‘Born in the U.S.A.’ – Bruce Springsteen
For more than 30 years, perhaps the most well-known example on this list, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” has been constantly misconstrued. The song’s cutting lyrics depict the story of a young man being recruited, fighting in the Vietnam War, and returning home with psychological scars. The song’s loud orchestral arrangement, however, obscured the irony of its explosive “Born in the U.S.A.” chorus, causing many to believe the song was merely a fist-in-the-air, jingoistic anthem. Springsteen, who was particularly irritated by the song’s mention by then-President Ronald Reagan, attempted to clarify the song’s message in various interviews and eventually introduced an acoustic version of the song that removed the bombastic sections.
‘Born In The U.S.A.’ Bruce Springsteen
