Songfacts®: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
In Rolling Stone issue 649, John Fogerty explained that the lyrics were inspired by a movie called The Devil And Daniel Webster, in which a hurricane wipes out most of a town. This is where he got the idea for the words "I feel the hurricane blowin', I hope you're quite prepared to die." Overall, he said the song is about the "apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us."
This became the theme song of the demonstrators during the People's Park riots in Berkeley, California, in 1969.
This was used in two science-fiction movies of the 1980s: An American Werewolf In London (1981) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1982). (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 2)
This contains a classic misheard lyric. The line "There's a bad moon on the rise" is often heard as "There's a bathroom on the right." Not only do many people sing the wrong lyrics, but John Fogerty himself sang the "bathroom on the right" lyric once during the "Premonition" concert. It can be heard after the last verse of the song quite plainly. (thanks, Gene - Hammond, IN)
The music makes this sound like a happy song, but the lyrics are very bleak, describing events that indicate a coming apocalypse.
As a result of this song, American football player Andre Rison's nickname was "Bad Moon," as in "Bad Moon Risin'." Rison was an all-pro wide receiver, but is also famous for having his house burned down by Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes, a singer with TLC who was his girlfriend at the time.
This has been covered by Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, Bo Diddley, Type O Negative, 16 Horsepower, Reels, Spitballs, Blue Aeroplanes, Lagwagon, Battlefield Band, Ducky Boys, Acoustic Shack, Ventures, Meteors, and Rasputina. (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada)
Comments (63):
Get the Ringtone
Get Song @ Amazon
Get the Sheet Music
View Lyrics
The song is also in the Kubrik Movie briefly. It is playing on the Snowcats' radio near the end.
Mr. Fogery, if that is truy you, sir, I'd like to give you a personal thanks. My father and I had very few interests in common. He was into sports and such where as I was more into reading and science fiction, etc. The music of CCR was one thing we both loved and enjoyed together. Thank you so much for that.
You feel the pressure start to growin'
You feel the pressure getting' worse
You feel your bladder overflowin'
You feel a dam about to burst
Don't go against the wall
Just take off down the hall
There's a bathroom on the right
Don't go on the floor
Just move on down two doors
There's a bathroom on the right
You drank a fifth of cheap tequila
You chased it down with shots of gin
You feel your head begin to reelin'
You see the room begin to spin
Don't barf on my shoes
If lunch you're gonna loose
There's a bathroom on the right
Don't throw up on us
Go drive the porcelain bus
There's a bathroom on the right
There's a bathroom on the right
Sure it's "dark"...but so is that Classic Paratrooper's Song "Blood Upon The Risers" with it's cheeky "He Ain't Gonna Jump No More" refrain.
I hum this song to myself whenever I need a "Lift", or when I watch a Huey Helicopter go Whup-Whupping through the summer sky.
Curious.
When a storm such as a hurricane or tornado pass over water they can pick up fish. Thus fish falling from the skin, random as it may be, is a warning of the coming storm.
And I thought the lyrics were actually,"theres a bad moon on the RIGHT",as in Right wing politics repressing the Movement.
Maybe thats just my spin.
J. Fogerty of Lodi if he is the lead singer of the CCR. If it is you I would like to say that I like your voice and your songs very much and that
"Bad Moon Rising" is my favorite one.
dont go around tonight ,its bound to take you life could mean dont go away from the platoon because if you are caught alone there is less of a chance of survival than if you stay with them.
i hear hurricans a blowing, i know the end is coming soon,i fear the rivers over flowing i hear the voice of rage and ruin. ok hurricans could be helocopters,or napalm, mabey more possibly napalm because he states i know death is coming soon the river could be rivers of blood and voice of rage and ruin could be the vietnamease. the lastpart could mean you best be right with god,because you will die for everything we do to them they do back.
i could be very wrong in the analogy of the song but that is what i get from it.someone mentioned paint it black back in the 80's there was a tv show called china beach that was about vietnam just a little fact i thought i would share
The two songs have many similarities. The songs both use a word in the titles that indicate darkness: black and moon. The songs start out with similar lyrics: ?I see a red door ?? and ?I see a bad moon ?? ? same words and same meter. Both songs use death references: ?Paint it black? and ?It?s bound to take your life.? The opening riff of "Paint It Black" also has the same notes as the beginning of the instrumental bridge of "Bad Moon Rising". And, one more influence: The lyrics from "Paint It Black", ?I could not foresee this thing happening to you!?, are replied in "Bad Moon Rising" that say: ?Looks like we?re in for nasty weather!? And, even though the music is vaguely similar, it is more the lyrics that bond these two songs.