Born on the Bayou
Creedence Clearwater Revisited Lyrics


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Now when I was just a little boy
Standin' to my Daddy's knee
My Poppa said "son, don't let the man get you do what he done to me"
'Cause he'll get you
'Cause he'll get you now, now

And I can remember the fourth of July
Runnin' through the backwood bare
And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'
Chasin' down a hoodoo there
Chasin' down a hoodoo there

Born on the Bayou
Born on the Bayou
Born on the Bayou

Wish I was back on the Bayou
Rollin' with some Cajun Queen
Wishin' I were a freight train
Oh, just a-chooglin' on down to New Orleans

Born on the Bayou
Born on the Bayou
Born on the Bayou

Oh get back boy

And I can remember the fourth of July
Runnin' through the backwood bare
And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'
Chasin' down a hoodoo there
Chasin' down a hoodoo there

Born on the Bayou

Born on the Bayou
Born on the Bayou

Overall Meaning

The song 'Born on the Bayou' by Creedence Clearwater Revisited is a nostalgic ode to the Louisiana bayou. The singer of the song is reflecting upon his past, particularly his childhood memories of growing up on the bayou. As a child, he idolized his father, who warned him not to let the 'man' get him, warning him of the hardships he experienced. The singer reminisces about the fourth of July celebrations and running through the backwoods, and his old hound dog that would bark while chasing a hoodoo (superstitious entity).


The chorus of the song celebrates being born on the bayou, and longing to return to the tight-knot community and the laid-back way of living in Louisiana. The references to Cajun queens, freight trains and New Orleans allude to the rich culture and musical history of the area. The song's style is reminiscent of Southern rock with a touch of blues, reflecting the influence of the region's music on the band's sound. The song's lyrics paint an evocative picture of the bayou, making it a memorable classic.


Line by Line Meaning

Now when I was just a little boy
As a young child, I learned from my father


Standin' to my Daddy's knee
Standing beside my father


My Poppa said "son, don't let the man get you do what he done to me"
My father warned me not to let the system oppress me like it did him


'Cause he'll get you
If you don't heed the warning, the system will catch up to you


'Cause he'll get you now, now
The consequences are immediate and severe


And I can remember the fourth of July
I recall a vivid memory from Independence Day


Runnin' through the backwood bare
I was running around in the woods without any shoes on


And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin'
I can vividly hear my loyal dog barking


Chasin' down a hoodoo there
Pursuing a mystery or unknown object


Born on the Bayou
I was born and raised in Louisiana's swampy bayou region


Wish I was back on the Bayou
I long for the nostalgic feeling of being in my hometown


Rollin' with some Cajun Queen
I wish I was spending time with a beautiful woman from Cajun culture


Wishin' I were a freight train
I want the freedom to move freely and quickly from place to place


Oh, just a-chooglin' on down to New Orleans
Aiming to travel to New Orleans by train


Oh get back boy
The singer urges someone to step back or move away from them.


Born on the Bayou
Repeating the previous point of being born and raised on the Bayou




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John C. Fogerty

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@franktaconelli9095

I had no idea that one of my all time favorite guitarists, The Cars’ Elliott Easton, was playing with these guys; very groovy

@lumpi5831

PERFECT !!! Greetings from Germany !

@kalsifher

that groove on drums... perfect

@guitardan46

Pretty damned good. Love the drums and bass and Elliot Easton's guitar. Great vocals too. All you critics out there should realize that Doug and Stu were part of this great band and deserve a lot of credit. Put yourselves in their place and I'll be you would be out touring too. :-)

@awkelly

The Lead Vocalist is doing a great job

@Asphaltsquadron

I didn't know Steven Seagal was in Creedence Clearwater Revisited?

@martinezlisa86

Just saw thm 10-06-12...THEY KICK ASS!!IT WAS AWSOME SHOW!

@elvez1231

Omar and the Howlers - Live at the Paradiso - another phenomenal version of this phenomenal song!

@ACfixer

Good job on the vocals, tough song.

@ManuelGonzalez-wy9fj

excelente

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