Creedence Clearwater Revival: Ranking Their 15 Greatest Songs

By Mayer Nissim

John Fogerty, the creative force behind Creedence Clearwater Revival, spent years without full control over the band’s iconic song catalog. However, January 2023 marked a turning point when Fogerty triumphantly reacquired a majority stake in the global publishing rights to these timeless tracks. “I own my own songs again,” Fogerty announced, celebrating a victory he once deemed impossible. “After 50 years, I am finally reunited with my songs. I also have a say in where and how my songs are used.” To commemorate this milestone, we delve into the heart of CCR’s musical legacy, ranking their 15 greatest songs that have resonated across generations.

1. I Put A Spell On You

Screamin' Jay Hawkins original version of I Put A Spell On You

While every other song on this list hails from the pen of CCR’s chief songwriter, John Fogerty, ‘I Put A Spell On You’ stands out as the exception. Originally penned and made famous by “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins, this track demonstrates CCR’s brilliance in reinterpretation. They transformed Hawkins’ raw, theatrical voodoo blues into a psychedelic rock anthem that became a staple of their early performances, including their legendary Woodstock set. The enduring appeal of ‘I Put A Spell On You’ is evident in its countless covers, spanning genres and generations, from Nina Simone’s haunting rendition to Marilyn Manson’s industrial shock-rock take. CCR’s version, released on their self-titled debut album, is a testament to their ability to infuse classic material with their distinctive swamp-rock energy.

2. Sweet Hitch-Hiker

Creedence Clearwater Revival performing Sweet Hitch-Hiker in official music video

Released as the penultimate single before their final track ‘Someday Never Comes’, ‘Sweet Hitch-Hiker’ offered a glimpse into the Mardi Gras era, CCR’s only album recorded after Tom Fogerty’s departure. This high-energy track, with its suggestive lyrics (“Sweet hitch-a-hiker / Won’t you ride on my fast machine?”), is a raw and rollicking number. Recorded in the spring of 1971 alongside the Mardi Gras track ‘Door To Door’ (written and sung by Stu Cook), ‘Sweet Hitch-Hiker’ captures a band in transition, still delivering powerful rock despite internal tensions. It showcases CCR’s enduring ability to craft catchy, driving singles even as the band’s dynamics shifted.

3. Run Through The Jungle

Creedence Clearwater Revival performing Run Through The Jungle live on stage

‘Run Through The Jungle’ is more than just a thrilling swamp-rock track; it’s a potent commentary on gun control in America. John Fogerty revealed to Rolling Stone that the song was inspired by the staggering statistic of “one gun for every man, woman and child in America” at the time. Lyrically evocative of the chaos and danger of unchecked weaponry, the song’s jungle metaphor powerfully conveys the escalating arms race. Released as a double-A-side with the equally iconic ‘Up Around The Bend’, ‘Run Through The Jungle’ is a testament to Fogerty’s songwriting depth, blending social commentary with CCR’s signature driving sound. Its enduring relevance speaks to the ongoing debate surrounding gun control.

4. Lookin’ Out My Back Door

Official music video of Creedence Clearwater Revival Lookin' Out My Back Door featuring psychedelic imagery

‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’ is a whimsical and upbeat track that belies its chart performance. Remarkably, CCR amassed five number two singles, and ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’, paired as a platinum double-A-side with ‘Long as I Can See the Light’, was one of them. In 1970, it was only Diana Ross’s soaring rendition of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ that kept it from the top spot. Fogerty penned this playful tune for his three-year-old son Josh, drawing inspiration from Dr. Seuss’s imaginative book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. The song’s fantastical imagery and joyful rhythm make it a timeless classic, demonstrating CCR’s versatility beyond their harder-rocking anthems.

5. Travelin’ Band

Creedence Clearwater Revival performing Travelin' Band in official music video

‘Travelin’ Band’ is a high-octane tribute to the pioneers of rock and roll, particularly Little Richard. This double-A-side hit, coupled with ‘Who’ll Stop The Rain’, reached number two in the US charts, blocked from the top by Simon and Garfunkel’s monumental ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’. The song’s overt homage to Little Richard’s 1950s classics led to a copyright lawsuit from the publishers of ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’, which was later settled. ‘Travelin’ Band’s’ raw energy and infectious rhythm have made it a favorite of musicians across genres, covered by artists ranging from Bruce Springsteen and Elton John to Def Leppard and Jerry Lee Lewis, who Fogerty collaborated with on a version for Lewis’s Last Man Standing album.

6. Up Around The Bend

Creedence Clearwater Revival performing Up Around The Bend live

‘Up Around The Bend’, from the Cosmo’s Factory album, is a quintessential CCR rocker, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a significant hit in the UK, peaking at number three. Its driving rhythm and catchy guitar riff are instantly recognizable and undeniably infectious. The song has been embraced by a diverse range of artists, with Elton John recording an early version and Hanoi Rocks covering it on their Two Steps from the Move album. ‘Up Around The Bend’ exemplifies CCR’s ability to create straightforward, hard-hitting rock anthems that resonate with a broad audience.

7. Down on the Corner

Creedence Clearwater Revival Down On The Corner official lyric video featuring Willy and the Poor Boys imagery

The inspiration for ‘Down on the Corner’ was sparked by a seemingly innocuous Disney advertisement featuring Winnie the Pooh. Fogerty recounted to Best Classic Bands how the phrase “Winnie the Pooh and the Pooh Boys” morphed into “Willy and the Poor Boys,” the title of both the song and the album. This double-A-side single, paired with the protest anthem ‘Fortunate Son’, reached number three in the US charts and achieved double platinum status. ‘Down on the Corner’ paints a vivid picture of a street band bringing joy to the neighborhood, celebrating the simple pleasures of music and community. Its feel-good vibe and catchy melody have made it a lasting favorite.

