is a protest song in support of the way Vietnam Veterans were being treated. It was to remind people that they to were born in the USA
This is one Bruce Springsteen's best songs. You're interpreting it the way you want to but you're clearly getting it wrong. The song talks about the war in Viet Nam, there were protests against it but many for a reason or another left and went to battle. It talks about family members back in the US losing loved one to a useless war (if you really know why it happened). Then the Vietnam vets came back and found nothing. They were abandoned. No job, no money. Nothing. So probably the jail is about some of these people resorting to committing crime out of desperation or PTSD. Honestly your review is useless and wrong. Think of those who went to fight a war that was born as always out of some psychos thirst for power and control. Those people lost their lives and those who came back were abandoned. There's nothing unpatriotic here.
It is not just The Boss that they get wrong, they also use Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World and The Guess Who's American Woman was actually played at the White House. If you want to get an idea what Bruce Springstein really thinks there was the song Death To My Home Town. BTW - did you ever catch this exchange made by politicians about the music of Bruce Cockburn? EM - "Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for bringing us back to the egregious loss of democracy in this place. I said earlier today, speaking to Bill C-31, that it is like Bruce Cockburn's song, where he says, “But the trouble with normal is it always gets worse”. Every year, we seem to accept less and less democracy. Back in 2009 when my last book came out, the late journalist Jim Travers was commenting on my book release on CBC. In answer to Michael Enright, who asked if there really were a crisis in Canadian democracy, Travers answered that it was worse than that, that you could visit Ottawa but what you would see was a democracy theme park. All the building were there, but Parliament was no longer respected. Does my hon. colleague not feel that we need to reverse these trends before we really lose democracy altogether?" CA - "Mr. Speaker, I will respond with the lyrics of Bruce Cockburn. He said: See they paid-off local bottom feeders Passing themselves off as leaders Kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows Open for business like a cheap bordello And they call it democracy...."
I think I've heard of this artist.. 🤔 Ok so A few days back, i watched a movie called "a boy called sailboat" and in that movie i heard that name "Bruce Springsteen" and now there's this video!... Coincidence? I think not 😂😂😂
As said in the video it's a Rock Anthem, which makes it patriotic. It's doesn't have to extol positivity to be patriotic. Quite the opposite. As a rock anthem it can touch on the underbelly of America, and still be positive. Life is hard, government is unfair, war is terrible, but guess what I was born in the USA and it's gonna work out somehow. We get knocked to the ground and keep getting back up. Putting this song in the context of "current meta" politics is a great disservice to the lyrics and Bruce himself.
This comment section proves that music and its interpretation are subjective. I tend to believe the words from the man who wrote the song. Not sure why others won't.
"I got a picture of him in her arms now" could also mean his brother left behind a baby with the woman in Saigon. After all, it's more common for a man to hold a woman in his arms in pictures simply due to the (usual) size difference. If the woman was holding a baby in her arms, and the baby was 'the picture' of his brother, that would make sense. IE The baby his dead brother left behind overseas. Was there any difficulty with women in Vietnam, who were impregnated by American soldiers, being unable to emigrate with their babies to the USA at the time?
@@tommitchell4570 murdering your neighbors child to show your neighbors that their household defenses could be improved is not patriotic. likewise, telling people that haven't read the united states declaration of independence, or that are new to the united states, that our country is something that people are born into: is very harmful. it sends the wrong message. nobody is born in the usa. citizenship is always a choice. we shouldn't have to defend ourselves against the united states, because the united states is supposed to protect our natural freedom. helping foreign interests try to kill freedom and the united states as we know it isn't patriotic.
@@subterranea9095 --- eradicating all the filthy MAGA Scum that infests America like a plague is the only way we can become a great country ---- LOCK UP TRUMP
2 Live Crew wrote "Banned in the USA"over all the censorship they encountered from the PMRC and the Gore family.its actually quite patriotic tho!and I find much better than The Boss's song
Some people misinterpret Born in the USA as a simple proud-to-be-an-American jam, then other people react to that misinterpreting and also misinterpret the song as anti-patriotic/anti-American. It is neither of those things. Bruce initially wrote the song as a protest depicting the disenfranchisement of Vietnam veterans. An original demo variation didn't even have the "Born in the U.S.A" chorus. Then he modified it by adding the chorus, then simplified the chord structure to match a more upbeat melody, and finally gave the song a very bright production in the studio, including synthesizer keys suggesting rousing trumpets and crashing drums sounding like fireworks, to create almost a marching/patriotic anthem vibe. The result is a cinematic and complex social commentary captured in 3 minutes of classic rockin' music, Springsteen's stock-in-trade. I think the idea that he's conveying in the song can be summarized as "I'm an American, I love my country, but I deserve better than this shit sandwich I've been given."
This song tries to convey a connection between the atrocities of war and the average American who has not a fkg clue what its like to experience the horrors of what many veterans went through. But I think that its like trying to shout a message through a thick glass window when the person on the other side really doesn't care what you're saying because they are too busy eating popcorn and playing games.
Really enjoy the breakdown of this song. I’ve never sat down and listened to it bc I just assumed I knew what it meant. I wonder how many overplayed songs like that, I’ve done that to.
@@ThePopSongProfessor - speaking of song whose upbeat melody could hide it's darker meaning, Men Without Hat's Pop Goes the World fits that description. Another one of their songs is In the 21st Century.
