green river

In Green River, what "shoefly" means ?

Thanks

Ariel

I'm a french CCR fan and I love nearly all their songs (including "effigy", "penthouse pauper", "wrote a song for eveyone", "wish I could" not so often quoted).

I appreciate all players' performances, John's voice, inspiration and lyrics. I like to understand what he's singing about and that's why I repeat : in Green River (one of my favourite), there's a part where he says

"I can hear the bullfrog callin' me.
Wonder if my rope's still hangin' to the tree.
Love to kick my feet 'way down the shallow water.
Shoefly, dragonfly, get back t'your mother.
Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River."


What does this rope mean ? is it a fishing or a hanging device ?

And then, "shoefly". I Looked everywhere the meaning of this word, nothing.


Answer me please...



Ariel (France)

"If I were a gambler you know I'd never lose
If I were a guitar player Lord I'd play the blues"

WELL


If you're still there, Ariel...

The rope hangin from the tree is for swinging out over the river. Kids do it all the time, So it's a look back at your childhood to wonder if the rope you tied to the tree might still be there.

As far as "shoefly" goes, I think it's supposed to be read as "Shoo, Fly..." (get back to mother) ya know.. he's tellin the dragonfly to leave him be. Ever heard of "shoo-fly pie"??? It's an amish desert that's very, very sugery and sweet... so the flies will go to that pie and leave the rest of the picnic alone.

Ain't we a funny bunch here in the states?

Me, personally, I was wondering what the heck "choogling" means... but I have an idea it means sex, or ramblin'. I'll ask my uncle. he's a big CCR fan, I think

Oh yes you are, as I see.

Take me back down... and let me remember...
Close to my home as a child, there was a railway with the last steam trains (I'm 49), not a river.
Too bad!

However, rivers seem to have/wear very much importance in the States and in the songs. How come ?


Thank you very much for your very clear answer.


So long

[Green_Kirby]

Yes, it's Shoo Fly, as in "Don't Bother Me"
There's already been a thread on Choogling. You should find it if you look.
The rope question has already been answered correctly.

Keep on Rockin' Around the World.
-GK

Fant?stico. El Autob?s M?gico, Radio Sierra de Aracena Huelva Espa?a