Born In the USA

In class we listened to "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen. I have heard this song on numerous occasions, and did acknowledge it as popular. Especially popular around the time of the Fourth of July, representing the USA and all it stands for. What I didn't realize was, it stood for all different aspects of the USA, literally. Springsteen includes the good and bad of America in the video, and his lyrics tell a story of the Vietnam soldiers. Staring the song out with a clear pessimistic attitude when he says, "End up like a dog that's been beat too much, till you spend half your life just covering it up". A "hometown jam" is described in the song, and the solution to this jam is being put into the military. The aftermath for Vets is discussed, with the trouble with not finding a job or home which results in homelessness. Veteran Affairs can't help these Veterans because they are hated so much nobody can hire them without a back lash. The song talks about a "brother, that had died in Vietnam, and even though he was gone, our troops were still there fighting. This addresses the high death toll and how more people would be drafted, the fight continued despite the deaths. The songs ends with the chorus, which is repeated throughout the song. With a sarcastic appeal to the audience of "this is what being born in the USA gives you", "Born in the USA isn't what its cracked up to be" impressions.