I had both the honor and the pleasure of starring in a music video that is truly patriotic. It is anti Military Industrial Complex war, yet pro soldier. It shows the results of what happens after a soldier is killed; my grieving widow, my son grabbing the dog tags and running away, etc. It was written specifically to have a corresponding video to clearly explain everything, and all of the proceeds went to Wounded Warriors. I don't recall Bruce donating any of his proceeds to the veterans. If you are interested, the video is called "This is War," by Steven P. Richards. I think you'll clearly see the difference in a real patriotic song, versus a hippy bitch-fest.
BORN IN THE USA is not an ANTI-PATRIOTIC song at all. I remember when the song was released as a single. I grew up during the Vietnam War, one of 5 kids of a serviceman. My father did 6 tours in Vietnam after his first tour in Korat, Thailand. This song actually hits perfectly on the plight of many Vietnam vets upon returning home to a country in which the media and the politicians basically told the American public that our troops were killing babies, commenting War atrocities, and were going to lose the war. The political leaders would not allow the military to actually fight the enemy. The song tells how the character grew up in a bad situation, in a town in which he got into trouble that was bad enough he was given the choice to enlist for 2 years or serve a prison term. That was very common practice. Judges actually thought the military would change men and make them more disciplined. It is a practice that goes ack a long time in our country. The character had a brother who enlisted in the Marine Corps and was killed in Khe Sahn. A very terrible place to have been. It was shelled almost nonstop for over a year. The only memento to remember his brother is a picture of him with his Vietnamese "girlfriend". Upon returning home, the character is unable to get employment at what appears to be the only decent job in town, working in a oil refinery. Like way too many Vietnam vets, he was screwed over by the VA. Then spends the next 10 years basically doing nothing. Nothing UNAMERICAN, it tells FACTS. That is not UNPATRIOTIC. As a veteran, I can understand the song fir what it is, it is not un-American!!!!!
It’s actually the definition of Patriotic. The ability to criticize and debate our government is the most patriotic thing that humanity has ever invented
“Just coverin up” not “covering IT up” As in shelling up in a defense knowing youre about to get slapped by the government. Huge difference. While I agree politicians use it in a completely misunderstood way, it is absolutely NOT anti-patriotic. There’s nothing anti-patriotic about criticizing proxy wars and the treatment this government deals to the people who do the fighting for them
Just because people misuse a song doesn't make it unpatriotic. No country is perfect. To ignore what a lot of vets went through and say everything was all good is just wrong. A family member can abuse you but that doesn't make you stop loving your family. Even with all the country did to the vets they were still willing to fight for the country. You cant get more patriotic than that.
This song is not an anti-war or pro-war or indifferent to it. It’s no anti-patriotic at all. The narrator of the song is not talking about his opinion on going to war but narrates his experience, which represents many vet’s experiences. To me the born in the USA chorus is more of a mock of how certain people see’s or hears about how that country is some utopian place. Here’s a couple other notable songs about war are very similar in context.: Walking on a thin line by Huey Lewis And The News and Big Country’s Where The Rose Has Sown.
![ไลฟ์สุ่ม iPhone 295 บาท... โกงมั้ย?[ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.97 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gdstHEE4UUE/mqdefault.jpg)
It honestly depends on how you interpret patriotism. Someone here said they always thought the song was saying “America can be better than this” when referring to the Vietnam War. I personally view it as a song condemning the government actions (especially the draft) and the harsh treatment of the soldiers who came home. It’s anti-patriotic in the sense that it destroys the delusions such as that our government most flawless in the world, and it is patriotic when it instead speaks to We The People, as if saying, “This is what it means to be born an American right now. Does this really have to be the status quo, though?”
That’s just how I view it, though.
Yes it's definitely an Anti-something song but how Anti? Anti American Government or just anti-American in general?
It’s a song about how Americans disrespected Vietnam war veterans and how the government turned there backs on them after the war
Spot on
yeah, but also a bigger problem behind that, the looking away in generell
True !
you'd think the lyric "sent over to a foreign land and told, son, go kill the yellow man" might have tipped off Ronald Reagan or anyone on his team
Reagan was a Republican --- they are all Low IQ Losers
@@lukebuchwald9252 i dont like republicans that much but you gotta know that abraham lincon was a republican
@@lukebuchwald9252 Now Springsteen just mumbled the words but emphasized & clearly anunciated“ I was Born in the USA” because Springsteen is mostly deceiving & biased, as a whole. Sorry, but presidents probably didn’t have time to listen to ALL the singers lyrics. Reagan was a GREAT president and we are still living off Hos REAGANOMICS. I’m so glad Reagan was elected. My house was going to have an 18% interest (I may as well put it on my credit card!!) That was with DEMOCRATIC Jimmy Carter!! Thanks Ron, WE the little people, workers and all people really appreciated and admired you!!
He was obviously talking about the vietnam war you Libtard. I'm korean BTW
@@cosmiceyness There is a long way from the republican of 1861 to the republican of today.
Look for "How Republicans went from the party of Lincoln to the party of Trump, in 13 maps"...
It's not anti-patriotic to criticise one's country.
Don't tell that to Republicans --- they think it's a moral failure to not wave the flag while storming the Capitol and trying to overthrow our govt.
@@tommitchell4570 Political party has nothing to do with it... There are both very patriotic and unpatriotic people in both parties! Point in hand, look at the likes of Maxine Watters, AOC, Rashida Tlaib, etc.
Agreed, this song is American as it gets. I love when irony smacks Bruce in the face because we all know what he was really trying to defame this country. He's an Ivory tower liberal
@@jasonpenn5476 I agree but the point is Republicans are the first to take any criticism of the country as unpatriotic. And you'll get "if you don't like it leave". They get very defensive.
