Run Through the Jungle Lyrics
Lo, it's all so true,
They told me, "Don't go walkin' slow
'Cause Devil's on the loose."
Better run through the jungle,
Better run through the jungle,
Better run through the jungle,
Thought I heard a rumblin'
Callin' to my name,
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries, "Take aim!"
Thunder magic spoke,
"Let the people know my wisdom,
Fill the land with smoke."
John Fogerty was clearly against the Vietnam War. I believe this song was actually written as a dig against the American Government, which is the Satan, he making reference to. The devil, Presidents Nixon & Johnson, set out to crush and exterminate this "enemy" in a pure act of brutal belligerence.
The line "Let the people know my wisdom" was the classic point that protesters constantly asked why, why are we there, who invited us to convert this tiny nation into the western thinking. All of the information and responses from the Government could not begin to explain or justify this act of war. The line could be translated as - Let those people know that we (Nixon, Johnson et al) can & will murder & destroy indiscriminately.
The "thunder magic & smoke" represent the U.S. air strikes that pummeled the land. One of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War was the siege of Khe Sanh in early 1968, known as "Operation Niagra." More than 24,000 tactical and 2700 B-52 strike dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. Also, there was an airborne weapon called “puff the magic dragon” which fired up to 6,000 rounds per minute and the aircraft carried 54,000 rounds – when this let loose, it literally leveled everything in its path – you better run through the jungle!
This war was the biggest farce perpetrated upon the American people and John Forgerty had the courage to stand up and fully use his 1st Amendment right to challenge our leaders.
That’s my take on it.
@jeffllynch Pretty good take!
@jeffllynch Pretty good take!
This song has nothing to do with Vietnam. Nor is it about the end days. Its about gun crime in general. And Ophelia 52, "Who'll Stop The Rain" was about their experiences at Woodstock.
Shaun I don't see that. If anything it's anti vietnam. If you know CCR you know they were very much against the war in Vietnam.
I dunno if the last line is an actual quote. "Let the people know my wisdom, fill the land with smoke" But it could maybe be interpreted as the US Government saying they 'are going to show this country how to do things right by bombing and killing everyone'. And obviously alot of Americans(CCR Included) saw things this way, and felt it was wrong.
Sorry if that doesn't make sense. Read it a couple times you may get it.
Sound interpretation "Aqualung" (who's a Jethro Tull fan?). Definitely anti-war, and particularly the Vietnam war.
I'm pretty young for it too. 15.
But I still think CCR rocks my socks.
your realy corny
your realy corny
Wow, just reading The Man in The Black Suit by Stephen King and noticed right away how much one part of the book reminds me of this song.
Must read if you guys are interested.
http://readanybooks.net/horror/The_Man_in_the_Black_Suit/1995.html
I forgot the lead singers name, and I'll be damned if that ever happens again, but I like that accent he has cause in the song it sounds like "thought I hoid a rumblin'" and boy does that make me smile on the worst day of my life. I always thought that a lot of songs from CCR were somehow related to Vietnam.
Muzzy has it right, I feel.
yea shaun, u must be somewhere filled w/ smoke b/c john fogerty (the lead singer's name) would NEVER have written a song promoting the war in Vietnam...i sure the devil is not a reference to a specific person, like the US president, but is simply a representation of the attitudes that lead people to war, like the devil and the angel telling u wat to do, the devil cries "take aim" ...but he is criticizing presidents kennedy through nixon for listening
This song is better than Fortunate Son...the introduction sounds a like a jet going overhead. That's a sweet piece of music.