The song has been singled out for critical praise, with music journalist Steven Hyden calling it "the most rockin' song of all time." Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as a "claustrophobic, paranoid rocker" whose lengthy instrumental section "was dramatic and had a direction," unlike some others. Brett Milano of udiscovermusic.com rated Fogerty's guitar solo as one of the 100 all-time greatest, stating that "he poured on the tension and the distortion, delivering a monster sound from the deep swamps." On the other hand, Rolling Stone Magazine critic John Grissim considered "Ramble Tamble" to be the only "unsatisfying" song on Cosmo's Factory.
"Ramble Tamble" developed from parts of the original version of an earlier Creedence Clearwater Revival song, "Commotion". A southern rock song, it begins and ends with rockabilly elements, and contains a psychedelic rock breakdown lasting four minutes.
Ramble Tamble
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the road I go
Move
Down the road I go
There's mud in the water
Roach in the cellar
Bugs in the sugar
Mortgage on the home
There's garbage on the sidewalk
Highways in the backyard
Police on the corner
Mortgage on the car
Mortgage on the car
Move
Down the road I go
They're sellin' independence
Actors in the White House
Acid indigestion
Mortgage on my life
Mortgage on my life
Move
Down the road I go
Ramble tamble
Ramble tamble
Ramble tamble
The lyrics of "Ramble Tamble" by Creedence Clearwater Revival reflects the feeling of being trapped in a life full of struggles and responsibilities that never seem to fade away. The repetitive "move, down the road, I go" in the chorus implies a desire to leave one's current situation and start anew. The verses then go on to list the various troubles that are holding the singer down, such as mud in the water, bugs in the sugar, and mortgages on everything from the home to the car. The imagery of garbage on the sidewalk and highways in the backyard suggests a sense of decay and neglect in the singer's environment, which is further confirmed by the presence of police on the corner.
The lyrics also hint at the dissatisfaction and disillusionment that the singer feels towards the government and society as a whole. The line "they're selling independence, actors in the white house" suggests that the concept of freedom has been commercialized and corrupted, while the mention of "acid in digestion" might be a reference to the widespread recreational drug use during the time the song was written. Overall, "Ramble Tamble" conveys a sense of frustration and longing for something better, while also acknowledging the harsh realities of life that cannot be escaped easily.
Line by Line Meaning
Move,
Let's get going
Down the road
We're leaving and heading somewhere
I go.
I'm going wherever the path leads me
There's mud in the water,
The water is dirty and polluted
Roach in the cellar,
There are pests and bugs infesting the home
Bugs in the sugar,
Even the food is contaminated and spoiled
Mortgage on the home,
The home is not fully owned and still under mortgage
Mortgage on the home.
Again, the home is not fully owned and still under mortgage
There's garbage on the sidewalk,
The streets and sidewalks are dirty and littered
Highways in the backyard,
The noise and pollution from highways are ruining the backyard
Police on the corner,
There's a heavy police presence and possibly a feeling of oppression
Mortgage on the car,
The car is also not fully owned and still under mortgage
Mortgage on the car.
Again, the car is not fully owned and still under mortgage
They're selling independence,
The idea of independence is being marketed and sold, but it may not be achievable
Actors in the White House,
There are politicians playing a role and not being truthful
Acid indigestion,
The stress of these problems is causing physical discomfort
Mortgage on my life,
The feeling that life is burdened by financial obligations
Mortgage on my life.
Again, the feeling that life is burdened by financial obligations
Ramble tamble tamble
The repetition of these words symbolizes a sense of chaos and confusion in one's life
Ramble tamble tamble
The repetition of these words symbolizes a sense of chaos and confusion in one's life
Ramble tamble tamble
The repetition of these words symbolizes a sense of chaos and confusion in one's life
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
huhnerhai
The older I get, the more I love CCR.
My personal list of their best 10 songs (and there are so much more):
1 - Ramble Tamble
2 - Pagan Baby
3 - Bad Moon Rising
4 - Green River
5 - Suzy Q
6 - I heard it through the Grapevine
7 - Born on the Bayou
8 - Run through the Jungle
9 - Long as I can see the Light
10 - Lookin' out my Back Door
Valerio Fabbroni
1 - Ramble Tamble
2 - Up Around the Bend
3 - Fortunate Son
4 - Effigy
5 - Keep on Chooglin'
6 - Suzie Q
7 - Who'll Stop the Rain
8 - I Heard It Through the Grapevine
9 - Green River
10 - Born on the Bayou
KostaF64
When people ask me "do you prefer Beatles or Rolling Stones?" my answer is always the same: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Alain Algorta
I like them both but Ramble Tamble from 1'53 to 5'33 had also and always sound "Beatles" to me ;)
T4TEXASTOM JOHNNYCAT
KostaF64
Exactly! 👍
Tullio Moras
KostaF64, great! Beatles and RS are nothing compared to CCR!
Kenny Huskisson
KostaF64 Right answer! you get an A plus for that!
mkwrockers0099
This is my favorite CCR song. It’s just so haunting and beautiful. Starts out jamming, then goes into this trippy, almost progressive rock like middle section that gives me goosebumps when John comes in at 3:45 and strikes that gorgeous bended note over and over, then back into jamming again. Just awesome
Amanda Thomas
It’s my favorite too. I’ve loved it ever since I was a small child, listening on headphones that seemed giant at the time. I’d forgotten it. I’m so glad to find it again. Layers of meaning added on. The simplest guitar solo, but the guitar sings, so haunting. it’s so mournful. then it goes back to “the song.” “oh well. So be it. Time get up and carry on.” Move. down the road I go. What an incredible song.
Kerpin09
One my favourites as well. I was crazy about the “chronicle “ greatest hits stuff then at some point got to borrow the original albums from my friends Dad . This came on and I was stunned.
Tony Walker
Great critique.
Beth Omara
It was a very trippy song!