Song Lyric Sunday – CCR

Posted byChristine BoltonPosted inBlog, Song Lyric SundayTags:, , , , ,

This week for Song Lyric Sunday we are to feature a song from an album where the group or artist wrote all their own songs. One of my most favorite bands is Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty was their principal songwriter. He wrote all their major hits. One of their most enduring hits, Up Around The Bend with its iconic opening is my first pick for today. I have also included Proud Mary from the Bayou Country album as it in one of Fogerty’s most famous songs. “Proud Mary” attracted 35 covers in the year 1969 alone. Over 100 have been made since. There is much to write about Proud Mary and I am leaving that for another SLS in the future.

The Song

Written by lead singer John Fogerty, this is a very upbeat Creedence Clearwater Revival, giving a hint that, as bad as things were in the early ’70s, there might be some hope for the future: Things would improve “Around The Bend.” Bass player Stu Cook described the song as “Kind of the opposite of ‘Run Through The Jungle.'”
This song required a bit of translation for British audiences. In England, if you go “around the bend” it means you go crazy. Then the band toured the UK, they had to explain to the British press that the song was not about dementia or mental problems.

The song was on their 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory. It was released as a single and is considered one of the classic songs from that year.

In his memoir Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music, John Fogerty said that this song came to him when he was riding his motorcycle though the California hills.

Movies this song has appeared in include Michael (1996), Remember the Titans (2000) and Invincible (2006). It was also used in a 2008 episode of the TV show My Name Is Earl, and in the 2022 Stranger Things episode, “Papa.”

Elton John covered this song shortly after it was released, and his version appears on several compilation albums. Hanoi Rocks recorded it for their 1984 Two Steps From The Move album.

In 2016, Wrangler used this in a commercial for their jeans, surprising after John Fogerty lashed out at the company when they used “Fortunate Son” in ads without his permission beginning in 2000. Fogerty at that time did not control the rights to the songs he wrote for CCR, so they could be used without his consent. His Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) songs were, for decades, controlled by Fantasy Records, leading to a 50-year legal battle after Fogerty left the band. After losing control of his songs when CCR broke up, he eventually bought back a majority interest in the publishing rights in 2023, giving him control over how the songs are used. This allows him to perform them again, which he recently celebrated by re-recording his hits on the album “Legacy”.

The Lyrics

There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Just as fast as my feet can fly
Come away, come away if you're goin'
Leave the sinkin' ship behind

Come on the risin' wind
We're goin' up around the bend

Ooh

Bring a song and a smile for the banjo
Better get while the gettin's good
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway
Where the neon's turn to wood

Come on the risin' wind
We're goin' up around the bend

Ooh

You can ponder perpetual motion
Fix your mind on a crystal day
Always time for good conversation
There's an ear for what you say

Come on the risin' wind
We're goin' up around the bend

Yeah

Ooh

Catch a ride to the end of the highway
And we'll meet by the big red tree
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Come along, come along with me

Come on the risin' wind
We're goin' up around the bend

Yeah

Do do do do
Do do do do
Do do do
Do do do do, yeah
Do do do do
Do do do do do

Writer/s: John Cameron Fogerty
Publisher: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Published by Christine Bolton

I have been writing poetry since I was a child and it has helped in the good times and bad times. I am always looking within to find the answers to life's problems and to write thought-provoking poetry and prose. Thanks for checking it out. Christine

33 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday – CCR”

  4. This song made me think of all the strife and politically motivated violence that was the 70’s. I was only a youngster- so I didn’t even realize it was going on. I hope we come out the other end stronger this time as well- although I am learning this was just about the time the politicians realized they could confound us with derision- and use it to their advantage-so maybe that is not really what we need at all.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Nice selection of music, Christine, but CCR only wrote six of the seven songs on this album because it contains a cover of ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’. Creedance wrote a lot of original songs, but they never put out an album with all original songs. It is always a pleasure for me to listen to their music, so thanks for sharing it today.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Not at all as I am always happy to listen to your music. I thought people might have a difficult time with this, so I did an extensive search of many groups and artists, and I was very surprised that CCR didn’t fit into this category. I feel bad for pointing it out, but I thought you would want to know.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I know Jim. When I saw your list, I was shocked not to see them. I know he wrote so many of the songs so it was an assumption on my part. But I noticed on a 20 song ‘best of’ or greatest hits album 18 were his. In my humble opinion I think he was CCR. Thank you for your great feedback, Jim. It’s always appreciated. 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I could never be mad at you, Jim. You’re like our professor keeping all the students in order every week so we don’t go off the rails! I think what happens is we already have the song in our heads and usually written up before we get your email the night before. I guess I didn’t realize the entire album, that the song was on, had to have been written by them. 🤣 all I knew is that CCR or John Fogerty wrote all their hit songs. 🤣🤣

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Friday I went for a haircut. First song to come on the radio while my car was still in the garage was “Proud Mary”. An hour later, get back in the car and what comes on the radio? You guessed it! I’ve had these two songs in my head all weekend …. and now this. It’s some kind of karma, baby! Can you dig it? Great choices.

    Like

  7. I’m glad he was able to finally get the publishing rights back to his songs. I wonder how many fortunes he’s lost in the meantime 😦 I remember they played this song on one of my favorite carnival rides, the Himalaya. The intro is perfect for it. Great choice, Christine.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.