The Random iTunes Fairy has a nice sense of symmetry. A week after serving up Credence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Proud Mary,’ she has let the needle drop on the band’s classic protest song ‘Run Through the Jungle.’
Given John Fogerty’s opposition to the war in Vietnam, and the song’s title, many listeners believed this track was about the war. Fogerty says it is actually about the proliferation of guns in America.
One interesting bit of trivia: The owner of CCR’s music catalog sued John Fogerty because of the similarities between this track and his solo release ‘The Old Man Down the Road.’ The court found that a songwriter cannot plagiarize himself.
Lord it was so true
They told me don’t go walking slow
The 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’
Calling 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
Great tidbit regarding the plagiarism suit. That precedent probably saved a few other artists over time.