CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE

Llançament: Abril de 1970  

Llistes: EUA: #4  

"Run Through the Jungle" és una cançó de 1970 de Creedence Clearwater Revival, escrita pel cantant i guitarrista principal John Fogerty. Llançada com a senzill doble A juntament amb “Up Around the Bend”, la cançó apareix a l’àlbum “Cosmo's Factory” de la banda.

El seu so fosc i pantanós, així com la seva lletra, van portar molts a interpretar-la com un reflex de la Guerra del Vietnam, especialment per la menció de la "jungla" i el moment de la seva publicació, després de cançons de protesta anteriors de CCR com “Who'll Stop the Rain?” i “Fortunate Son”,  però John Fogerty va aclarir que la cançó tractava sobre la proliferació d'armes als Estats Units. Tot i que ell no és contrari a les armes, Fogerty expressava la seva preocupació pels perills d'un accés descontrolat, en una frase destacada en la lletra: "200 million guns are loaded, Satan cries, 'Take aim!'" (S'han carregat 200 milions d'armes, Satanàs crida: 'Apunta't).

Musicalment, Fogerty va revelar que "Run Through the Jungle" estava influenciada pel bluesman del Delta Charlie Patton i la llegenda del blues Howlin' Wolf. Encara que inicialment no coneixia Patton, més tard va descobrir gravacions de la seva música, una experiència que va comparar amb la de descobrir antics pergamins pels historiadors. Fogerty va veure clarament la influència de Patton en Howlin' Wolf, que ja era una inspiració important per a ell. Quan va enregistrar “Run Through the Jungle”, Fogerty canalitzava l'estil vocal poderós i rude de Howlin' Wolf, amb arrels en el llegat del blues de Patton.

Fogerty va tocar l'harmònica a “Run Through the Jungle”, però la va enregistrar per separat i la va afegir a posteriori per fer més fàcil la ràpida transició entre l'harmònica i les veus. La frase "Devil's on the loose" va ser inspirada per una confusió del periodista musical Phil Elwood, qui va entendre erròniament "doubles on kazoo" en la cançó “Down on the Corner” de CCR com "Devil's on the loose." A Fogerty li va agradar tant l'error que el va incorporar a “Run Through the Jungle” i va acreditar a Elwood per la inspiració.

L'antic executiu de Creedence Clearwater Revival, Saul Zaentz, va demandar John Fogerty, afirmant que la cançó en solitari de Fogerty, “The Old Man Down the Road”, era massa similar a “Run Through the Jungle” de CCR, acusant-lo essencialment de plagiar-se a ell mateix. Aquest cas va ser innovador, ja que va ser una de les primeres vegades que un artista va ser demandat per suposadament copiar la seva pròpia obra. Fogerty va guanyar el cas, però Zaentz també el va demandar per la cançó “Zanz Kant Danz”, argumentant que era un atac personal. Zaentz va guanyar aquesta demanda, i Fogerty va haver de canviar el nom de la cançó a “Vanz Kant Danz”.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE

Released: April 1970

Charts: US: #4    

"Run Through the Jungle" is a 1970 song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, written by lead singer and guitarist John Fogerty. Released as a double A-side single with "Up Around the Bend," the song was featured on the band's “Cosmo's Factory” album.

 Its dark, swampy sound and lyrics often led listeners to interpret it as a reflection on the Vietnam War due to its mention of a "jungle" and its release during that era, following CCR's earlier protest songs like "Who'll Stop the Rain?" and "Fortunate Son." John Fogerty clarified that it was actually about the proliferation of guns in America. While not anti-gun himself, Fogerty was concerned about the dangers of uncontrolled firearms, a message emphasized in the lyric: "200 million guns are loaded, Satan cries, 'Take aim!'"

John Fogerty revealed that this track was musically influenced by Delta bluesman Charlie Patton and blues legend Howlin' Wolf. Though Fogerty initially hadn't heard of Patton, he later discovered recordings of his music, which he compared to uncovering something as monumental as ancient scrolls. Patton's influence on Howlin' Wolf, who was already a major inspiration for Fogerty, became clear to him. When Fogerty recorded "Run Through the Jungle," he was channeling the powerful, gritty vocal style of Howlin' Wolf, which in turn had roots in Patton's blues legacy.

John Fogerty played the harmonica on "Run Through the Jungle," but recorded it separately and dubbed it in due to the quick transition from harmonica to vocals. The line "Devil's on the loose" in the song was inspired by a misinterpretation from music journalist Phil Elwood, who had mistakenly heard "doubles on kazoo" in the CCR song "Down on the Corner" as "Devil's on the loose." Fogerty liked the error so much that he incorporated it into "Run Through the Jungle" and credited Elwood for the inspiration.

Former Creedence Clearwater Revival executive Saul Zaentz sued John Fogerty, claiming that Fogerty's solo song "The Old Man Down the Road" was too similar to CCR's "Run Through the Jungle," essentially accusing Fogerty of plagiarizing himself. This case was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first instances where an artist was sued for allegedly copying their own work. Fogerty won that case, but Zaentz also sued him over the song "Zanz Kant Danz," arguing it was a personal attack. Zaentz won this lawsuit, and Fogerty was forced to change the song's name to "Vanz Kant Danz."