@@Absolute42 how about the fact that they tried to stage a bloodless Coup against Trump by insisting on an impeachment without any evidence that he committed an impeachable offense. Point in hand, Waters calling for his impeachment before he even took office. Insisting that an official is impeached simply because you don't like them is the ultimate sign of being unpatriotic!
It's kind of disheartening to see how badly your lyrics can be misinterpreted. And even if you come right out and say what you meant, people can STILL get it wrong. Ugh.
Great analysis, as always!
Yeah, I think the flexibility of lyrics is also part of the fun because it helps people see themselves in a song, but I agree that in the case above it was not great.
. . . its not misinterpreting the lyrics, its ignoring anything but the chorus
What’s up with Presidential campaigns misusing these songs? I heard a radio ad for Trump the other day and it was playing “Radioactive” which is about a nuclear fallout
At least they’re honest
It's about the great awakening....wake up one side holds the logical and one side is the illogical.....the U.S. from the beginning has always had a force of evil infiltrating the good of what this govt was slowly trying to implement....and likely this is how the whole world works, its human trait unfortunately, its not just a U.S. thing. By now, if you do not see the truth of fake news and how Trump is revealing it to the whole world. Then you wont see the wall being built, you wont see the arrests being made of the highest order of human trafficking, the control he now has over the fed by nationalizing it, or even any of his logic, if all you see is nothing but what fake news says about him... If all you see an arrogant man (ill give u that much🤔) ......Then all anyone can do is pray you will see.......then you can #walkaway your testimony on TH-cam!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏👍
Joe war Biden kek.
Trump loves that Putin and Kim Jong both have lots of nukes
@@funstuff9352 lmao
I have a soft spot for "patriotic" American songs that are actually more complicated than that, if not outright the opposite.
I'll admit I was was one of those that thought it was racist (I'm vietnamese)
And now I'm older and have friends that are veterans and contrast with the government since 1980...now I smirk at the current administrations and embrace the iconic song!
sometimes, especially if one faced dirscrimination it can be hard to destinguish between something being pointed at you, or calling those people out who are racist/sexist/whatever. One is so sensitised that one gets defensiv as soon as something gets anywhere close to it in any way, cause one got conditioned to expect it . . . but often you need to engage with that behavior to be able to call it out!
Is it unpatriotic?? What's the meaning of patriotism?? I always thought Bruce is saying "we are better than this." That we should do better. Oddly while Bruce wasn't a Reagan supporter Reagan was running on the idea that We can do better. So it never seemed so surprising to me Reagan said what he did. Most people at that time agreed we could do better. Just like today. The disagreement comes in the HOW
Didn't The Guess Who play American Woman at the White House when Reagan was President?
It actually is patriotic
@@friedsugar2701 nope bruce in the interview in the 90's clearly said it's about rebellion, about against american system that time during vietnam war. and therefore this is an anti-nationalist song. therefore i admire him
It was quite obvious to me since the first time i heard this song in the late 80s that it was not i any way patriotic but rather a protest song against american aggression overseas and the treatment of veterans of Vietnam on their return to the U.S
yeh, but to get that, you artually need to listen to anything beside the chorus. Smae problem as with grrm, who gets constantly flag for glorifying war and brutality, while he actually does the opposite if you actually care te read his storys
Born in the USA isn't an unpatriotic song, one of Springsteen's remarkable abilities is to criticize the policies of the American government while at the same time positively affirming the nation and its people.
no the issue is that it's not at all possible for anybody to be born in the usa. that's like rule #1 when our country was created: nobody's born in the usa. screaming the opposite over and over is essentially saying: death to freedom! people will be forced to represent countries! that's... unpatriotic. and it's... a negative message for both the nation and it's people.
@@subterranea9095 ??? What
Call it what you will. Half the song is basically an anti American song. Especially the parts about Vietnam.
nah man im pretty sure it's anti-american involvement in vietnam
Nope. He hates America.
I think this format of talking about current societal interpretations of older songs can help create a bridge between your younger demographic to older music through visions of the past. This is really great and I hope to see more of hair metal classic lyrics given light and dissembled by you! Please do more!
I’ve been thinking to prioritize some older songs. Glad you liked it. :)
If the older people thought their children and grandchildren weren't "ruining the country". The upside, as dark as it is, is that this is a generational cycle, and it has been repeating itself since time immemorial.
the song "Born In the USA" is about as patriotic as it gets. It's a call to arms to fix what's wrong. A call to actually achieve the claims of what America claims to stand for. To be what America claims to be.
No not really I mean okay some of it is but more than half of it is not even close to that. Have you actually read anything about the song and its history I mean like I mean no offense to you but if you listen to the lyrics I mean really LISTENED?
I love my country but I gotta say this song is kinda accurate, because when soldiers came back from Vietnam they were hated and weren't able to get jobs. Many veterans also became homeless. So this song is kinda accurate.
Yes, in LA you see a lot of Veterans camping near the Veterans Park Conservancy. Ungrateful system.
Wow,, his voice was so raspy all I could understand was, 'Born in the USA.' I grew up during the Vietnam war. Many of my sister's guy friends didn't make it back or came back with what was called 'shell shock.' Like a guy named Billy in our building. Us kids called him 'Billy bang bang.' Why, because whenever he heard a car backfire or fireworks on the 4th of July he would fall to the ground like he was back in Nam. He was honorably discharged and sent home to live with his nom. Thanks for the informative video.
