"The Boss" offended some Americans on Tuesday after he performed the anti-war song "Fortunate Son" at a Veteran's Day concert on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
The star-studded event was meant to salute the country's veterans, and some found Bruce Springsteen's song selection as a poor choice.
"Fortunate Son" was originally released in 1969 by rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, and voiced the group's opposition to the Vietnam War. Springsteen covered the song with singers Zac Brown and Dave Grohl during Brown's set.
"Yeah, some folks inherit star spangled eyes/Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord/And when you ask them, 'How much should we give?'/Oh, they only answer, more, more, more, oh," Springsteen sang.
The song's final chorus is: "It ain't me, it ain't me/I ain't no military son/It ain't me, it ain't me/I ain't no fortunate one."
The Concert for Valor aired live on HBO, and the reaction from some viewers was confusion and anger.
"Will never understand why Fortunate Son is played during 'patriotic' scenarios. Not really getting this. #TheConcertForValor," one Twitter user wrote.
"Ummm... Why are they playing an anti-patriotic song 'Fortunate Son' at the Concert for Valor? And why are they cheering?" another woman asked.
Many defended the performance, however.
"Hey #Springsteen critics, Anti-war ≠ Anti-American," a California man tweeted. "Also, protest songs are about as American as it gets. #ConcertForValor."
Others insisted that the song's meaning was being misinterpreted. "Fortunate Son" writer John Fogerty released a statement following Springsteen's performance clarifying the song's intentions.
"As an American and a songwriter I am proud that the song still has resonance," Fogerty said. "I do believe that its meaning gets misinterpreted and even usurped by various factions wishing to make their own case.
"At its core I believe the issue is really about what a great country we have that a song like this can be performed in a setting like Concert for Valor."
Springsteen has not released a statement regarding the controversy.
Also performing at the Concert for Valor were Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Metallica, Rihanna, and other stars.
Watch Springsteen's performance with Brown and Grohl below.
