Bob Dylan’s “Clean Cut Kid”, released on his 1985 album *Empire Burlesque*, examines the damaging effects of the Vietnam War on returning soldiers. Like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”, it portrays a veteran struggling to readjust, but Dylan uses surreal, darkly comic details to make the song distinctive.

The lyrics contrast the veteran’s wholesome American upbringing with his exposure to napalm, drugs, violence and military conditioning. After returning home, his life unravels through bizarre episodes, including stealing a Rolls-Royce and driving it into a swimming pool, ending in tragedy. The recording featured Ronnie Wood, Benmont Tench and prominent backing vocals, although the album’s uneven 1980s production has sometimes overshadowed the song’s lyrical strength.