When Regan's people called up Bruce and asked to use Born in the USA as the theme song to his campaign, I pictured Bruce slapping his forehead and asking them "are you even listening to the words I'm signing???"
I haven't heard of this song before; maybe it's not that popular outside of the US because it's old and because of it's subject; but the lyrics gave me goosebumps! It is so sad, and you can feel the hurt in them, and they capture a time that was hard.
Songs like this, and people like the artist, show love and care in a different way, some might mistake as hatred; but I think if you really like something or someone, you can get angry at them, because you really care, and you wish things were better; you don't have to lie, act as if everything is amazing, JUST to say "hey, I love my country", you know?
How can you not have heard this song before?! I mean, I can't blame you if you don't listen to radio, I pretty much never do myself these days, but this song has been played quite a lot in the radio even here in Finland after all these years.
Anti patriotic? No. Nothing more patriotic than protest.
the issue is the lie that's screamed over and over. not any issue about protesting.
0:15 "the most politically controversial songs" in the US. The rest of the world has no problem criticizing politics of their own country or america
"Brother in Khe Sanh" (pronounced Kay Son, rhymes with Saigon) refers not to an actual family member, but rather a Brother in arms fellow Marine buddy... Khe Sanh was a particularly bloody and notorious month long seige where a huge number of Marines died and it played a pivotal role in turning the US public against the War...
Why a pet unicorn when you can have a pet cheetah
Born in the USA is not antipatriotic. It's a fundamentally patriotic song, being critical of how fucked up everything is and bring attention to it. It's a warning about how important it is not to repeat these same mistakes. Which we did.
I would argue its even more patriotic to criticize how we have treated our veterans.
"She's got a picture of him in her arms", that could be his friend's son. Heartbreaking!
The song was inspired by the story of Lt Ron Kovic, who became the head of Vietnam Vets Against the War. Bruce was on a cross country road trip,and read Ron's biography "Born on the 4th of July" along the way. He got to LA and happened to meet Ron (who was disabled and in a wheelchair) who was staying at the same motel. They became friends, and Ron introduced Bruce to many veterans who were in tragic situations. Bruce wrote the lyrics after speaking with a number of them. Incidentally the movie Born on the 4th of July (which stars Tom Cruise as Kovic) is the story of Ron's transformation from gung ho Marine Lt who went to find glory in Vietnam and came home disillusioned in a wheelchair. Here's Kovic telling the story at the Kennedy Center Honors (2009) honoring Bruce... th-cam.com/video/TsjK6B-1zf4/w-d-xo.html
Wow nice to be early for once! Explain any LCD Soundsystem song and I'll be happy forever
I disagree. I think it's a great patriotic song. It's a protest song. It calls out the injustices that Vietnam soldiers faced.
I agree it's very much so a patriotic song just not in the way most people think. It's a protest song talking about the Sad truth of America that people often choose to ignore. That's just my take every one is entitled to have one.
True patriotism is about the freedom to criticize your own country and trying to make it better --- that's why right wingers are traitors because they think you should wave the flag while storming the Capitol while trying to kill cops and lawmakers
you forget the main lie: the singer says "born in the usa." it's the thing that's screamed over and over. drilled into people's heads. the thing is: that's exactly what the united states is not. nobody can be born in the usa. that's like rule #1 in our founding documents. i think that's what makes the song unpatriotic. it encourages people to think they're born in countries, which is basically like trying to help people fight against freedom. against the united states. and to erase our history. if that keeps up, we'll be taking shuttles out to space to found space colonies, because our united states disappeared and we refused to be forced into serving the now tyranical united states. history all over itself.
Cool then subterranean when u go to Olympics don't go for that American flag that peopled died for u to use that keyboard! BORN IN THE USA! 🤘
@@zacaustin7952 do most olympians go for the flag? I thought it was about the spirit of competition and trying to prove you’re the best in your sport
I beg to differ... What is a patriot? It depends on the definition, of which there are many. The best definition is the historical use of the word within the confines of our country. A patriot is someone who loves their home (country, state, city, etc.) so much that they will fight in some way against injustices by the Government or General Public. So Springsteen criticizing the treatment of Vietnam Veterans by the Government and the Country at large definitely fits under my definition of the word patriotic.
It is NOT anti-patriotic. It is anti-government. Criticizing your government is a patriotic thing.
can you explain Of Moons, Birds & Monsters by MGMT? it's one of the most iconic lyrics of recent times to me
Might have an MGMT song coming soon!
@@ThePopSongProfessor excited to the video!
Nailed it. I think the brother is also not an actual brother but rather brother in arms. It's also interesting he leaves a gap in the next bar instead of singing, kind of like a moment of silence for the fallen soldier.
Knowing a few Vietnam vets, i don't think this song is really out of perspective, different strokes for different folks, yet born in the USA.
Every time I hear this song played I have to explain it because so many people misinterpret it
I always found it ironic when Bruce sang this in East Berlin in 1988. You had a pro USA, pro Patriotism crowd rocking out to an anti USA, anti patriotic song.
PFF c'mon you can recognize America's greatness while commenting on it's imperialism and shortcomings. That is why it's such a great song, it isn't afraid of it's problems like America. It really is a patriotic song.
I agree it is a patriotic song in my opinion. There's nothing anti patriotic about criticizing government overreach.
Finally, someone who gets it. And I am from Sweden. THANK YOU!
