Whoa thought it was a nightmare
Lord it was so true

They told me don't go walking slow
The devil's on the loose

Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa don't look back to see

Thought I heard a rumblin'
Calling to my name

Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries "take aim"

Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa don't look back to see

Over on the mountain, thunder magic spoke
Let the people know my wisdom
Fill the land with smoke

Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa don't look back to see



Lyrics submitted by shauncreaney

Track duration: 03:05

"Run Through the Jungle" as written by John Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC GROUP, INC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Run Through the Jungle song meanings
Add your thoughts

24 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Opinion: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.

    readanybooks.net/horror/The_Man_in_the_Black_Suit/…
    Flag YossarianTon June 03, 2013   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:Why doesn't anyone bother to look elsewhere before posting here?

    You're all wrong. It has nothing to do with Vietnam.

    It is about gun control in the United States.


    From Wikipedia;

    The song's title and lyrics, as well as the year it was released (1970), have led many to assume that the song is about the Vietnam War. The fact that previous Creedence Clearwater Revival songs such as "Fortunate Son" were protests of the Vietnam War added to this belief. However, according to the song's composer, that's not really the case.


    Quote from John Fogerty;

    “I think a lot of people thought that because of the times, but I was talking about America and the proliferation of guns, registered and otherwise. I'm a hunter and I'm not antigun, but I just thought that people were so gun-happy -- and there were so many guns uncontrolled that it really was dangerous, and it's even worse now. It's interesting that it has taken 20-odd years to get a movement on that position."


    And seriously, the rednecks are so thick skulled, how do they not understand that CCR was ANTI-war???
    Flagged amysita77on July 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sorry folks, this song is not about the plight of the American Soldier in the Vietnam War, it is about the plight of the Viet Cong Soldier in the Vietnam War.

    Put it in that perspective and then everything will make sense.
    Flagged monolithickon May 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This isn't taking a side, we're all the demons. I hate seeing support for either side, even though I would have fought for the G.I. Gents.

    Satan cries take aim? Satan is authority, Satan is high command, Satan is the leader of the local VC forces. They drove these people to fight, they ordered the shots, the bombs, the bullets, the bodies.

    This is a brilliant song for how simple it is, and I always wondered why nobody got it...
    Flag Bornonthe4thon January 31, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I'm pretty young for it too. 15.

    But I still think CCR rocks my socks.
    Flag SilenzXEon October 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Even though I'm pretty young for a CCR fan (25), this is my absolute favorite song, I could (and have) listened to it repeatedly.
    I agree with the anti Vietman references.
    The first poster is wrong, in that he's saying that the devil is them, "satan cries take aim." It's obviously us, even just taking that it's spoken in English and the idea of satan (are they of a religion that has satan, or something else?).
    Flag MagentaMSIon January 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know it's an anti-Vietnam song, but it reminds me of Apocalypse Now for some reason, I'm not sure if they used the song in the movie or not. It fits it, I reckon.
    Flag diabolic666on October 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I remember when they said that Jon Fogerty was copying this song (that he wrote) when he did "Old man is down the road". What a bunch of crap that was
    Flag bonnielynnon July 26, 2007   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:How about it's probably about the book of Revelations. The song itself doesn't show a stance at all about the Vietnam War if it was even about it. "200 Million guns loaded" is referencing to the 200 million man army there will be in the last days. It's right out of Revelations.
    Flag WrathofGodon July 20, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment: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.
    Flag jeffllynchon July 08, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain