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!".
sailor
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody got to me last night, (shame, it's a shame.)
Sat down for a friendly duel, (shame, it's a shame.)
With one-eyed jacks 'n' jokers, too, (shame, it's a shame.)
[Chorus:]
Ooh, sailor man, (shame, it's a shame.)
Ooh, sailor man. (shame, it's a shame.)
Poormouth Henry turned on me, (shame, it's a shame.)
Said, "boy, I'm gonna pick you clean." (shame, it's a shame.)
[Chorus:]
Oh!
Henry said, "don't you mess that pile," (shame, it's a shame.)
Had three aces 'n' he had five. (shame, it's a shame.)
[Chorus:]
Shame, it's a shame.
(repeat 5x)
The lyrics of "Sailor's Lament" by Creedence Clearwater Revival tell the story of a sailor who woke up feeling light after somebody got to him the night before. He then sits down for a friendly card game with one-eyed jacks and jokers, only to be confronted by "Poormouth" Henry, who threatens to "pick him clean." The sailor laments his misfortune, repeating the phrase "shame, it's a shame" throughout the song.
The song is about the struggles of a sailor, who is faced with the constant threat of being robbed or cheated. The sailor's lament expresses his frustration with the harsh realities of life at sea, where he must always be on guard against those who would take advantage of his vulnerability. The repeated use of the phrase "shame, it's a shame" emphasizes the sailor's sense of helplessness in the face of his circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up early feelin' light,
Feeling shame and regret for his actions, the singer wakes up early with a heavy conscience.
Somebody got to me last night,
The singer was influenced or convinced to do something against his better judgement.
Sat down for a friendly duel,
Despite knowing the risks, the singer took part in a game with others where the outcome was uncertain.
With one-eyed jacks 'n' jokers, too,
The artist was playing against people who were cunning and deceptive.
Ooh, sailor man,
Expressing empathy and shared experience with other sailors who have made similar mistakes and face similar challenges.
Ooh, sailor man.
Repeating the expression to emphasize the shared bond and struggle of sailors.
Poormouth Henry turned on me,
Henry, who may have seemed harmless, betrayed the singer by turning on him.
Said, "boy, I'm gonna pick you clean."
Henry threatened the artist by promising to take everything he had.
Oh!
An exclamation of disappointment, surprise, or anger at the turn of events.
Henry said, "don't you mess that pile,"
Henry warned the artist not to interfere with his winnings.
Had three aces 'n' he had five.
Henry had a better hand and more cards than the singer, giving him an advantage in the game.
Shame, it's a shame.
The chorus repeats to emphasize the feeling of shame and disappointment at the outcome of the game.
(repeat 5x)
The chorus is repeated five times to drive home the message of shame and regret for the singer's actions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J. FOGERTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ettoretavilla3081
Cover art for Sailor’s Lament by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Sailor’s Lament
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Track 2 on
Pendulum
Produced by
John Fogerty
Release Date
December 7, 1970
Sailor’s Lament Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Woke up early feeling light (Shame, it's a shame)
Somebody got to me last night (Shame, it's a shame)
Sat down for a friendly duel (Shame, it's a shame)
With one-eyed jacks and jokers, too (Shame, it's a shame)
[Chorus]
Ooh, sailor man (Shame, it's a shame) [x2]
Verse 2]
Poormouth Henry turned on me (Shame, it's a shame)
Said, "Boy, I'm going to pick you clean." (Shame, it's a shame)
[Chorus]
Oh!
[Verse 3]
Henry said, "Don't you mess that pile" (Shame, it's a shame)
Had three aces and he had five (Shame, it's a shame)
[Chorus]
[Outro]
Shame, it's a shame [x5]
@t4texastom587
I'm certainly not a rock music critic, just leftover CCR fan from the 1960s who bought their very first 45 rpm record, SuzieQ......and subsiqient album, and of course all 45s and albums following.
In '68, '69, '70, '71, & '72, there was absolutely no bigger Creedence fan than myself.
In my honest opinion, the downfall of Creedence Clearwater Revival began with this album...... PENDULUM.
As everyone knows, the preceding album, COSMO'S FACTORY, was IMO the greatest studio recorded album in rocknroll history. So ANY album following it was no question facing a huge challenge.
To me, there were 4 great recordings.....
Pagen Baby
Hey Tonight
Molina
Born To Move
The rest of these songs, while good songs and well written..... just don't match up with anything previously recorded by CCR. The change in sound & style was simply too radical. Too much organ & horns.... while straying away from the guitar & harmonica swamp blues & countrified rockabilly sound that made them the No. 1 rocknroll band in the world.
There SHOULD have been a COSMO'S FACTORY - Vol. 2......
or something very much akin to it. I know that hindsight is always 20/20, but the pathetic album Mardi Gras, was not the undoing of Creedence Clearwater Revival.....
the start of their descent was with the album Pendulum.🎸
@borysdzyndra5331
Back in the early 1970's our band use to use this song to warm up in practice before getting started. I'm the last one left from our band (Tombstone) from Yorktown, NY. Miss you all my friends. Rock On!
@millerbuggins5884
I grew up in the late 60's n 70's with CCR, still love them!
@bennyjazzful
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan.
@rguerke
Tenho esse LP original meu Pai comprou, eu tinha 11 anos, guardo ele até hoje.
@12195107
Mon premier groupe préféré...!!! ...Immenses souvenirs !!!!...Un pur bonheur... Thanks amigos
@ilariodimarco7760
Uno dei tra i più BELLI Album degli anni 70' e non solo.....Gruppo Straordinariamente COMPLETO.....con una delle più BELLE voci del panorama musicale....in pratica uno strumento in più della Band......INDIMENTICABILI
@breffnipark
" somebody got to me last night " ...
John Fogerty and CCR .... Simply The Best !!!!!!!!!!!!!
@locks1175
Love CCR. Always will, forever.
@dekum6826
This song played on the radio when I was 10 in 1988 I have never forgot it and allways loved it.
@jimiworkhorse2212
Deejay Must Have been a Creedence Fan that he Played it
or a Rare Request by a die-hard Creedence fan