In my opinion, BitUSA álbum is a sunny "Nebraska", bittersweetness under a happy skin, simply fantastic.
Greetings from a Brazilian Boss fan 🤠 and nice video, man 😎
"Born in the USA" is the MOST NOTORIOUS ANTI-WAR/ANTI-WEST songs ever made... by an American!
It's to me one of the TOP-10 songs of all times!
Ths song is a SCREAMING CRY to the world, to the US gonverment... "HEY, I'VE BEEN WHERE YOU TOLD ME TO GO - AND KILL!... AND NOW I'M BACK AND I HAVE NOTHING TO GO ON"!
Singing songs about hard times isn't unpatriotic. Calling attention to things that need our attention is quire patriotic. You can't even pronounce "Khe Sanh" correctly.
Americans don't understand even their own songs :0
Its a clever song that fooled a lot of people at the time. A chorus of hope with verses of despair.
To really appreciate this song I think you need to have some background on how USA dealt with the Vietnam war.
The chorus becomes ironic with the verses
Man, it's music it can have different meanings to different people. How often have you listened to a song over the decades and the song has taken on a different meaning to you as life continues on. I get what he is saying, the lyrics are definitely about a Vietnam veteran facing hardships at home - but I can relate to the song in different ways. Some people may just identify with the chorus (and I think the author of this video says that). Ronald got one wrong, that doesn't mean he is out of touch with all of society.
I love Ronald lol and honestly idk why people think this song is so "anti-patriotic" it's anti-war! And the people who think this song is awesome for being "anti-patriotic" (it's not) are on the same side of the fence as those who disrespect the veterans in the first place. 🤦🏻♀️ Stupidity, so eh I don't like Bruce Springsteen, nor his views at all. But this song is great and is even MORE misunderstood by those who claim to know it's "true anti-patriotic meaning".
@@mikasadankerman8832 yeah, but wouldn't you agree that a song can have a different meaning to each of us; maybe, one song reminds you of a girl you used to date or a great next door neighbor that you had. It is open to interpretation - except the alphabet song, unless you are messed on something
The most patriotic Americans are Vietnam vets.
Its patriotic. We all unite as americans under shared pain and responsibility
Right wingers dont wanna share blame --- they just point fingers and blame immigrants and blacks for all their problems
@@tommitchell4570 ^doesnt fix a dam thing
@@energeez right wingers are bad for America --- this is proven in many ways over many years
"We all unite as Americans under shared pain and responsibility."
Yeah...... About that..... United as one nation but the societies splitted.
Thank you!!!! Someone who gets it...this song is about a Vietnam vet. It's a cry for help, redemption, and recognition. He's a broken man , yet a vestige of pride remains.
This song wrings my heart...
He flat-out says it's not a song of hope. It actually is in some aspects. I myself have seen seven tours of duty in afghanistan. Second lieutenant. United States army 75th ranger regiment 3rd battalion. I wasn't you know a second lieutenant the entire time and I certainly wasn't a range of the entire time either. But this guy talking about this song I mean I don't know where the fuck he's getting his information from but not all of it is correct and things that he says this song isn't... In some aspects it actually is. I'm assuming that the fella narrating and talking in this video is probably just regurgitating semi correct information from somebody else that thinks they know. I mean sure he got some of it right. But quite a bit of it... NOPE
Thanks man for this reaction. As I was very prominet english student back in the time when this came out the first thing that I regognized was this anger in this song even before Bruce said 'go kill the yelllow man', and at that point but as a minor I knew this was about Vietnam War and the pain it left to americans. I learned english before I even went to a school as I was babysitted by TV from 4 to 6 years old by myself and most of the movies and programs back in the day were in english and as I couldn't read I have to just learn to know what these people where talking about.LoL. But YES indeed this is an anti war song. Nothing to do with patrionism.
I like the song and think it's technically patriotic, not anti-american at all for sure. I have always proudly blasted protest songs on the 4th. To me the 4th of July is much more meaningful and contemporary than some blind support of the current state. But yes, even war hawks love the song. Most people really don't listen to lyrics at all.
Being someone who disagrees with Bruce Springsteen's views. I do also really like this song and think it's very patriotic. Because it's clear as day the message is anti-war and critical of the government. I'm all for criticizing the government! 🙋🏻♀️
I'm not sure how people on both sides of the fence, either thought this was either super pro everything America (including war) or some anti-American anthem. It's not, just calling out the government which deserves a little more than being called out. I think people on all sides of the fence can agree on that 🙋🏻♀️
You’re wrong. There is nothing antipatriotic in this song. To be patriotic doesn’t mean one has to see just good things about one-s country, and say there are no problems.
it's the lie that's screamed over and over that makes it unpatriotic. not any discussion about war.
I like how the first thing that was in my recommendations was "Born in the USA." music video, it's like either TH-cam wanted me to hear the song again to learn the verses or it try to forget what I learn in this video by watching Born in the USA.
just remember that it's not possible for anybody to be born in the usa.
More truth in this one man's song than all the words collectively from all politicians.
Songs can take on new meanings at different times. Obviously, the lyrics are concrete in its meanings, but the catchy part "Born in the USA" is used in a different capacity. How many songs are probably about drugs, but they show up in pop culture in another way?
I like it! Keep up with the good job!
We've got a similar song in Austria. Rainhard Fensrich's I am from Austria, which is about how the singer is not afraid to say where he is from while acknowledging (spelling?) that there are many imperfections here but it's just the place where he grew up and knows the ways...
