Walk on the Water Lyrics

Late last night, I went for a walk,
Down by the river near my home.
Couldnt believe, with my own eyes,
And I swear Ill never leave my home again.

I saw a man walking on the water.
Coming right at me from the other side.
Calling out my name; do not be afraid.
Feet begin to run, pounding in my brain;
I dont want to go; I dont want to go.

No, no, no, no, no...
I dont want to go.
Mmmmmmm...
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

6 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

it's a really great song and stood out for me from the first listen. I love how great John sounds [peaking at "I saw a man"], it's like his voice is yet another instrument, he is that good. It's probably about war, how he got away and the man on the water is death. Jesus would be really on the nose, wouldn't it?

Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

also the beginning of the song definitely brings Clash's London Calling to mind.

Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

I know this mainly from the Richard Hell and the Void-Oids cover version. I've always assumed it was indeed about Jesus Christ and the narrator was called to be a disciple but fled in terror. (Let's face it, it didn't end well for any of the apostles). It seemed like a really original spin on a familiar story. I like the Vietnam interpretation too, though.

Positive
Subjective
Enjoyment
Cover Version
Original Spin
Jesus Christ
Narrator
Vietnam Interpretation
Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This song was one of the few written by Tom Fogarty that CCR recorded. I've always liked this song even though it feels about one verse short. The man walking on the water is obviously Jesus.

The extended psychedelic guitar solo at the end has some great licks.

Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

It could be Jesus I guess, but it doesn't seem definitive to me. The only implication that it's Jesus is that someone walked on water. I always just saw it as creepy surreal imagery.

Anyway, I love this song. It's probably my favorite CCR. The lyrics and the style of the vocals are fantastic together and the solo that makes up the second half of the song is amazing.

Cover art for Walk on the Water lyrics by Creedence Clearwater Revival

it was the angel of death

Song Meaning

@naetclifford . Claiming it to be the angel of death is interesting. The implication is that John Fogerty, who was drafted, but escaped Vietnam (and so the angel's fate), may have been thinking of draft buddies who 'didn't want to go' (like himself) and wrote the song, with his older brother, for those young men who were killed or maimed in that vile war. I don't know how close Tom Fogerty was to being drafted - he doesn't wear a military uniform, as does his brother, on the cover of their first album. Did John Fogerty's two younger brothers beat...