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John Fogerty: "There were so many more people I'd never heard of - like Charlie Patton (an early Delta bluesman). I'm ashamed to admit that, but he wasn't commercially accessible, I guess. I read about him, and about a month or two later, I realized there were recordings of his music. To me, that was like if Moses had left behind a DAT with the Dead Sea Scrolls or something! 'You mean you can hear him?! Oh my God!' And then when I did hear Patton, he sounded like Howlin' Wolf, who was a big influence on me. When I did 'Run Through the Jungle,' I was being Howlin' Wolf, and Howlin' Wolf knew Charlie Patton!"
This opens with jungle sound effects created by, according to Stu Cook, "lots of backwards recorded guitar and piano."
This is often believed to be about the Vietnam War, as it referred to a "jungle" and was released in 1970. The fact that previous CCR songs such as "Who'll Stop the Rain?" and "Fortunate Son" were protests of the Vietnam War added to this theory. In response, John Fogerty said: "I think a lot of people thought that because of the times, but I was talking about America and the proliferation of guns, registered and otherwise. I'm a hunter and I'm not antigun, but I just thought that people were so gun-happy -- and there were so many guns uncontrolled that it really was dangerous, and it's even worse now. It's interesting that it has taken 20-odd years to get a movement on that position."
This was used in the 1998 film Radiofreccia.
Former CCR executive Saul Zaentz claimed that the song "The Old Man Down the Road," which Fogerty released as a solo artist, was too similar to this song, and even took him to court. It was perhaps the first time an artist was sued for plagiarizing himself. Fogerty won that case, but Zaentz also sued him for his song "Zanz Kant Danz," professing that it was an attack on him. Zaentz won that case and Fogerty not only had to pay a fine, but also had to change the song's name to "Vanz Kant Danz." Interestingly, "Run Through the Jungle" mentions Satan, "The Old Man Down The Road" mentions God.
This was released as the B-side to the single for "Up Around the Bend," which was released in April and quickly went gold.
John Fogerty played the harmonica part. Like the vocals on "Down on the Corner," he recorded it after recording the actual song and dubbed it in, because it went from harmonica to vocals so quickly and he couldn't remove the harmonica from his mouth fast enough. John also played harmonica on his solo effort The Wall (not to be confused with the Pink Floyd album).
The Gun Club covered this for their album Miami, although with different lyrics because vocalist and band leader Jerry Pierce couldn't understand what John Fogerty was singing. He took some lyrics from black slavery songs, a Willie Brown song and personal experience (a heroin overdose is mentioned). They first performed it at a friend's birthday party before they were persuaded to include it on the album.
Besides Gun Club, this has been covered by Bruce Springsteen, Georgia Satellites, 8 Eyed Spy, Los Lobos and Killdozer.
Tom Fogerty: "My all-time favorite Creedence tune... It's like a little movie in itself with all the sound effects. It never changes key, but it holds your interest the whole time. It's like a musician's dream. It never changes key, yet you get the illusion it does." (thanks, Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for all above)
Comments (19):
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Although the "Gooks" never appeared and we never got drafted, I joined the Air Force, one joined the Army, and two became Marines.
We never look back on those times withought laughing at those times and being proud of being able to serve. We do get stared at, and saluted, but we always give back everything with a smile.
"Forever indebted to the freedoms we will fight for without hesitation."
Our friendship motto to this day is, "DONT LOOK BACK CAUSE SATAN CRIES FAIR GAME !!!".
You see Fogerty's mention of Charlie Patton.
Not very long ago, Fogerty himself saw that Patton would at last have a proper grave marker, financing it personally as his own moving tribute, and you can see what that marker looks at over on findagrage.com.
Not spamming, just informing those who might be curious.
I can't say I agree much with Fogerty's politics, but THAT was a truly classy move right there.
those who lived it will never forget....definitely the proverbial nail in the coffin to the turbulent sixties....
However, when I have watched it every time since on TV, this scene has a different song behind it. I can't remember the song though.
Can anybody throw any light on this and tell me why the scene was changed?
Just started playing this & "Have you ever seen the rain" in my band, absolutely love playing them. Not sure if anybody listening enjoys them, but who cares; we're having a great time !!