The song has been recorded by at least 20 different artists, in styles ranging from folk to reggae to psychedelic rock.
In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 364 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.
It is one of five songs by the band that peaked at the #2 spot on the U.S. Billboard chart and did not get to #1. It was blocked by "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" by Henry Mancini.
On the 2013 John Fogerty album, Wrote a Song for Everyone, the song is included featuring the Zac Brown Band.
"Bad Moon Rising" uses weather imagery to make the point that something bad is lurking "out there."
Fogerty reportedly wrote the song after watching the 1941 film The Devil and Daniel Webster. It was inspired by a scene in the film in which a hurricane destroys the crops of several farms, but spares those of Jabez Stone (James Craig), the character in the film who makes a deal with the devil in exchange for wealth. Fogerty claims the song is about "the apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us". He also said that when the band was learning the song he recognized the dichotomy between the apocalyptic words and the happy melody. He said "It wasn't until the band was learning the song that I realized the dichotomy. Here you've got this song with all these hurricanes and blowing and raging ruin and all that, but it's 'I see a bad moon rising.' It's a happy-sounding tune, right? It didn't bother me at the time."
In 1969, the American music and entertainment magazine Billboard described the single as being "loaded with rhythm and drive" and predicted it "[couldn't] miss going right to the top." Cash Box, another contemporary music trade magazine, described it as a "blazing bayou-rock outing" that is "louder and bolder" than the group's previous single "Proud Mary." Cash Box ranked it as the #51 single of 1969.
The song has been referenced numerous times by the Plants vs. Zombies franchise, including a use in an advertisement for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 and an aptly-named trick card in Plants vs. Zombies Heroes. The song also appears in a 2023 TV commercial for Toyota.
Bad Moon Rising
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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-blowin'
I know the end is comin' soon
I fear rivers over flowin'
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don't go around tonight
Well it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise, alright
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
Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" lyrics describe a sense of unease and foreboding. The imagery in the song is of natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes, which signal the coming of bad times. The tone of the song is ominous and dark, with the singer warning listeners not to go out because the bad moon will take their lives.
The song can be interpreted as a warning of the consequences of humanity's destruction of nature. If we continue to harm the environment, we will witness the terrible aftermath, as evidenced in the natural disasters that the lyrics describe. The "voice of rage and ruin" could also be a reference to people's anger and frustration at the state of the world.
The line "hope you are quite prepared to die" adds an even graver tone to the song, suggesting that the end is near and people should be ready for it. The repetition of the warning not to go out emphasizes the danger that the "bad moon" represents.
All in all, "Bad Moon Rising" is a powerful song that uses vivid language and palpable images to convey a sense of dread and urgency.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the bad moon a-risin'
I see darkness, despair and misfortune on the horizon
I see trouble on the way
I see imminent danger and difficulty approaching
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see natural disasters and destructive forces at play
I see bad times today
I see a grim, unpleasant present and future
Don't go around tonight
Stay inside and avoid venturing outside during the ominous time
Well it's bound to take your life
It is quite likely that you will suffer fatal consequences
There's a bad moon on the rise
The ominous moon symbolizes and foretells of impending doom
I hear hurricanes a-blowin'
I hear violent winds and storms approaching
I know the end is comin' soon
I am convinced the world is approaching its end soon
I fear rivers over flowin'
I am afraid of rivers overflowing and causing widespread destruction
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
I hear the sound of fury and the destruction it is causing
Hope you got your things together
I hope you have organized and prepared yourself for what is to come
Hope you are quite prepared to die
I hope you have made your peace with your fate and are ready for the end
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
It appears that a terrible storm is approaching
One eye is taken for an eye
Revenge is sought for past wrongs, resulting in further violence and destruction
Don't come around tonight
It is strongly advised that you avoid coming out during this ominous time
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John C. Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joholland1892
I'm 84 but when I play Bad Moon I start dancing in spite of knee pain, arthritis and back pain! I feel 18 again.
@heatherlamb5534
Hello Jo, im 63 and I love bopping to it and I have Arthritus in my knee, a good song. I was 9 when I heard it at the disco
@chrisotto5908
me too and i'm 83
@HeleentheArcane
I'm 15 and I have just discovered this song. This is such a great song!
@twoseriousdogs6762
Half your age and would love to dance with you to this song....
@juliankern4867
Proof this music really does span generations. I'm 18 and feel well, 18 dancing to these amazing men. Hats off to you sir
@andreamifsud9249
My beautiful dad was a Vietnam veteran and absolutely loved this song. We played it at his funeral and I’m sure he was having a boogie to it watching down proud that we incorporated it on his send off ❤️
@hilo6755
A true Democratic 😊
@linneys8246
GOD BLESS ❤❤
@CrossOfBayonne
Upmost respect