Don't Look Now (It Ain't You or Me) by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Album: Willy and the Poor Boys (1970)

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Songfacts®:

This song was written by group leader John Fogerty. It asks: Since no one in society wants to do the dirty jobs necessary for its existence, such as mine the coal or work the plow, who will?
John Fogerty said of this song: "There were things going on in the country that upset me, but having grown up in the 'hippie' generation, there were a lot of things about my own generation that upset me as well. The song 'Don't Look Now' was trying to address that. It wasn't that I was a fence rider, it was just that some stuff was getting out of hand." (From Bad Moon Rising: The Unofficial History of Creedence Clearwater Revivial.)

Comments: 6

Ken from MarylandI interpreted it as; we are all capable of doing these things ourselves and mutually taking care of our community members who cannot. As an ideal society- instead of the current one where these laborers are exploited and everyone else mostly does useless jobs.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaOne of my very fav Fogerty tunes. Wish I could tell him thanks for it. For some reason it reminds me of something the late Jim Croce would have written.
Jay from Grinnell, IaI haven't been here for some time. Funny to discover that I had left a comment here. I like what I wrote, except for the last sentence. I don't know what the heck I meant by that. Anyway, I would just like to add that I believe that socialism is the devil in disguise.
Jay from Grinnell, IaI can't forget Pres. Obama's statement, "You didn't build that." I believe that CCR was way ahead of their time with this song, or, I could just be applying an oldie and its possible meaning to our times today. Nevertheless, I believe that this song could be a commentary on the government taking over everything and attempting to put us under socialism. The mood of this song is one of pensiveness and fatalism. At this late hour, I am not so fast as to become fatalistic, or pensive.
Mark from Austin, TxHey, if that's what floats your boat, then it's a spiritual song. But to me, it's very political. At the time, Republicans (read: Nixon) weren't the party of the working class that they pretend to be now. Fogerty was telling them to be good to these folks because they do what the rest of us won't.
Someone should revive this song for the current immigration problems. It's funny how many songs from the 60s still work today.
Andrew from TorontoI always thought this tune had a more spirtual meaning,but hey I could be wrong.Great song nevertheless.

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