Which CCR song became a counterculture anthem criticizing privilege?

• A. Proud Mary
• B. Bad Moon Rising
• C. Fortunate Son
• D. Have You Ever Seen the Rain

Answer: (C)

Fortunate Son targets social inequality and the way privilege shapes who bears the costs of national policy. The lyrics directly call out the unfair draft system, highlighting that those from wealthy or connected backgrounds can avoid service, while ordinary people are sent to fight. Phrases like “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son” make the critique explicit, tying personal exemption to a broader class critique. Released in 1969 amid the Vietnam War and the rise of anti-war sentiment, the song connected with the counterculture’s distrust of authority and privilege, turning it into a widely sung protest anthem. The other CCR songs mentioned focus on different themes—mythical or apocalyptic warnings, or changes in life and weather—without that pointed critique of privilege, which is why this track stands out as the best answer.