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Born in the USA: Music as Political Protest

Bruce Springsteen, in the tradition of American songwriters, uses music to express political views. Song lyrics—including (or especially) those that criticize government—are a form of expression protected by the First Amendment. Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” is a poetic work set to music. Many regard the song—and particularly its chorus—as a patriotic anthem. A closer look at the lyrics in its verses, however, reveals something far more complex than simple patriotism. In this lesson, students will analyze the song’s lyrics for a variety of rhetorical devices to discover how the song is both a praise and indictment of America.

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Grade: 10, 9
Standards: 1 - Culture, 2 - Time, Continuity, and Change, 3 - People, Places, and Environments, 4 - Individual Development and Identity, 5 - Individuals, Groups, and Institutions, 6 - Power, Authority, and Governance, 6.1 - U.S. History: America in the World, 6.3 - Active Citizenship in the 21st Century, 1.2 - History of the United States and New York; Key Idea 2, 1.3 - History of the United States and New York; Key Idea 3 , 1.4 - History of the United States and New York; Key Idea 4, 5.2 - Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, 5.3 - How Government Works
For: Educators
Tags: Civics, History