These members played together since 1959, first as The Blue Velvets, then as The Golliwogs. Their musical style encompassed the roots rock, swamp rock, and blues rock genres. They played in a Southern rock style, despite their San Francisco Bay Area origin, with lyrics about bayous, catfish, the Mississippi River, and other popular elements of Southern United States iconography, as well as political and socially conscious lyrics about topics including the Vietnam War. The band performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Upstate New York.
The group disbanded acrimoniously in late 1972 after four years of chart-topping success. Tom Fogerty had officially left the previous year, and his brother John was at odds with the remaining members over matters of business and artistic control, all of which resulted in subsequent lawsuits among the former bandmates. Fogerty's ongoing disagreements with Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz created further protracted court battles, and John Fogerty refused to perform with the two other surviving members at CCR's 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Creedence Clearwater Revival's music is still a staple of US radio airplay; the band has sold 26 million albums in the United States alone. Rolling Stone ranked them 82nd on its Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.
John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook met at Portola Junior High School in El Cerrito, California. Calling themselves the Blue Velvets, the trio began playing instrumentals and "juke box standards", as well as backing Fogerty's older brother Tom at live gigs and in the recording studio. Tom soon joined the band, and in 1964 they signed with Fantasy Records, an independent jazz label in San Francisco that had released Cast Your Fate To The Wind, a national hit for jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. The record's success was the subject of a National Educational Television special, which prompted budding songwriter John Fogerty to contact the label. For the band's first release, Fantasy co-owner Max Weiss renamed the group the Golliwogs (after the children's literary character, Golliwogg).
Bandmembers' roles and the instruments they played changed during this period. Stu Cook switched from piano to bass guitar and Tom Fogerty from lead vocals to rhythm guitar; John became the band's lead vocalist and primary songwriter. In Tom Fogerty's words: "I could sing, but John had a sound!".
Don't Look Now
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take a leaf and grow it to a tree?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
Who will work the field with his hands?
Who will put his back to the plough?
Who'll take the mountain and give it to the sea?
[CHORUS:]
Don't Look Now, someone's done your starvin';
Don't Look Now, someone's done your prayin' too.
Who will make the shoes for your feet?
Who will make the clothes that you wear?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
[CHORUS]
Who will take the coal from the mines?
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
The lyrics of "Don't Look Now" by Creedence Clearwater Revival contain a series of rhetorical questions that speak about the struggles of the working class. The questions highlight the importance of the manual labor force that keeps society functioning, but are met with a resigned answer, "Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me." It brings up the idea that while the manual labor force is necessary for the functioning of society, it is often undervalued and unappreciated. The first verse speaks about mining coal and harvesting salt, which are the most tiring and tedious jobs, but are essential for the smooth functioning of industries. The second verse talks about agricultural work and the transformation of the ecosystem. The chorus, "Don't Look Now, someone's done your starvin'/ prayin' too", provides a bitter commentary on the fact that the wealthy exploit the poor only to then take on a spiritual high ground.
The third verse highlights the importance of the textile industry, which involves creating products that are essential to everyday life. The line, "Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?" is particularly striking, as it refers to the capitalist promises of a world where everyone has access to the basic necessities of life, like sufficient clothing, only to leave many still lacking. The song, as a whole, represents a powerful political statement against the capitalist system that exploits and undervalues the manual labor force.
Line by Line Meaning
Who will take the coal from the mine?
Who will do the challenging work of mining coal?
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who will extract salt from the earth?
Who'll take a leaf and grow it to a tree?
Who will nurture a small thing and help it grow into something greater?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
We are not the ones who will do these things, so don't worry about it.
Who will work the field with his hands?
Who will till the soil and plant crops?
Who will put his back to the plough?
Who will work hard and tirelessly to achieve something?
Who'll take the mountain and give it to the sea?
Who will perform seemingly impossible feats of strength and move mountains?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
We are not capable of these things, so don't get too caught up in our limitations.
[CHORUS:]
The start of the chorus.
Don't Look Now, someone's done your starvin';
Don't worry about going hungry because someone else has already taken care of it.
Don't Look Now, someone's done your prayin' too.
Someone has already prayed for your needs so don't worry about it.
Who will make the shoes for your feet?
Who will manufacture the shoes that you wear?
Who will make the clothes that you wear?
Who will produce your clothing?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Who will take an unfulfilled promise off of your plate and handle it for you?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
We are not responsible for these things, so there's no need to worry about them.
[CHORUS]
The chorus is repeated.
Who will take the coal from the mines?
Who will mine the coal?
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who will extract salt from the earth?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Who will relieve you of unfulfilled promises and their associated stress?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
We can't do these things, so let's not worry about them.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JOHN FOGERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephencoomer5692
Who will take the coal from the mine?
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take a leaf and grow it to a tree?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
Who will work the field with his hands?
Who will put his back to the plough?
Who'll take the mountain and give it to the sea?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
[CHORUS:]
Don't Look Now, someone's done your starvin';
Don't Look Now, someone's done your prayin' too.
Who will make the shoes for your feet?
Who will make the clothes that you wear?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
[CHORUS]
Who will take the coal from the mines?
Who will take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't Look Now, it ain't you or me.
@TheMarian88
¿Quién tomará el carbón de la mina?
¿Quién tomará la sal de la tierra?
¿Quién tomará una hoja y la convertirá en un árbol?
No mires ahora, no somos ni tú ni yo
¿Quién va a trabajar el campo con las manos?
¿Quién le pondrá la espalda al arado?
¿Quién tomará la montaña y la echará al mar?
No mires ahora, no somos ni tú ni yo
No mires ahora, alguien ha muerto de hambre
No mires ahora, alguien también ha hecho tu oración
¿Quién hará los zapatos para tus pies?
¿Quién hará la ropa que usas?
¿Quién hará la promesa que no vas a cumplir?
No mires ahora, no somos tú ni yo
No mires ahora, alguien ha muerto de hambre
No mires ahora, alguien también ha hecho tu oración
¿Quién tomará el carbón de las minas?
¿Quién tomará la sal de la tierra?
¿Quién hará la promesa que no vas a cumplir?
No mires ahora, no somos ni tú ni yo
@kassylune
A 19-year-old girl listening to the best music of the times
@fernandonovarosas6513
Bella❤
@partyxplays
Turning 20 in a few months and I have to say, I think I was born in the wrong destination
@ninus17
23 y’er Old guy here. Compleetly agree. They just dont make good Music like This any more
@AndreBeukesZA
Me (20) and my great uncle (late 80s) often used to listen to creedence and sing along in the old battered up car. I still do but my uncle is in a very bad space physically and mentally. This is going onto his playlist on the laptop I bought him.
He has been more than a father figure in my teen years and I really hope this cheers him up.
@edwardpootchemunka8027
One of the greatest band of all time❤❤
@jamesbradshaw3389
Man o Women O Child what a song, words written by a deeply thoughtful, wise and kind caring man called John Fogerty, this is the type of song that a much older person would write after working long hard years and living through many troubled and sad / bad times but a person who has a good life and who cared for others
@irisyiannoulis5992
what a song...I cannot stop playing it. I have been a fan of CCR for many decades but have never heard this wonderful song....I just LOVE it !!!!!
@margaritaresta6390
Me too, never lesson that song so sweet 😊
@elligilberg1564
Same here!