Bad Moon Rising

About this song

The song was the lead single from Creedence Clearwater Revival's third studio album, Green River, and it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in September 1969. John Fogerty said the title came from a book of song titles he kept, and that he liked how the words sounded without knowing their meaning. The lyrics were inspired by a 1941 black-and-white film, The Devil and Daniel Webster, particularly a scene with a devastating hurricane. The song became an anthem for both troops in Vietnam and anti-war protesters across the country.

What it's about

The song conveys a sense of impending doom. Fogerty has said it is a metaphor that reflects the turmoil of the times, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 1 other song, like “Pickle Rick by Ekoh”.
• Covered 26 times, including “Bad Moon Rising by Juliana Hatfield”.
• Written and produced by John Fogerty.
• Recorded at Wally Heider's Studio.