Met myself a comin' county welfare line
I was feelin' strung out, hung out on the line
Saw myself a goin', down to war in June
All I want, all I want is to write myself a tune

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
And I couldn't even talk to you

Got myself arrested, wound me up in jail
Richmond 'bout to blow up, communication failed
If you see the answer, now's the time to say
All I want, all I want is to get you down and pray

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you

Saw the people standin' thousand years in chains
Somebody said it's different now, look, it's just the same
Pharoah's spin the message, 'round and 'round the truth
They could have saved a million people, how can I tell you?

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
And I couldn't even talk to you

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you

Wrote a song for everyone
Wrote a song for truth
Wrote a song For everyone
When I couldn't even talk to you


Lyrics submitted by stevethegreat

Wrote a Song For Everyone Lyrics as written by John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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Wrote a Song for Everyone song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Somebody comment on this song its simply amazing...i personally think this song is about the treatment of blacks in the 60's, because of the line " saw the people standing 1000 years in chains, somebody said its different now, look its just the same".......this might mean that the black person has always been slaved and when people say there free now-a-days they really arent...i dunno just a thought

    stevethegreaton May 30, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    The story behind this song is actually one of my favorites. CCR’s “producer” Saul Zantz (john fogerty really produced the music) was breathing down Fogerty’s neck to come up with the next hit song. The pressure was getting to John as he was beginning to feel that the whole future of the band hung on him and him alone. A real prelude to the bands brake up. Anyway, John’s wife at the time was trying to help him through it but he felt like he couldn’t even turn to her. In frustration, he locked him self in his study and wrote this song. His own feelings of frustration came out in a brilliant metaphor that holds a much broader meaning when listened too on the outside.

    bradburyesquon June 01, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    From the man himself, John Fogerty:

    "Inspired by my young wife at the time. It was early '69, and I was 23 years old. We had our first child, who, at the time, was two and a half. I was sitting in my room, writing the songs, pushing my career. Without the songs, the career ends. You might be a great band, but without the songs, you're not going anywhere. At one point, my wife and I had a mild misunderstanding, I wouldn't even call it a fight, She was miffed, taking our young son out, wishing I would be more invloved. But there I was, the musician manic and possessed the only guy holding things up. Without me, it all collapses, so I'm feeling quite put apon. As she walks out the door, I say to my self, "I wrote a song for everyone, and I couldn't even talk to you." I looked at my piece of paper and changed gears. How many great leaders can't even mamage their own families? So I went with that. "Pharaohs spin the message/Round and round and true/Richmonds about to blow up" referring to nearby Richmond, California. It was actually a true emotion that took on a larger meaning. It's still a special song in the sense that it keeps my feet on the ground. You sit and write these songs, yet you try to talk to your own son and daughter and mabey\ you're totally inadequate, trying to explain life to a child. We used to record our albums very quickly and I remember finishing five different songs in one afternoon. The fifth one didn't work, and that was "Wrote A Song For Everyone." I had to start over on that one."

    lostboyofamericaon March 21, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    In my opinion this is the best Creedence song ever!!! Big call I know, BUT it is MY opinion after all. This song is so underrated.

    Sicklenhammeron November 28, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just heard this song for the first time, after buying the album earlier today. At first I thought it was a love song, about some problems with his girlfriend/wife/whatever. But after looking at the lyrics above I realised there must be a deeper meaning to the song. It seems to me that this song is about the feelings of "oppresion by the man" and the yearning to "break free" in the 60s. In regard to Steve's comment above, I think that the chains may be a reference to all the people being "oppresed by the man" in the 60s, and them breaking free, not just black people in particular. In anycase, I love the song.

    Oceanic Gazeon June 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just heard this song for the first time, after buying the album earlier today. At first I thought it was a love song, about some problems with his girlfriend/wife/whatever. But after looking at the lyrics above I realised there must be a deeper meaning to the song. It seems to me that this song is about the feelings of "oppresion by the man" and the yearning to "break free" in the 60s. In regard to Steve's comment above, I think that the chains may be a reference to all the people being "oppresed by the man" in the 60s, and them breaking free, not just black people in particular. In anycase, I love the song.

    Oceanic Gazeon June 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I just heard this song for the first time, after buying the album earlier today. At first I thought it was a love song, about some problems with his girlfriend/wife/whatever. But after looking at the lyrics above I realised there must be a deeper meaning to the song. It seems to me that this song is about the feelings of "oppresion by the man" and the yearning to "break free" in the 60s. In regard to Steve's comment above, I think that the chains may be a reference to all the people being "oppresed by the man" in the 60s, and them breaking free, not just black people in particular. In anycase, I love the song.

    Oceanic Gazeon June 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hey idiot...you only need to click the add button once, not so many times it makes you dizzy you anal rapping whore.

    stevethegreaton June 17, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my all time favorite CCR tune, its a song you can just feel, its country-blues bliss

    MrTambourineManon December 31, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It may be about someone who looks at the big picture, fights for social justice, writes popular songs, but can't sustain a normal relationships with his girlfriend.

    chrisb1on September 23, 2005   Link

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