I was so happy that Jim Adams picked Swamp Rock for the week’s Song Lyric Sunday. It gives me a chance to share a song by probably my most favorite band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and you can’t get a swampier song than Green River. Although CCR’s music gives the impression they are from the Bayou, they are actually from California and just happen to have that great sound. Hope you enjoy it. The Woodstock video is exceptional. Fogarty doesn’t miss a beat.
The Song
This song was written by group leader John Fogerty, who explained in his Storytellers special: “Green River is really about this place where I used to go as a kid on Putah Creek, near Winters, California. I went there with my family every year until I was ten. Lot of happy memories there. I learned how to swim there. There was a rope hanging from the tree. Certainly dragonflies, bullfrogs. There was a little cabin we would stay in owned by a descendant of Buffalo Bill Cody. That’s the reference in the song to Cody Jr. [“Up at Cody’s camp I spent my days…”]
The actual specific reference, Green River, I got from a soda pop-syrup label. You used to be able to go into a soda fountain, and they had these bottles of flavored syrup. My flavor was called Green River. It was green, lime flavored, and they would empty some out over some ice and pour some of that soda water on it, and you had yourself a Green River.”
John Fogerty has said that Green River is his favorite Creedence Clearwater Revival album, in part because it sounds like the ’50s albums by the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash that came out of Sun Records in Memphis.
Asked about his song writing by Mojo magazine, John Fogerty replied: “More common is me fooling around on the guitar coming up with a riff or a lick or even just a tone which sparks some kind of creativity. Your mind gets a vibe, like the lick for ‘Green River’ – that’s what it sounded like, a green river, ha ha. And that was a title I had carried around since I was about eight years old.”
Courtesy of Songfacts
The Lyrics
Well, take me back down where cool water flows, y'all Oh, let me remember things I love Stoppin' at the log where catfish bite Walkin' along the river road at night Barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight I can hear the bullfrog callin' me, oh Wonder if my rope's still hangin' to the tree Love to kick my feet way down the shallow water Shoo fly, dragon fly, get back to your mother Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River Well Up at Cody's camp I spent my days, Lord With flat car riders and cross-tie walkers Old Cody Junior took me over Said, "You're gonna find the world is smoldering And if you get lost, come on home to Green River" Well Come on home Writer/s: John Cameron Fogerty Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
Dayum! Awesome song. Thanks for sharing. This is an up outta you chair dance song.
Thanks Jilly. I love singing it in the car and thumping the wheel 🤣
oh ya, the best!
Thanks Jilly. I like singing it in the car and thumping the wheel. Lol 🤣💕
John Fogerty was not happy about CCR’s performance at Woodstock, so he wouldn’t allow it to be in the movie, which was a shame as I thought it was great.
I agree Jim. It sounded as good as the record. ☺️👍
This day gets better – can’t beat a bit of CCR!
Yes Ella, I’m always playing them ☺️
You are a person of exquisite taste!
Oh you too!! 🤣LOL