Bruce Springsteen wrote Born In The USA after reading Born on the Fourth of July the Ron Kovics book .The book became the Movie Born on the Fourth of July Tom Cruise
Personally, I think calling the US government out on their bull is pretty patriotic imo.
That's why Colin Kaepernick is a hero --- he called out the govt. and corrupt cops and the filthy right-wing creeps call him a traitor --- he's a total patriot
@@tommitchell4570 Debatable. His work honestly caused more division than solutions in my opinion, as he kneeled during the national anthem, disrespecting what many consider sacred, and brought his politics to a place where many go to escape it. I won't go as far to call him a traitor, but he's no patriot.
@@skippingstep1515 --- you're just spewing a lot of right wing gibberish --- you're the kind of dummy who thinks Trump is great for encouraging his terrorists to overthrow democracy --- at least Kaepernick was expressing peaceful protest like all good patriots have done, like MLK Jr
Agreed. I don't like Bruce Springsteen, nor his views at all.
But this song is pretty good, and imo very patriotic when seen for it's ACTUAL anti-war/criticizing the government (all of it, not just the right or left) message, rather than pretending it is against patriotism. It's really not 🤷🏻♀️
@@tommitchell4570 Oh please, I disagree with the views and tactics of a man, and now I'm a dummy who thinks attempting to overthrow democracy is a good idea. Quit assuming, prick.
It's not un patriotic! It's the opposite exactly. He is pointing out the things in the country that needed to change, that is a prime example of being a patriot!
It’s anti Vietnam war song, not anti patriotic, thus protesting the Vietnam draft.
EXACTLY! Finally someone with common sense. I don't agree with Bruce Springsteen's views generally but this song is definitely very good and as patriotic as it gets. Because America belongs to the people, NOT the government. People on all sides of the fence can agree to that :)
This song is not anti-patriotic it talks about one of the worst mistakes the government and the majority of Americans and recognizing your mistakes is an amazing reflection on one’s self also you pronounced kne sanh wrong
And then that same mistakes were repeated in Afghanistan in 2001 only to be humiliated again 20 years later with the fall of US-backed Afghan Government..
Seems pretty patriotic to me.
I won't say it's anti-patriotic just that it's not a patriotic song like so many of us probably thought just casually listening to it. Just because you're not pro-something doesn't mean you're anti-something either.
Cope
@@scrappie8309 How? Please, do tell?
I served in the Navy on a carrier just off the coast of N. Vietnam sending tons of bombs deep into N. Vietnam & Laos. Served with a guy who had the option of going to jail or going into the service so that part of the lyrics rings true. "My brother was at Khe Sanh fightin off the Viet Cong (the VC), they're still there he's all gone". Fact is that the Marines there were fighting elements of the PAVN (peoples army of Vietnam) rather than the VC which were guerilla style warriors similar to the Green Berets or Navy Seals. Poetic license I guess. And the treatment at the VA? That was real because the VA system was mostly run by WWII vets at the time and they didn't much care for the ones coming back from Vietnam, considered us losers. I was retired & on medicare before I finally decided to get into the medical system there. I spent 9 months off & on in a combat zone (Navy called it hostile fire zone).
So many songs get misinterpreted because of how they sound, Stings every Breathe, and Paramores Living in the real world
Bruce Springsteen is the greatest American song writer of all time, anyone who claims otherwise has never listened to him
i’m mean bob dylan...but springsteen still is a fucking beasy
Not the best but he’s up there
@@ajh8350 it's not possible for anybody to be born in the usa. by screaming "born in the usa" over and over, you're basically saying "people are born in countries and have no freedom. there's no such thing as the united states"
i get the irony. but it's a pretty bad message and i don't think that message comes from an american, since americans uphold our natural rights. they don't try to take them away or to trick people into thinking we don't have them in the first place.
I remember an interview with Springsteen, where he talked about the fact that the inspiration from this song came from the book I was born on the Fourth of July but I could be wrong
Great video!
You missed a spot trimming your beard and I couldn't stop staring at it. lol
I cant't take you seriously with the royalty free music in the background
Regardless of the people’s version of what America should look like, we are all Americans and should be damn proud of that fact. This is still the greatest country ever! Bruce bags on our country but he also is given his opinion because of this great country!! God bless America!
"The greatest country ever" ... i bet you have seen them all and came to that conclusion...
The song is officially about Bruce Springsteen's brother in the Vietnam War he either dies or M.I.A.
Bruce has sisters, no brother. It was a friend of his who died in Vietnam.
I think the actual point is, he likes America as a country, but not the governments orders. There is no lyrics there, that states he hates the U.S.A 🙄
actually there is. it's the thing that the singer screams over and over: "born in the usa!"
that states that he hates the usa.
the reason is because it's not possible for anybody to be born in the usa. the very definition of our country is that all people are born in nature and are not born into countries. we all have the natural right to freely determine our citizenship and it can't be forced onto us according to birth or bloodlines.
so, the point here is that the singer hates freedom. hates the usa. by promoting the idea that people are born in countries,
with no freedom.
if we didn't have the declaration of independence to still remind us that we're all born in nature, then people might actually start to believe things like this harmful song and unknowingly betray the united states. hell, if this went on, we might even one day have a president that uses a birth certificate. that would completely betray the constitution and the declaration of independence.
so you see. we need to hurry up and reject songs like this. reject birth certificates. and repeal the 14th amendment. before people forget what the united states is and why it was created.
