Album: Déjà Vu (All Over Again) (2005)

License This Song 

Songfacts®:

• Fogerty wrote this song about the similarities between the Vietnam War and the war in Iraq. He believed the US government was making the same mistakes again. He recalled to American Songwriter magazine: "'Déjà Vu (All Over Again)' I wrote in '04, and I'd been thinking about the sentiment for probably a year. In some sense, I'd been thinking about it for 40 years. When the Vietnam War officially ended, I was driving and listening to the radio, and they said, 'America has declared that we are withdrawing from Vietnam.' I looked at the radio and said, "Let's make damn sure we never do something that stupid again."
  
  "Years later, when George W's government decided we were gonna invade Iraq, I'm shaking my head and going, 'No, no, no, no, no,'" Fogerty added. "The little [alarms] in my head are going back to the Vietnam War, so I gave it a narrative, a cultural and political narrative."
  
  "I had a separate residence that was my songwriting place, and one day I had gone there to write a swamp-rock song, an escapist thing," he continued. "And I was thinking about what was going on in America. We hadn't entered Iraq yet. It was just saber-rattling. As I walked up to the door, this melody entered my head. This sound just grabbed me. It was tapping me and saying, 'Come with me.' What I heard was [sings], 'Did you hear 'em talking about it on the radio? 'And I heard that terrible, mournful sound that tugs at your heartstrings. I went right to my acoustic guitar. Something was pulling me, and it was so overwhelmingly sad. I sensed later it was a mother's mournful cry for her child. I started to write words that were just coming out of the sky. I didn't know what I was writing about until I wrote It's déjà vu all over again. And then I thought, 'My God, is that what this is about?' I was writing about the war that was coming and the unnecessary deaths that were gonna happen all over again. I was overcome with feeling that emotion. I guess I was guided there. I did not create that song. It was handed to me. Probably the only time that's ever happened."

Comments: 8

• Chuck from Manassas Va.I would like to see John Fogerty Live in Concert at the Wolf Trap concert venue in the Va. suburbs in Aug of 2023. I would really Hope he performs "Centerfield" and "Deja Vu, All over Again", my 2 Favorite Songs by John Fogerty, I have the same birthday as John Fogerty and feel a Kindred Spirit to Him.
• Gus from PaEerie song, but direct and painfully accurate. Too many mothers, and fathers, have watched their children march bravely off to fight yet another meaningless war that profits no one but The Complex. And now the same thing is happening in the Ukraine. Sadly, this doesn't seem to be a political statement as much as it is an economic one. Some wars, usually defensive in nature, are an ugly reminder of what must be done to defend our sovereignty. The Ukraine is not our country, not an area we ever pledged officially to defend, nor is it in NATO. We could have brokered a peace prior to the invasion but chose otherwise. And the results of our "policy"... tens of thousands of dead Ukrainians, Russians and civilians who will never see the sun shining again. So far American troops, officially, are not committed, but how many days left before that happens? Once again? Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals are not the issue. If they would get together, honestly intent upon securing a peace, it could all end. In actual fact, this country is possibly the only country that has the clout to do so. But that won't happen. There is far too much money at stake. So, listen to Fogarty's lyrics and weep.
• Bob from Southfield, MiJohn performed this song on the "Vote For Change" tour in 2004 with Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band.
• Mark from Byrdstown, TnJohn Fogerty is the greatest rock and roll songwriter of all time.He plays this song at some of his shows while pictures from Vietnam and present day flash on the big screens.Fogerty also rips Bush a new one on his new album "Revival", an awesome piece of work.
  
  If you ever get a chance to see Fogerty in concert -GO! He does almost 2 hours of total nonstop ass kicking rock all while running all over the stage and playing a half dozen different guitars....quite impressive for a man his age.
• Zack Hodgson from Woodstock, GaFogerty is 100% right that this war is just as bad and similar to the Vietnam War.
• John from Santa Cruz, Cathe vietnam and iraq wars are nothing alike, i am against both but you have to think about it-vietnam issued a draft and was for no gain to america, whereas iraq is a only those who enlisted and is for a financial gain
• Ash from Charleston, WvOh, Mr. Fogerty is not the only one that believes that. Not by a long shot.
• Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI was born about 13 years after the Vietnam War took place, but from what I know about both wars, I agree with what is being said in this song.

More Songfacts:

Never Tear Us ApartINXS

"Never Tear Us Apart" was a live favorite for INXS, who would often extend the second pause for a while as the crowd went crazy.

Writing's On The WallSam Smith

Sam Smith's "Writing's On The Wall" was the first ever James Bond theme song to reach #1 in the UK.

Family AffairMary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige introduced three new words with her hit "Family Affair": hateration, holleration and dancerie.

Watching The WheelsJohn Lennon

In the late '70s, John Lennon slowed his roll, becoming a househusband who baked bread and took care of his young son Sean. This inspired his song "Watching The Wheels," where he discovers the benefits of taking it easy.

True ColorsCyndi Lauper

With a message of acceptance and inclusivity, "True Colors" became a gay rights anthem. Cyndi Lauper help form an organization called True Colors United to help support LGBTQ youth.

MMMbopHanson

Hanson's megahit "MMMbop," released when they were teenagers, is surprisingly profound. Zac Hanson told Songfacts it "represents a frame of time or the futility of life."

Editor's Picks

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?