8. Green River

Creedence Clearwater Revival Green River official lyric video featuring river and nature scenes

The evocative title ‘Green River’ surprisingly originates from a soda pop syrup label. Fogerty told Rolling Stone that “Green River” was the name of his favorite flavor. While the title conjures images of the Louisiana Bayou, the song is actually rooted in Fogerty’s childhood memories of Putah Creek near Winters, California, which he reimagined as the mythical “Green River.” This 1969 single, from the album of the same name, reached the top 20 in the UK and continued CCR’s string of number two hits in the US. ‘Green River’ blends nostalgia with a touch of swampy mystique, creating a signature CCR soundscape.

9. Born On The Bayou

Creedence Clearwater Revival Born On The Bayou official lyric video featuring bayou imagery

‘Born On The Bayou’, the opening track of the Bayou Country album, is the quintessential swamp-rock anthem. Despite Fogerty’s California upbringing, the song’s atmosphere feels authentically rooted in the Louisiana bayou. He explained to Pop Chronicles that he crafted the imagery purely from his imagination, drawing inspiration from blues legends like Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. ‘Born On The Bayou’ established CCR’s signature sound, characterized by its driving rhythm, Fogerty’s distinctive vocals, and the swampy guitar riffs that define their “bayou rock” genre.

10. Fortunate Son

Creedence Clearwater Revival Fortunate Son official music video featuring anti-war protest footage

‘Fortunate Son’, from Willy and the Poor Boys, became an anthem of the anti-Vietnam War movement. Released in 1969, the song directly confronts class inequality and the disproportionate burden of war on the less privileged. Fogerty told The Voice in 2015 that the song poured out of him in just 20 minutes, fueled by his anger at the draft and the perceived lack of justification for the Vietnam War. “It ain’t me, it ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son!” became a rallying cry for a generation questioning authority and social injustice. ‘Fortunate Son’ remains a powerful protest song, its message as relevant today as it was in the 1960s.

11. Have You Ever Seen The Rain

Creedence Clearwater Revival Have You Ever Seen The Rain official music video featuring band performance

While often interpreted as a lament for the fading idealism of the 1960s, similar to The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’ actually reflects the growing internal strife within Creedence Clearwater Revival. This number 8 single hinted at the tensions that would eventually lead to Tom Fogerty’s departure. ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’ captures a sense of melancholy and impending change, foreshadowing the band’s eventual fracturing. Despite the internal turmoil, the song remains a beautiful and poignant ballad, showcasing Fogerty’s songwriting versatility.

12. Long As I Can See The Light

Creedence Clearwater Revival Long As I Can See The Light lyric video featuring lighthouse imagery

‘Long As I Can See The Light’, released as a double-A-side with ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’, has become one of CCR’s most enduring and beloved songs. John Fogerty continues to perform it as a solo artist, testament to its timeless appeal. The song’s distinctive drum beat was sampled in Moby’s 1999 hit ‘The Sky Is Broken’, further cementing its cultural impact. Fogerty revisited the track in 2013, re-recording it with My Morning Jacket for his Wrote A Song For Everyone album. ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ is a soulful and hopeful ballad, showcasing CCR’s softer side while maintaining their signature musicality.

13. Who’ll Stop The Rain

Creedence Clearwater Revival Who'll Stop The Rain lyrics and chords video featuring rain and concert footage

‘Who’ll Stop The Rain’, another double A-side with ‘Travelin’ Band’, originated from Fogerty’s experience at Woodstock in 1969. Introducing the song at a 2007 live show, Fogerty humorously recounted his Woodstock memories: “It started to rain, and got really muddy, and then half a million people took their clothes off!” While inspired by the chaotic and muddy festival, the song’s lyrics transcend the literal rain, becoming a metaphor for broader societal turmoil and unanswered questions. ‘Who’ll Stop The Rain’ blends folk-rock sensibilities with CCR’s signature sound, creating a thought-provoking and enduring anthem.

14. Bad Moon Rising

Creedence Clearwater Revival Bad Moon Rising official lyric video featuring stormy and apocalyptic imagery

Despite their album chart dominance, Creedence Clearwater Revival never achieved a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. However, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ soared to the top of the UK charts and achieved global recognition. The lead single from the Green River album, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ was inspired by the 1941 film The Devil and Daniel Webster and its depiction of a destructive hurricane. Fogerty noted the song’s ironic dichotomy: “Here you’ve got this song with all these hurricanes and blowing and raging ruin and all that, but it’s ‘I see a bad moon rising’. It’s a happy-sounding tune, right? It didn’t bother me at the time.” The song’s upbeat tempo and ominous lyrics create a captivating contrast, contributing to its enduring popularity.

15. Proud Mary

Creedence Clearwater Revival Proud Mary official lyric video featuring riverboat imagery

While Ike and Tina Turner’s electrifying 1971 cover of ‘Proud Mary’ is undeniably iconic, the Creedence Clearwater Revival original, released two years prior, is equally magnificent. In fact, CCR’s version achieved greater chart success initially, reaching number two in the US (Ike and Tina peaked at number four, despite winning a Grammy for their rendition). ‘Proud Mary’, the lead single from Bayou Country, was written in the days following Fogerty’s discharge from the National Guard. Working with existing riffs and lyrical fragments, he crafted a bluesy, anthemic track that has become a cornerstone of American rock music. ‘Proud Mary’ embodies the spirit of CCR, blending blues, rock, and country influences into a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.