The first song that came to mind when I saw the prompt for today, “fear,” was this song. It’s from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 album Cosmo’s Factory and was written by John Fogerty. It doesn’t talk directly about fear, though the narrator of the song does say “Thought it was a nightmare” right upfront. It was written during the height of the Vietnam War, when so many 18-year-old kids were handed a rifle and told to keep their head down as they ran through the jungle. I was spared the horror of that war, as the US’s involvement ended before my 18th birthday, though I still had to register for the draft.
Whoa, thought it was a nightmare
Lord, it’s all so true.
They told me, “Don’t go walkin’ slow
‘Cause Devil’s on the loose.”
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa, don’t look back to see.
Thought I heard a rumblin’
Callin’ to my name.
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries, “Take aim!”
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa, don’t look back to see.
Over on the mountain
Thunder magic spoke
“Let the people know my wisdom
Fill the land with smoke.”
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa, don’t look back to see.
Thanks to MetroLyrics for having the lyrics and to Helen for running Song Lyric Sunday and giving me yet another opportunity to post music here. That’s Song Lyric Sunday for August 19, 2018.
This song says so much and just shows what great music is made during very tough times. I am so happy you never went to Vietnam
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So am I… The late ’60’s and early ’70’s were a real period of growth for music and the people who made it.
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I like this choice of song! And you are right – it described the nightmare appropriately. I’m a bit younger than you, but I had two older brothers that joined the Army at the very tail end of the Vietnam War. Thankfully, they didn’t have to go fight.
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The more I think about Vietnam, the more surreal it seems. I didn’t know anyone who went until I went to work, when my manager was a veteran. He didn’t talk about it much.
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I’ve always loved CCR. I honestly can’t think of anything scarier than war. What a mess Vietnam was. Thanks for playing along!
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“A mess” is putting it mildly.
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I got a high draft number and was never called.
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By the time I registered, the US was no longer involved (they hadn’t quite gotten around to ending the draft).
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IN all the years I’ve heard this song I’ve never thought about what the song was about. I was prime for the draft in those years, but I was hiding in college. I was in no hurry to be going to war.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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Honestly, neither did I. I was 17 when Nixon ended our involvement in Vietnam, though I still had to register for the draft, it had ended before then. (I no longer have my draft card; I lent it to a friend so he could go drinking and it was confiscated by a sharp-eyed bouncer.)
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I had two older brothers from my dad’s first marriage who served in Vietnam. One came home and went on went on to a successful life, but the other was never the same and left us before the end of the war.
However, I love Song Lyric Sunday but when I joined, I never dreamed I’d hear so many awesome classics! Thanks for a great share. 🙂
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I’m sorry for the loss you and your family suffered because of the war. Every war is horrible, but Vietnam seems to have been especially bad. I’m glad you liked the song anyway!
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Thanks, John. 🙂
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