Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Can you listen to this CCR song without tapping your foot or singing? Doubtful.
John Fogerty was born to sing Rock N’ Roll.
Written by Fogerty, “Bad Moon Rising” debuted in April of ’69. This song remains one of the greatest rock songs of all time. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and in 2011, Rolling Stone ranked it at #364 on its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
John Fogerty explained the song was inspired by a movie called The Devil And Daniel Webster. The movie is tells a story in which natural disaster wipes out an entire town. This is where he got the idea for the words “I feel the hurricane blowin’, I hope you’re quite prepared to die.”
Overall, he said the song is about the “apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us.”
The song is upbeat and you can’t help but to dance and feel good, but the lyrics are admittedly rather dreary.
Bad Moon Rising facts!
- The line “There’s a bad moon on the rise” is often heard as “There’s a bathroom on the right.” Not only do many people sing the wrong lyrics, but…
- …Fogerty would often have fun with this trope, sometimes pointing to a nearby bathroom from the stage when he got to the famous misheard line.
+Bad Moon Rising lyrics below+
I see a bad moon rising.
I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin’.
I see bad times today.
Don’t go around tonight,
Well it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
I hear hurricanes a blowing.
I know the end is coming soon.
I fear rivers over flowing.
I hear the voice of rage and ruin.
Well don’t go around tonight,
Well it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Hope you got your things together.
Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather.
One eye is taken for an eye.
Well don’t go around tonight,
Well it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Don’t come around tonight,
Well it’s bound to take your life,
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