@@subterranea9095 I do not believe in your way of thinking. But I do respect your opinion. 👍
@@FreddieFraggs a lot of what i said isn't an opinion: the declaration of independence does say that all people are born in nature, under nature's god, with liberty and equal station. we all have a natural right to freedom. citizenship can't be forced onto us according to birth.
i can quote the document if you like and link you to government resources, so that you can understand it's not an opinion.
i can also show you that the 14th amendment, which claims we are not free anymore and that citizenship will be forced onto us, was added almost 100 years later.
if you like, i can give you reputable public sources that record that birth certificates only started in the 1900s here and national or international news reports document from mainstream stations documenting and following the recent history of people being alienated according to birth or imprisoned and relocated according to birth.
what i've been saying is a fact. the only opinion i've had is about what the singer feels or what's the right and wrong thing to do.
@@subterranea9095 That was written for the American people. The same statement is not valid for people outside America. It is wrong to think otherwise.
@@FreddieFraggs that is an opinion that's not based on fact. the united states declaration of independence literally declares the existence of the united states to the world and says all people, everyone, has these natural rights.
it even says that you don't have to call these natural rights american or usa rights.
that information is based on fact. that's not an opinion. that's literally what's written on the paper and being broadcast online.
The song is pro soldier
I would love if you analysed the youngblood chronicles by fall out boy! I know it's not a song but a music video but it really needs an explanation
Say that again brother. Right on. It is a shame that more Americans don’t see through all the bullshit.
Born in the USA is not patriotic or even unpatriotic, It is a protest song in support of the way Vietnam Veterans were being treated. It was to remind people that they to were born in the USA
Your interpretation is FOS!!
lol
This is one Bruce Springsteen's best songs. You're interpreting it the way you want to but you're clearly getting it wrong.
The song talks about the war in Viet Nam, there were protests against it but many for a reason or another left and went to battle. It talks about family members back in the US losing loved one to a useless war (if you really know why it happened). Then the Vietnam vets came back and found nothing. They were abandoned. No job, no money. Nothing. So probably the jail is about some of these people resorting to committing crime out of desperation or PTSD. Honestly your review is useless and wrong. Think of those who went to fight a war that was born as always out of some psychos thirst for power and control. Those people lost their lives and those who came back were abandoned. There's nothing unpatriotic here.
It is not just The Boss that they get wrong, they also use Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World and The Guess Who's American Woman was actually played at the White House. If you want to get an idea what Bruce Springstein really thinks there was the song Death To My Home Town.
BTW - did you ever catch this exchange made by politicians about the music of Bruce Cockburn?
EM - "Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for bringing us back to the egregious loss of democracy in this place. I said earlier today, speaking to Bill C-31, that it is like Bruce Cockburn's song, where he says, “But the trouble with normal is it always gets worse”. Every year, we seem to accept less and less democracy.
Back in 2009 when my last book came out, the late journalist Jim Travers was commenting on my book release on CBC. In answer to Michael Enright, who asked if there really were a crisis in Canadian democracy, Travers answered that it was worse than that, that you could visit Ottawa but what you would see was a democracy theme park. All the building were there, but Parliament was no longer respected.
Does my hon. colleague not feel that we need to reverse these trends before we really lose democracy altogether?"
CA - "Mr. Speaker, I will respond with the lyrics of Bruce Cockburn. He said:
See they paid-off local bottom feeders
Passing themselves off as leaders
Kiss the ladies shake hands with the fellows
Open for business like a cheap bordello
And they call it democracy...."
I think I've heard of this artist.. 🤔
Ok so
A few days back, i watched a movie called "a boy called sailboat" and in that movie i heard that name "Bruce Springsteen" and now there's this video!...
Coincidence? I think not 😂😂😂
How have you not heard of this song before?
||-//
@@eagerturtle4791 because i wasn't born in usa 😂
@@art-xlr8 I wasn't either and I heard of it! 😂
As said in the video it's a Rock Anthem, which makes it patriotic. It's doesn't have to extol positivity to be patriotic. Quite the opposite. As a rock anthem it can touch on the underbelly of America, and still be positive. Life is hard, government is unfair, war is terrible, but guess what I was born in the USA and it's gonna work out somehow. We get knocked to the ground and keep getting back up. Putting this song in the context of "current meta" politics is a great disservice to the lyrics and Bruce himself.
This comment section proves that music and its interpretation are subjective. I tend to believe the words from the man who wrote the song. Not sure why others won't.
"I got a picture of him in her arms now" could also mean his brother left behind a baby with the woman in Saigon. After all, it's more common for a man to hold a woman in his arms in pictures simply due to the (usual) size difference. If the woman was holding a baby in her arms, and the baby was 'the picture' of his brother, that would make sense. IE The baby his dead brother left behind overseas. Was there any difficulty with women in Vietnam, who were impregnated by American soldiers, being unable to emigrate with their babies to the USA at the time?
It is patriotic it is just showing what The USA can improve
That's why people love a left-wing hero like Bruce
@@tommitchell4570 murdering your neighbors child to show your neighbors that their household defenses could be improved is not patriotic. likewise, telling people that haven't read the united states declaration of independence, or that are new to the united states, that our country is something that people are born into: is very harmful. it sends the wrong message.
nobody is born in the usa. citizenship is always a choice. we shouldn't have to defend ourselves against the united states, because the united states is supposed to protect our natural freedom. helping foreign interests try to kill freedom and the united states as we know it isn't patriotic.
