Come on Home to Green River
Instead of mentioning political conflict upfront, John Fogerty created allegories. “Creedence made music for all the waylaid Tom Sawyers and Huck Finns,” Bruce Springsteen said in 1993 when Creedence was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
John Fogerty and Bruce Springsteen. Photo by Greg Allen / Shutterstock
“For the world that would never be able to take them up on their most simple and eloquent invitation, which is: ‘If you get lost, come on home to Green River.’” But while the world was in love with Creedence’s stories from the bayous, Fogerty resented his music post-breakup. “I was afraid that I’d start singing Proud Mary and go off on a tirade,” the musician said. If one of Creedence’s songs came on the radio, Fogerty would immediately change the station.