John Fogerty said that he wrote the song the day he got discharged from the military for his service. He was so ecstatic that he ran upstairs and stummed out the introduction right there. He later said it was about the hardships one faces to make it in life.
"Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, pumped a lotta pain down in New Orleans"
The intro to the song, plus lyrics such as the ones above demonstrate a heavy emphasis on working for a living and the difficulties that come with it.
He also said he had tried marijuana a few times but never stuck with it because he liked being in control of his body. The sensation of being "high" was not in his better interests.
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