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Fortunate sons & cheap hearts

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on September 19, 2004

In Reply to: Fortunate sons & cheap hearts posted by cornelius ruxpin on September 18, 2004

: : "Fortunate son" is an expression that is being used a lot in the campaign for U.S. president. I take it to mean a child of privilege, someone who gets special favors because of his family wealth and connections.

: : My questions are:
: : 1. Is that your understanding of the phrase?
: : 2. Is the original source of the phrase the Creedence Clearwater Revival song (see below) or was it in use before?

: : Fortunate Son
: : (Creedence Clearwater Revival -- J.C. Fogerty)

: : Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
: : Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
: : And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
: : Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,

: : It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
: : It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

: : www.creedence-online.net/lyrics/fortunate_son.php

: : Just to show that this is a bipartisan posting, I found this expression while I was googling "fortunate son":

: : "But just don't ask Kerry to release his service medical records--or the press might have to find out the meaning of the Nam term-'CHEAP HEARTS.'"
: : blog.johnkerry.com

Referring, I assume, to someone who got a Purple Heart with a minor wound.

: hello

: I think they just made up "fortunate son"
: cuz it rhymes with "senators son"

: over and out ~cornelius ruxpin~

Yes, my understanding of "fortunate son" is a rich kid who gets special treatment. Maybe someone who was "born on third base" whether he thinks he hit a triple or not.

Incidentally, I heard former Texas Governor John Connally as well as former Senator and VP candidate Lloyd Bentsen got their sons into the same "champagne unit" in the Texas National Guard as W. Fortunate sons.

And I hope I don't hear "cheap hearts" from anyone connected with the W campaign. It sounds like one of those things only certain people have earned the right to say, no matter how true it may be.

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