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!".
It's Just A Thought
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I've noticed somethin' strange,
Gettin' harder to explain;
All the years are passin' bye and bye,
Still I don't know what makes it go;
Who said to wait and you'll see?
It's just a thought
That the song up there is you.
They can't take it from you
If you don't give it away;
Don't give it away; ooh (it's given away.)
It's just a thought
But the word has come too late
That a bad idea will take
Just about a lifetime to explain,
And don't you see,
Good one's gonna be much longer;
Who's gonna wait, just to see?
In the song It's Just A Thought, Creedence Clearwater Revival muses upon the concept of time and how it passes by without a real understanding of what drives it. The lyrics speak to an awareness that something strange is happening but it's becoming increasingly difficult to express. Through the uncertainty of time, the band acknowledges that there is something special about all of us that cannot be taken away. It speaks to the notion that our unique qualities and attributes are not to be given away but rather to be cherished.
The line "don't you see, good one's gonna be much longer" highlights the idea of longevity and how it's supposed to be natural for good things to last. However, the concept of time may be the only thing standing in its way. The lyrics are intended to make the listener reflect on the preciousness of time and how it can be utilized to embrace the things that bring us joy, instead of letting life pass by. It is a powerful message that encourages us to hold onto the things that make us happy, as they are the things that define us.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a thought
This idea is not fully formed or fleshed out
But I've noticed somethin' strange,
I've observed something unusual
Gettin' harder to explain;
It's becoming more difficult to articulate
All the years are passin' bye and bye,
Time is moving on quickly
Still I don't know what makes it go;
I don't understand the root of the phenomenon
Who said to wait and you'll see?
Why should we wait to discover the answer?
But I wondered if you knew
I'm curious if you're aware of this
That the song up there is you.
The music is a reflection of your soul
They can't take it from you
Others cannot take away your inner essence
If you don't give it away;
As long as you hold on to it
Don't give it away; ooh (it's given away.)
Don't surrender it to others or it will be lost
But the word has come too late
We've received this message too belatedly
That a bad idea will take
An unsound notion will be persistent
Just about a lifetime to explain,
It could take a very long time to rectify the consequences
And don't you see,
Can't you understand
Good one's gonna be much longer;
A worthwhile effort will require even more effort
Who's gonna wait, just to see?
Why would anyone have patience to wait and find out?
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JOHN FOGERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jerryjohnson4625
Got this LP in 71 ,52 years ago. Sheesh ! Always liked this album , also loved the jacket. It disappeared somewhere along life's road , but I just found it today on eBay , says it's in very good condition , so CCR is coming my way once again .
@carloscosta1923
This song is simply extraordinary, the arragement, the bass, the guitar and of course the John Fogerty's VOICE.
@jefffogertymusic2023
The guitar is my dad, Uncle John is playing keys and singing. The 1 song that dad played his Les Paul on.
@decristo1021
Wow! What a family history….always thought it sad that they seemed to have a rupture that never healed…..did you read that new book on ccr? I think it’s called wrote a song for everyone….if so did you find it accurate ?
@carloscosta1923
@@decristo1021 I did'nt read this book. I read the John Fogerty's autobiography "Fortunate Son - My Life, My Music. He was extremely honest I think. I recommend you to read it.
@jefffogertymusic2023
@@carloscosta1923 there are some very bad inaccurate information in Uncle John's book. Hank Bordowitz book is really clear... haven't read the newest one yet.
@carlosalbertodacosta8953
@@jefffogertymusic2023 Dear Jeff Fogerty, thanks for the answer. I read Hank Bordowitz book long time ago. I'll read it again. Good Fortune!
@mikewebb2254
WOW...a flood of memories cruising around all night smokin pot and drinking frozen Coke and Old Charter...lol
@andyboerger
I love this song! The organ, the bass line, the drum outro, the contemplative, longing atmosphere. It's perfection!
@richardsepulvado6918
This song and Someday Never Comes are so underrated.