I think the "anonymous" posts, which describe the song as a reference to war are right... for the most part. While I do think it makes OBVIOUS reference to that, I think there are some of the more "intangible" subject (growing up, generations passing, etc.) that some of you others touched on. Great tune...

I was pleased to find i'm not the only one touched yet slightly mystified by this song. I agree that it's related to family breakup, with the son repeating the cycle started by his father leaving. "someday you'll understand" is a nice patronising explanation from an adult to a child, akin to "go ask your mother" - it evades responsibility for actions, and alludes to some higher meaning to what is essentially just a really hurtful and juvenile thing to do (leaving your children). The war intepretation would fit; your choice would depend on whether you want to read large scale or small scale politics into it

Someday never comes is just like saying tomorrow never comes. We don't have tomorrow and we don't have someday. We only have today. We should live each day like it is our last. One day we will run out of time and all the things we meant to say or do will never happen because that someday never came.

I think that he means that you're learning your whole life, each day.

The father is talking to John about live, how to live in a good way.
John doesn't really care what his father says and that's why the father says :

" someday, you'll understand "

Well, like i said, we are learning our whole life and that's what is meant by " but someday never comes "

Live can not be understood.

An Anonymous poster stated that "It's about his parents divorce and his father left home. The second part of the song is about his own divorce and him leaving his own son" John wanted to write about how a kid feels. It also talks about how this 'cycle' countinues. You know like when John dad divorced and then he did the same thing. There is an interview where John talks about this song. I will post what he said later. Any way its NOT about war. I hope you have a nice day and RCOK ON!!!

Ok here is the answer I hope you enjoy:
Is "Someday never comes" autobiographical?
JOHN FOGERTY: "Every parent tells their child "someday". "Gee daddy,can we go fishing?"... yeah, someday. My parents didvorced when I was young and I ended up divorcing from my first wife... The song is basicly talking about... here it happend to me when I was young and here I go doing the same damn thing. It's sad. I wanted to express what a kid feels, "Someday never comes." There is a link on this web site that sais Electric Bayou. If you go to links and go to this site you will find this. I hope you have a nice day and ROCK ON!!!