Down on the Corner
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Early in the evenin' just about supper time
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind
Four kids on the corner tryin' to bring you up
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while
Poor Boy twangs the rhythm out on his kalamazoo
And Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
You don't need a penny just to hang around
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise
People come from all around to watch the magic boy
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out in the street
Willy and the Poor Boys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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This song tells the story of a fictional jug band, Willy and the Poor Boys, who were street musicians "playing for nickels, can't be beat." The name of the jug band was also the name of CCR's fourth straight million-selling album.
On the cover, the "band" is seen down on the corner performing to a (very) small crowd outside the Duck Kee Market. This location had no real significance except it just happened to be half a block from the recording studio. Read Full BioThis song tells the story of a fictional jug band, Willy and the Poor Boys, who were street musicians "playing for nickels, can't be beat." The name of the jug band was also the name of CCR's fourth straight million-selling album.
On the cover, the "band" is seen down on the corner performing to a (very) small crowd outside the Duck Kee Market. This location had no real significance except it just happened to be half a block from the recording studio. John Fogerty recalls only ever going in there one time, and that was some time after the album's release.
Just as The Beatles took the role of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Creedence became Willy And The Poorboys for this album. This is the only song that played to the concept, but CCR appeared on the cover as the fictional band. The Willy And The Poorboys persona suited the group, as they really were a basic, hardworking band who paid their dues before hitting it big. They sold the jug band theme by performing this song with a washtub bass and washboard.
John Fogerty did all the singing on this. He recorded a bunch of vocal tracks that were overdubbed to create the effect that he was harmonizing with himself.
The line in this song, "Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo" is often misheard. A journalist named Phil Elwood thought the last part of the line was "Devil's on the loose," and published it in a newspaper article. John Fogerty got a big kick out of this, and as a nod to Elwood, put this line into the CCR song "Run Through the Jungle".
John Fogerty claims that bassist Stu Cook couldn't play the bass properly for the song. "Eventually, we spent six weeks rehearsing the song, but Stu still couldn't do it when we got to the recording session," Fogerty says in Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music. The problem, according to the CCR frontman, was that Cook had no rhythm. This led to a tense moment in the studio, but they eventually managed to get the song down.
On the cover, the "band" is seen down on the corner performing to a (very) small crowd outside the Duck Kee Market. This location had no real significance except it just happened to be half a block from the recording studio. Read Full BioThis song tells the story of a fictional jug band, Willy and the Poor Boys, who were street musicians "playing for nickels, can't be beat." The name of the jug band was also the name of CCR's fourth straight million-selling album.
On the cover, the "band" is seen down on the corner performing to a (very) small crowd outside the Duck Kee Market. This location had no real significance except it just happened to be half a block from the recording studio. John Fogerty recalls only ever going in there one time, and that was some time after the album's release.
Just as The Beatles took the role of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Creedence became Willy And The Poorboys for this album. This is the only song that played to the concept, but CCR appeared on the cover as the fictional band. The Willy And The Poorboys persona suited the group, as they really were a basic, hardworking band who paid their dues before hitting it big. They sold the jug band theme by performing this song with a washtub bass and washboard.
John Fogerty did all the singing on this. He recorded a bunch of vocal tracks that were overdubbed to create the effect that he was harmonizing with himself.
The line in this song, "Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo" is often misheard. A journalist named Phil Elwood thought the last part of the line was "Devil's on the loose," and published it in a newspaper article. John Fogerty got a big kick out of this, and as a nod to Elwood, put this line into the CCR song "Run Through the Jungle".
John Fogerty claims that bassist Stu Cook couldn't play the bass properly for the song. "Eventually, we spent six weeks rehearsing the song, but Stu still couldn't do it when we got to the recording session," Fogerty says in Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music. The problem, according to the CCR frontman, was that Cook had no rhythm. This led to a tense moment in the studio, but they eventually managed to get the song down.
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Max
I've been looking for this song since 2010. I remember being in the car, I was 2 and I heard this song and I loved it. I remembered the song for years and never heard the song again and couldn't find which song it was. On December 2019, I was at Mexico visiting my grandparents and I had just woken up and the classic rock station was on this radio and this song was playing. I remembered the title 'Down on the corner" and didn't search it up on YouTube because there was no WiFi over there. I got back last month from Mexico but forgot to search it, but here I am. Finally found this beautiful song! I love Credence Clearwater Revival but never knew this song was by them!
A
I can remember the first time I heard many songs from a very early age too but prob about 5. 2's amazing 👏🏽!
Coyote OnPeyote
Holy shit, I heard this in my dads car at like 7 and heard it on the radio too, I only found it when my dad got this CD with 500 rock songs on it at like 19
jack ( not really jack)straw from wichita
Try CCR 'S greatest hits vol 1 and 2. Every song (and losts of them) is as good as this or better. Great band!! Happy NewYear
Rick Garner
Smart
Ryan L
That bass line is so simple but so perfect. And what a chorus. Great song.
Perry Comeau
Never under estimate B flat
Sam Romano
@devo96 it’s the type of song that You’re not embarrassed to sing in public.
devo96
This song is simple and just fun to play like music should be
Richard Smith
CCR- never get tired of hearing their songs.