Garden Party
John Fogerty Lyrics
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A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
An' over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
I said, hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
An' it's all right now, yeah, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself
The song "Garden Party" by John Fogerty is a reflection of a time when he played at the Garden Party in Madison Square Garden in 1971. The event was supposed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), but it turned out to be a chaotic event that led to his departure from Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). The lyrics describe his experience at the party, where he reunited with old friends and played some old songs. He was surprised that nobody recognized him, and he felt out of place because he looked different than when he was with CCR. He realized that he cannot please everyone, and he has to please himself.
The song reflects John Fogerty's frustration with the music industry and the pressure to conform to expectations. The line "No one heard the music, we didn't look the same" shows how people judge others based on their appearance rather than their talent. The reference to Mr. Hughes disguised in Dylan's shoes is a nod to the music industry's obsession with image, as Howard Hughes was known for his eccentric behavior and reclusive lifestyle.
Overall, "Garden Party" is a song about standing up for oneself and not letting others dictate one's choices. The message is simple: stay true to yourself and do what makes you happy.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
I attended a gathering to remember and relive past experiences with my longtime companions.
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
It was an opportunity to exchange recollections and perform our music once more.
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
Upon arriving at the event, every attendee recognized me by name.
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same
Despite my name being familiar, nobody identified me since my appearance had changed significantly.
But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
Despite my disappointment, I've come to terms with the reality that you can't please everyone and I've gained valuable knowledge from this experience.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
It's impossible to make everyone happy, so it's essential to prioritize your own satisfaction.
And people came from miles around, everyone was there
Individuals came from far and wide as the gathering was a popular event.
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
Even Yoko Ono participated and brought a unique aspect to the event, enhancing the atmosphere.
An' over in the corner, much to my surprise
I encountered a shocking sight, which was unexpectedly located in a corner.
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan's shoes wearing his disguise
Howard Hughes was in disguise, pretending to be Bob Dylan by wearing his shoes as a form of camouflage.
Played them all the old songs, thought that's why they came
I performed all the classic tunes, assuming that's what the attendees desired.
No one heard the music, we didn't look the same
The audience paid no attention to the music, as our appearance had radically changed, rendering them unable to recognize us.
I said, hello to "Mary Lou", she belongs to me
I greeted "Mary Lou", who was a significant figure to me.
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave
The moment I started singing a song about a honky-tonk, it was apparent that it was time to depart.
Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Suddenly, someone opened a closet door, and surprisingly, the iconic musician Johnny B. Goode emerged.
Playing guitar like a-ringin' a bell and lookin' like he should
Johnny B. Goode played his guitar masterfully and looked every part of a rockstar.
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
If you have any future gigs to play at garden parties, I wish you the best of fortune.
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck
If I only reminisced about the past without performing any music, I'd prefer to drive a truck instead.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICKY NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris pritchard
The original Rick Nelson song was memorable. Not many covers come up to standard, but this version is absolutely brilliant..He has added so much without spoiling any of the song, and Greg Leisz's Steel playing was soooo tasteful. Thanks John.
allymayful
He has so much personality in this voice. An amazing story teller in song.
NoBs
You hit that assessment right on the proverbial head... very true to the original without spoiling it. I'm not sure if Ricky's version hit Gold but it certainly was one of his more memorable songs.. just listen to the words.. Ricky and Fogerty did a great job telling the story...
Adrian M.
👍👌🙏💖✝️💕🇺🇲🎸 WOW! Love this masterpiece. Rock on John Fogerty 🙏
my02warrior
Fogerty does not know how to make lousy music! I am fortunate, I saw CCR in concert 6 months before the band split,...and he is still rocking!!!
_cloudiiskxy_
That’s awesome
Harri Joy
Outstanding cover, just an upgrade as they say these days
One master paying tribute to another
Adrian M.
👍👌💖✝️🙏💕🇺🇸🎸Esto se llama música real, a diferencia de la basura de hoy. Clásico atemporal. Un gran saludo, gran respeto y reverencia a la leyenda viviente John Fogerty, el rockero más grande de nuestra generación. Mi melodía favorita de todos los tiempos.
Raimunda Caldeira
Estó sin emusica de verdade
Alex Cika
Man this is an absolutely great version , Hard to top Ricky Nelson's original version but this is Damn close