There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Just as fast as my feet can fly
Come away, come away if you're goin',
Leave the sinkin' ship behind.

[Chorus:]
Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Ooh!

Bring a song and a smile for the banjo,
Better get while the gettin's good,
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway
Where the neons turn to wood.

[Chorus:]

Ooh!

You can ponder perpetual motion,
Fix your mind on a crystal day,
Always time for a good conversation,
There's an ear for what you say.

[Chorus:]

Yeah!

Ooh!

Catch a ride to the end of the highway
And we'll meet by the big red tree,
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Come along, come along with me.

[Chorus:]

Yeah!



Lyrics submitted by 3ssence

Track duration: 02:43

"Up Around the Bend" as written by John Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC GROUP, INC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Up Around The Bend song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Well Guyz...
    I know that this song was first 'ritten & recorded & released (The 3 R's of the Schools of Music) at the time of the Vietnam War era...
    And All That...

    HOWEVER--ZinbobDan, et al...
    These Lyrics Form A Template--That Fits Most of The Titanic Failures of Our Modern Era:
    The Vietnam War & Its Possible Responses--For One...
    The Massive Economic Collapse of 2007-2008--From Which We Are Still Struggling To Emerge--For Another.

    First Verse:
    There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
    Just as fast as my feet can fly
    Come away, come away if you're goin',
    Leave the sinkin' ship behind.

    Time to jump ship; leave the trappings of Upward-Mobility behind... & git back to basics--Baby.

    Refrain:
    Come on the risin' wind,
    We're goin' up around the bend.

    There are renewed spirits blowin'... Let Your Spirit Rise With Them...
    Up & Around The Corner... To A New World of GenNEXT-- Still--As Yet--Unknown Tho' Not Unknowable...

    A New World That Contains So Much of THE BEST of The Old--Briefly Described IN The Rest of These Lyrics:

    Songs & Smiles & Finger Lickin' & Banjo Pickin'...
    And--Since You've Probably Already Been Driven Just About To The "Highway To Hell's" Dead End--
    Step Out NOW & Take A Walk Somewhere That's Truly Magnificent... in unspoiled nature

    And...
    Take The Time To...
    Ponder The BIG QUESTIONS of Life--
    Allowing Your Mind To Run Freely With Its Thoughts...
    And Stimulating & Deepening Your Ideas In Good Conversation With Others...

    Conversations Held By "The Big Red Tree" Meaning--Someone Very Mature...
    And past Their "Summer Days"... yet still holding onto their productive assets (analogous to leaves)... They've endured enough of winter's chill in their nights to be about ready to drop off--and just before They go--They've turned quite colorful in these last days out on a limb... before They settle to a "down to earth" existence of releasing their "nutrients" to Others' wants & needs.

    We Often Pursue Our Dreams Beyond All Reasonable Limits--
    To When The Dreams Become Our Nightmares...
    Then Someone--Like John Fogerty...
    Comes Along To Remind US...

    Jes' how ez it really is to git back to a better life than the one we got hooked into chasing after
    Flag mcblancon June 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:You guys are close. The meaning is about traveling to California. "Catch a ride to the end of the highway
    And we'll meet by the big red tree," The big red tree he's referring to are the California red woods. All of these guys were from California. He may have been referring also to Mendocino County in northern California where the best marijuana in the world is grown. Or maybe I've just smoked too much of that weed. Your guess.
    Flag binthderdonthaton August 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:nah, 'fraid not, stowaway465. It's not about camping. I think it's about getting away from the draft and the war. I think "the big red tree" could mean like a giant redwood tree. Of course, then again, Canada does look like a tree too.
    Flag JoeyRamone65on December 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its a fun song about going camping or something like that and getting away from the troubles of the modern world great song
    Flag stowaway465on June 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its true!The southern Rock sound started with these guys.Dont hate-not forgetting the Delta blues or Elvis or anyone else but definately CCR hit a direct nerve with the skynyrds and all to come
    Flag YAK FARMon May 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I personally think this song could go either way. It could be about draft-dodging... or it could be about just getting out and goin. I personally think its the latter. Just gettin' out and findin' somewhere away from the crowds and crap of city life. Its hard to believe Fogerty was from LA, and the rest of the boys from SF. For me, this song is one of the best rock songs out there, and I don't think Syknard or any of the later southern boys would have done half as well if it hadn't been for CCR.
    Flag crpb1on February 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:nah man hes not talking about dodging the war...hes talking about all the crap u get in life just get away from it....have u ever gone on a road trip where neon turns to wood...get out of the city...where the highway ends...if u ever go south when the highway ends ur in nowhere away from the city in a great place

    the first verse is talking about leaving ur problems behind

    second verse is about u can reck your brain all day thinking about crap that doesnt matter like perpetual motion u can enjoy a crystal day...what u think about to take ur mind of u crappy life....job...or family

    third verse...where the highway ends theres a big red tree where he will meet someone whos gonna catch a ride from there crappy lives to the place up ahead

    CCR always talked about peace man just loving your life but they knew everyone had to deal with crap...so leave ur crap behind come along come along with me
    Flag rememberthefutureon January 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:The guitar solo was probably my favorite part of the song.
    Flag Pink_Floyd_fanon June 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Could be more general than draft dodging, more just about the hippie revolution. The place up ahead is the idealistic future. Leave the sinking ship behind (the current status quo) and come join the movement.
    Flag trippinbtmon September 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I'll stand by anyone who can make Bend rhyme with Wind.
    Flag orangetomorrowon September 17, 2006   Link

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