Looking Out My Backdoor

[Admin]

Review by J. Fogerty
"Forward troubles Illinois/lock the front door, oh boy/look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn." This one's about coming off the road, sitting in the back where nobody can bother me. The idea of a parade going by came from a book I read as a kid called "It Happened on Mulberry Street". To a youngster, a parade is very exciting, goofy and bizarre in a kid kind of way. Elephants beating on drums, giraffes, and a monkey playing a xylophone; imagined as only a kid can. I wanted "Looking Out My Backdoor" to be a kid's song. My son Josh was about three years-old when I wrote it. I knew he would love it if he heard me on the radio singing, "doot doot doo, looking out my backdoor." Sure enough, when it came out three years later, I was in the kitchen and he was on the floor scribbling on paper. The radio was playing, and the song came on. Five minutes later, he sang out, "Doot doot doo, looking out my backdoor." I looked down, and thought to myself, that's why I do this. The fact I still remember that incident tells you how much it meant to me at the time.

[apatronis]

this song Im sure is about mari jane check this: -Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singin
-Lock the front door
- Smile with me tomorrow
-Got to set down take a rest on the porch
And all the song is very bizarre and colored in general.

I agree, although I do think John's "official" meaning of the tune is kinda cool. However the song's kinda out there, as if it's about a small peace of personal seclusion: smoking a jay, locking the front door and getting out back and chilling after a hard days graft to let your mind wander for a change. Also in the video, all the members of Creedence are clearly stoned and care free, so I reckon in a small way, their all paying homage to the meaning in the song.

E

Oops...sorry, that was my "E" message. Hit enter too soon...
Anyway, I always thought this song was about a cocaine high based on the line "Take a ride on the flying spoon". However, this entire lyric could be totally innocent if the John Fogerty review (above) is true.
Regardless, this is one of my favorite songs by Fogerty.

Hi,

I agree with you,
that 's one of my favourite song, even if the meaning is not really clear (and as I am french, it's not easy)

[Music Girl]

I have always loved this song! I just cant help but to sing along and start to dance. This song is played on the radio very often. Which is a very good thing!! I hope you have a nice day and ROCK ON!!!

The song most likely is about drugs, but probably not marijuana... it's not a hallucinogen and it doesn't involve taking a "ride on a flying spoon"

[Green_Kirby]

As in the other thread, and with what I've seen posted first, I disagree. It's not about drugs.

Everytime I am in a very, very happy mood I usually play it in my mind and tap something along with the tune. Or if I have it nearby I'll definately play it over and over.

Nevertheless what it's about, do what John WANTED you to do:

Kick back and enjoy the music.
-GK