♫ Lookin’ Out My Back Door ♫

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I played this one just a couple of years ago, but in a comment tonight, Richard (ryinger) mentioned it, posted a line from it, and that was all it took to get it stuck in my head!  The power of suggestion!  I could envision falling into bed around 3:30 and hearing “doo doo doo, lookin’ out my back door” looping endlessly through the shadows of my tired mind.  So, I decided to share it with you guys and (hopefully) exorcise it from my mind so that I can get a bit of much-needed sleep later on! 

Released in July 1970, this one by Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), hit #2 in the U.S., but only went to #20 in the UK.  Still, #20 isn’t all that bad, all things considered.

This song was partly written for John Fogerty’s son Josh, who at the time was three years old. According to Fogerty …

“I knew he would love it if he heard me on the radio singing – doot doot doo, lookin’ out my back door.”

And the part about a parade passing was inspired, according to John, by a Dr. Seuss book that he read as a kid titled To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street.  But, apparently conspiracy theorists even delve into music to spin their tall tales, for many people thought this was about drugs when it was really an innocent song inspired by a child. According to the drug theory, the “Flying Spoon” was a cocaine spoon, and the crazy animal images were an acid trip.

Lookin’ Out My Back Door
Creedence Clearwater Revival

Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch
Imagination sets in, pretty soon I’m singin’
Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door

There’s a giant doin’ cartwheels, a statue wearin’ high heels
Look at all the happy creatures dancin’ on the lawn
Dinosaur Victrola, listenin’ to Buck Owens
Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door

Tambourines and elephants are playin’ in the band
Won’t you take a ride on the flyin’ spoon? Dood-n-doo-doo
Wonderous apparition provided by magician
Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door

Tambourines and elephants are playin’ in the band
Won’t you take a ride on the flyin’ spoon? Dood-n-doo-doo
Bother me tomorrow, today I’ll buy no sorrows
Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door

Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancin’ on the lawn
Bother me tomorrow, today I’ll buy no sorrows
Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: J. C. Fogerty
Lookin’ Out My Back Door lyrics © Jondora Music

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11 thoughts on “♫ Lookin’ Out My Back Door ♫”

  3. As I am reading this, 20 hours after you posted it, my Sirius radil channel is playing CCR — Who’ll Stop the Rain. A double whammy. Didn’t I just tell the world I don’t really care for CCR. Am I being punidhed?
    Meanwhile, neither your song or the one on TV can get past the ear wig I’ve had all day because Clive kinda put one there yesterday. “Silver threads and golden neefles will not leave these ears of mine!” As sung by Wanda Jackson, not Linda Ronstadt. So pooh on both of you, and Sitius radio too!

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    • Ha ha … a double whammy indeed! Perhaps if you hear enough of them, they’ll grow on you! Oh I well remember “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” and it rather stuck in my head for a short time, but I smacked my head and told it to stop, which fortunately it did!

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  4. I’ve always loved this song (it’s twangier than I generally care for, but CCR gets a total slide on that from me,) it’s just good fun no matter how old I get!

    Liked by 2 people

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