@@subterranea9095 --- eradicating all the filthy MAGA Scum that infests America like a plague is the only way we can become a great country ---- LOCK UP TRUMP
Neil Youngs Rocking in the free world has a similar theme - depressing lyrics with an upbeat tempo.
2 Live Crew wrote "Banned in the USA"over all the censorship they encountered from the PMRC and the Gore family.its actually quite patriotic tho!and I find much better than The Boss's song
Some people misinterpret Born in the USA as a simple proud-to-be-an-American jam, then other people react to that misinterpreting and also misinterpret the song as anti-patriotic/anti-American. It is neither of those things. Bruce initially wrote the song as a protest depicting the disenfranchisement of Vietnam veterans. An original demo variation didn't even have the "Born in the U.S.A" chorus. Then he modified it by adding the chorus, then simplified the chord structure to match a more upbeat melody, and finally gave the song a very bright production in the studio, including synthesizer keys suggesting rousing trumpets and crashing drums sounding like fireworks, to create almost a marching/patriotic anthem vibe. The result is a cinematic and complex social commentary captured in 3 minutes of classic rockin' music, Springsteen's stock-in-trade. I think the idea that he's conveying in the song can be summarized as "I'm an American, I love my country, but I deserve better than this shit sandwich I've been given."
Yep. Absolutely right.
This song tries to convey a connection between the atrocities of war and the average American who has not a fkg clue what its like to experience the horrors of what many veterans went through. But I think that its like trying to shout a message through a thick glass window when the person on the other side really doesn't care what you're saying because they are too busy eating popcorn and playing games.
Really enjoy the breakdown of this song. I’ve never sat down and listened to it bc I just assumed I knew what it meant. I wonder how many overplayed songs like that, I’ve done that to.
It’s a scary but kind of exciting thought.
@@ThePopSongProfessor - speaking of song whose upbeat melody could hide it's darker meaning, Men Without Hat's Pop Goes the World fits that description. Another one of their songs is In the 21st Century.
I had both the honor and the pleasure of starring in a music video that is truly patriotic. It is anti Military Industrial Complex war, yet pro soldier. It shows the results of what happens after a soldier is killed; my grieving widow, my son grabbing the dog tags and running away, etc. It was written specifically to have a corresponding video to clearly explain everything, and all of the proceeds went to Wounded Warriors. I don't recall Bruce donating any of his proceeds to the veterans. If you are interested, the video is called "This is War," by Steven P. Richards. I think you'll clearly see the difference in a real patriotic song, versus a hippy bitch-fest.
BORN IN THE USA is not an ANTI-PATRIOTIC song at all. I remember when the song was released as a single. I grew up during the Vietnam War, one of 5 kids of a serviceman. My father did 6 tours in Vietnam after his first tour in Korat, Thailand.
This song actually hits perfectly on the plight of many Vietnam vets upon returning home to a country in which the media and the politicians basically told the American public that our troops were killing babies, commenting War atrocities, and were going to lose the war. The political leaders would not allow the military to actually fight the enemy.
The song tells how the character grew up in a bad situation, in a town in which he got into trouble that was bad enough he was given the choice to enlist for 2 years or serve a prison term. That was very common practice. Judges actually thought the military would change men and make them more disciplined. It is a practice that goes ack a long time in our country. The character had a brother who enlisted in the Marine Corps and was killed in Khe Sahn. A very terrible place to have been. It was shelled almost nonstop for over a year. The only memento to remember his brother is a picture of him with his Vietnamese "girlfriend".
Upon returning home, the character is unable to get employment at what appears to be the only decent job in town, working in a oil refinery. Like way too many Vietnam vets, he was screwed over by the VA. Then spends the next 10 years basically doing nothing.
Nothing UNAMERICAN, it tells FACTS. That is not UNPATRIOTIC.
As a veteran, I can understand the song fir what it is, it is not un-American!!!!!
2:04 - I too, would like a pet unicorn. The 8-year-old girl in me would be just over the moon.
Patriotic is what you define it so idk this guy is right but wrong 😂
It's definitely patriotic. It's just not jingoistic, which is what many people took it as.
It’s actually the definition of Patriotic. The ability to criticize and debate our government is the most patriotic thing that humanity has ever invented
“Just coverin up” not “covering IT up”
As in shelling up in a defense knowing youre about to get slapped by the government. Huge difference.
While I agree politicians use it in a completely misunderstood way, it is absolutely NOT anti-patriotic. There’s nothing anti-patriotic about criticizing proxy wars and the treatment this government deals to the people who do the fighting for them
It’s a pro American but anti war and anti government song. The way it should be. The American way
Just because people misuse a song doesn't make it unpatriotic.
No country is perfect.
To ignore what a lot of vets went through and say everything was all good is just wrong.
A family member can abuse you but that doesn't make you stop loving your family.
Even with all the country did to the vets they were still willing to fight for the country.
You cant get more patriotic than that.
American Pie please
Cultural and political change from 1950's through 60's. Kinda nostalgic, kinda pining. But the 50's weren't perfect
It's about us Americans that tired of the man
This song is not an anti-war or pro-war or indifferent to it. It’s no anti-patriotic at all. The narrator of the song is not talking about his opinion on going to war but narrates his experience, which represents many vet’s experiences. To me the born in the USA chorus is more of a mock of how certain people see’s or hears about how that country is some utopian place. Here’s a couple other notable songs about war are very similar in context.: Walking on a thin line by Huey Lewis And The News and Big Country’s Where The Rose Has Sown.
I was born chinada , i was born , chinanada