John Fogerty wrote Fortunate Son in 1969, during the Vietnam War, for Creedence Clearwater Revival's fourth studio album Willy and the Poor Boys. The song continues to resonate and motivate groups opposing war.
John Fogerty's strong opinions on the Vietnam War led to the lyrics for Fortunate Son, a song addressing upper-class citizens' attempts to dodge the draft. The band collaborated on the title and music, but Fogerty wrote the lyrics himself. The intense emotions he felt during the writing process are evident in the song.
Creedence Clearwater Revival performed at Woodstock '69, following the Grateful Dead, but their performance was not remarkable. Fogarty criticized their lateness and audience's sleepiness, leading to the group's exclusion from the festival's original movie or soundtrack album.