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!".
Tearin' Up The Country
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playin' where my roller derby rolls.
Just a part time music man, a nobody at the plant,
I'm tearin' up the country with a song.
Mom and papa told me "son, you gotta go to school;
Only way to make the fam'ly proud."
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
Tearin' up the country with a song.
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
Rather play my music real loud.
Play it loud, now! woo!
Tearin' up the country with a song.
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
Rather play my music real loud.
Ran into a dry spell, seemed nowhere to go.
Good luck turned the tide, I'm on my way.
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
Tearin' up the country with a song.
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I'm tearin' up the country with a song.
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
The lyrics of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Tearin' Up The Country" tells the story of a man who is pursuing his passion for music despite the disapproval of his parents. The singer describes himself as a "part-time music man" and "a nobody at the plant" who is playing in a pavilion on the outskirts of town, where his roller derby rolls. He acknowledges that his parents wanted him to go to school to make the family proud, but he paid no attention to their advice and chose to play his music loud.
The singer's determination and hard work have paid off, and he finds himself on the road, tearing up the country with his song. He says that he's on his way, thanks to good luck that turned the tide. He remembers loading big trucks under the hot summer sun and acknowledges that he could still be doing that type of work, but he's not because he's pursuing his passion. The repetition of the chorus "Tearin' up the country with a song" reinforces the idea that the man is making a name for himself through his music, no matter how small or insignificant he may have felt before.
The lyrics of "Tearin' Up The Country" emphasize following one's dreams and sticking to one's passions. Despite disapproval from those who want him to follow the traditional path of going to school and getting a job, the singer chooses to pursue his passion for music. He ultimately finds success, suggesting that hard work and dedication to one's dreams can pay off.
Line by Line Meaning
Playin' a pavilion on the outskirts of town,
I am performing at a pavilion located far from the city center
Playin' where my roller derby rolls.
I am performing at a place where roller derby games take place
Just a part-time music man, a nobody at the plant,
I am a musician with a day job and no status at work
I'm tearin' up the country with a song.
I am touring and playing music all over the country
Mom and papa told me "son, you gotta go to school;
My parents advised me to go to school
Only way to make the fam'ly proud."
They believed education was the key to success and honor
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
I ignored their advice and refused to study
Rather play my music real loud.
I would rather play my music at high volumes
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am traveling and playing music all over the country
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am touring and playing music all over the country
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
I ignored their advice and refused to study
Rather play my music real loud.
I would rather play my music at high volumes
Play it loud, now! woo!
Encouraging his fellow bandmates to play loud
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am touring and playing music all over the country
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am traveling and playing music all over the country
I paid no attention, left my books at home,
I ignored their advice and refused to study
Rather play my music real loud.
I would rather play my music at high volumes
Ran into a dry spell, seemed nowhere to go.
I hit a period of creative drought with no clear way forward
Good luck turned the tide, I'm on my way.
Fortunately, my luck changed and I am now on a successful path
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
I recall having a job loading trucks during hot summer days
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
I could have stayed in that job, but I chose to pursue music instead
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am touring and playing music all over the country
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am traveling and playing music all over the country
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
I recall having a job loading trucks during hot summer days
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
I chose to pursue music instead of staying in that job
Tearin' up the country with a song.
I am touring and playing music all over the country
I'm tearin' up the country with a song.
I am traveling and playing music all over the country
I remember loadin' big trucks when the summer sun was hot,
I recall having a job loading trucks during hot summer days
You know I could still be there, but I'm not.
I chose to pursue music instead of staying in that job
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DOUG CLIFFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
psychkoala
I dig it. Like the feel, kind of loose. Great guitar playing.
Bob Bender
Pretty good song not the greatest vocalist in the world but had that real country feel and it's good that John Fogerty found let these two other guys out of boxes he had them in Shuffle most part it was absolutely necessary
Kidd Oldman
I've always liked this song. Thanks for sharing!
Captain Moretokin
Love it
margus kiis
It is a most popular CCR song in Estonia as Estonian superstar band Apelsin made Estonian hit version "Sõber võta üles viis" 1976.
Bob Laublaw
John never liked this album, but I loved it. Thanks for sharing.
logawinner
It is fine but not as good
Александр Климанов
Прекрасный альбом 1972года!!!
John Doe
tearing up the state to get on my grandma's house. 4 hours of travel listening CCR.
mws755
Doug is by far a better singer than Stu lol