CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - LOOKING OUT MY BACK DOOR

Released: July 25, 1970

Charts: US: #2    

"Lookin' out My Back Door" is a song written by John Fogerty and featured on the 1970 album “Cosmo's Factory”. The song became their fifth and final number-two hit on the Billboard Hot 100, only kept from the top spot by Diana Ross's rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." It was the band's only song to reach number one on the Cash Box Top 100 chart. 

This song was partly inspired by John Fogerty's three-year-old son, Josh. Fogerty wanted to create a fun, whimsical song that his son would enjoy, leading to the playful "doot doot doo" line. The imagery of a parade in the lyrics was drawn from a Dr. Seuss book titled “To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street”, which Fogerty had read as a child.

Regardless of its innocent origin, some listeners interpreted the song as a drug reference, imagining that "Flying Spoon" referred to drug paraphernalia and the fantastical imagery described an acid trip. This theory is unfounded, as Creedence Clearwater Revival did not engage with psychedelic drugs, making the song simply a lighthearted, family-friendly tune.

"Lookin' out My Back Door" begins and ends with a reference to Illinois, with the narrator locking the front door in a futile effort to keep his troubles from following him home. The song also nods to country singer Buck Owens, reflecting John Fogerty's admiration for traditional country music. Buck Owens' son, Buddy Alan, covered the song in 1971, blending Creedence Clearwater Revival's rock sound with a country music touch.

The album cover of the album shows Creedence Clearwater Revival's rehearsal space, which was nicknamed "Cosmo's Factory." This name came from their drummer Doug Clifford's nickname, "Cosmo," and a remark he made about how rehearsing there was "better than working in a factory." The band initially rehearsed in a shed in Clifford's backyard, and the name stuck, symbolizing the hard work and dedication they put into their music.