Fortunate Son

Because I grew up in a working class neighborhood, when this song came out I knew it was basically about me and almost everyone I knew.

Those folks born with a silver spoon were effectively aliens to us.  They lived in different areas, they went to different schools and they had a path ready for them in life.

This being America the goal was to become one of them, not to bring them down.  The hope was that we could work hard, do well and provide a better life for our children.

Since we aspired to become wealthy we accepted the wealthy as part of the family.  We thought we could get accepted by them and mingle.

That was never going to happen.

Yes some people, a relatively small number got rich but they didn't become part of that club.

Maybe their children or possibly their grandchildren will but you don't just become "old money" in a single generation.

In the Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald notes that the rich are different than you and I.  He points out they learn very early that they are entitled and will always feel that way.

Working people react in one of two ways towards these people.

Many want to become them so they imitate their behavior, try to accumulate wealth and work to send their children to the right schools.  While the odds are against them, some do manage to join their ranks but they take a generation or two to actually fit in.

Others rebel.  Rebellion sometimes actually spills over into actual conflict but generally it expresses itself in other ways, rebellious clothes, drinking, drug use and other behaviors.

Still many of these people have a deep inbred respect for the wealthy and when one of them actually acknowledges them they become his/her loyalists.

Of course you have to remember that the fortunate son is different so the loyalty is one way.