Creedence Clearwater Revival’s bluesy, swamp-rock sound is immediately recognizable, and Bad Moon Rising is no exception.
But what’s the story behind this song? The dichotomy between its danceable beat and ominous lyrics is both alluring and mystifying.
Today, we’re digging into the history of this tune to answer all your questions.
Let’s hit it!
Who Originally Wrote Bad Moon Rising?
John Fogerty, frontman and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, wrote the hit song Bad Moon Rising. But long before his days as a successful musician, he was just a scrappy kid from the Northern California coast.
He was born and raised in the Bay Area in the middle of five boys born to two hard-drinking parents. According to the artist, his childhood was tough at school and home. However, he found his niche in music. He started playing in middle school with his buddies, who’d later become the other members of CCR.
While the band was only together on paper for about five years, he remained passionate about music. The year after their split, he dropped a cover album under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers. But it was only the artist playing every single instrument himself. In 1974, he released a formal self-titled solo record before stepping away for nearly a decade.
He returned in 1985 with Centerfield, which hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 200. Unfortunately, he’d fade into the background again the following year after the unsuccessful release of Eye of the Zombie.
In the late 90s, he returned to the stage and the studio. He’s since dropped several live albums and compilations with stars like Miranda Lambert, Foo Fighters, Alan Jackson, and Bob Seger.
The answer may surprise you! Has CCR Ever Had a #1 Hit?
What Was the Creative Process for Bad Moon Rising?
Despite his ability to make incredible music with his band, John Fogerty isn’t exactly known for his collaborative skills. In fact, that’s a big reason why Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded. So it’s no surprise that he wrote Bad Moon Rising alone.
With a couple of big hits under the CCR name, the artist was concerned about falling behind, saying, “In those days, you put out singles every few weeks, so when Proud Mary was on the radio, I knew we had to write the next one.”
He found inspiration in the film The Devil and Daniel Webster, in which a young boy sells his soul to the ruler of the underworld. In one scene, a hurricane devastates the town. This imagery and the turbulent sociopolitical climate of the late 60s wove together in his mind. The result was a masterpiece that’d go down in history.
You’d never guess the lyrics were so apocalyptic if you didn’t understand them. The upbeat tune gives away nothing of the content, with lines like “Hope you got your things together. Hope you are quite prepared to die. Looks like we’re in for nasty weather. One eye is taken for an eye.”
Who First Recorded Bad Moon Rising?
Of course, Creedence Clearwater Revival first recorded Bad Moon Rising in 1969. Although their sound was distinctly Southern swamp rock, they were West Coast fellows through and through.
Before they were CCR, the group played together under monikers, including the Blue Velvets and the Golliwogs. Their stint dates back to junior high school, where John met Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. Around the time Tom Fogerty joined, they signed a recording deal with Fantasy Records and became the Golliwogs.
John served a compulsory stint in the Army Reserves, but after his discharge, he returned to the group as lead singer, and they rebranded themselves as Creedence Clearwater Revival.
The group had a solid run from 1968 to 1972. Their commercial success with songs like Suzie Q, Proud Mary, and Born on the Bayou made them a shoo-in for festivals like Woodstock.
With him at the helm, they were music-making machines. In their five-year run, they put out seven hit records. However, none ever topped the charts to take Billboard’s #1 position. In fact, the band holds the infamous record for most #2 hits without ever reaching the peak spot. But five of those albums made it into the Top Ten.
Sadly, tensions within the band would boil over, and by 1972, CCR was a thing of the past.
We think these are the 7 Greatest Creedence Clearwater Revival Songs.
Which Other Musicians Covered Bad Moon Rising?
Many musicians have covered Bad Moon Rising over the years, but some versions are better than others. Here are a few of our top picks.
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley’s take on the tune has the same upbeat melody with a deeply blues-infused sound. Another departure from the original is his use of female backup singers belting out the chorus.
Diddley included this hit on his 1971 album, Another Dimension, which features renditions of two other Fogerty songs, Lodi and Down on the Corner.
Emmylou Harris
Country music legend Emmylou Harris also covered this beloved hit. Perhaps it’s the twang in her voice or the lighthearted piano riffs, but something about this version feels a little less ominous than other renditions.
Bad Moon Rising was on Harris’ 1981 record, Evangeline, which peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart thanks to singles like Mr. Sandman and I Don’t Have to Crawl.
Jerry Lee Lewis
For a honky-tonk inspired version of Bad Moon Rising, we turn to Jerry Lee Lewis. This lively cover sounds like it should be playing on the jukebox in a dusty roadside bar. Ironically, however, he flew to London to record it for his 1973 The Session album. He collaborated with other musicians like Peter Frampton and Albert Lee to bring it to life.
What Is John Fogerty Doing Now?
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s acrimonious split incited a legal battle over the ownership of their songs. A spate of lawsuits only increased tensions among the former members who refused to speak to each other, let alone perform together, for decades.
However, in 2023, Fogerty was awarded the rights to nearly the entire CCR catalog. And while it didn’t mend the severed relationships, regaining ownership of his songs gave him a new outlook on touring. These days, he’s back on the road with two of his children, Tyler and Shane, right beside him.
He released his most recent album, Weeping for the Promised Land, in 2021. This record was the first new music he’d put out in more than eight years. But now that he has the rights to his old songs, we’re hoping for more tour dates on the calendar and the chance to hear hits like Bad Moon Rising live.
As for a reunion, we won’t hold our breath. John’s brother Tom, who played guitar in the group, passed away in 1990. And it seems John has burned bridges with Doug and Stu. At the band’s 1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Fogerty prohibited them from taking the stage, playing instead with Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Robertson.
We can’t say we blame them for being a little salty about it.
Add to your CCR collection with Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits!
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Hit Defined An Era
John Fogerty might be a polarizing figure in the industry, but we can’t deny his immense talent for writing and performing incredible music. After all, he’s responsible for many of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s greatest tunes, including Proud Mary, Who’ll Stop the Rain, and, of course, Bad Moon Rising.
What’s your favorite hit by CCR? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!