Long As I Can See the Light

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"Long As I Can See the Light"
Long as I can see the light label.jpg
Single by Creedence Clearwater Revival
from the album Cosmo's Factory
A-side "Lookin' Out My Back Door"
ReleasedJuly 25, 1970 (1970-07-25) [1]
Genre
Length3:33
Label Fantasy
Songwriter(s) John Fogerty
Producer(s) John Fogerty
Creedence Clearwater Revival singles chronology
"Up Around the Bend"
(1970)
"Long As I Can See the Light"
(1970)
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
(1971)

"Long As I Can See the Light" is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, from the album Cosmo's Factory . Released as the flip side of the single "Lookin' Out My Back Door" in 1970, it reached number 57 on the Cash Box singles chart in the US, number 20 in the UK and number one in Norway (in the UK, "Long As I Can See the Light" was on the A-side, and "Lookin' Out My Back Door" on the flip).

Cash Box compared it to "Lookin' Out My Back Door", calling "Long as I Can See the Light" "a slower paced ballad from the blues school. More subtle, but a good bet to overtake the “Lookin’” side." [4] Billboard called it a "funky blues number." [5]

The two songs were also released as a double-sided single and peaked at number two in the US. [6]

"Long As I Can See the Light" appears on most Creedence Clearwater Revival compilation albums, notably The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits . [7] It became a concert staple for singer John Fogerty as a solo artist. [8]

Fogerty biographer Thomas M. Kitts describes the song as depicting a "world-weary figure", perhaps Jeremiah, who "undertakes an uncertain journey." The singer is confident as long as he "can see the light." Kitts points out that the word 'light' has two meanings in the song: a spiritual meaning, such as in "The Lord is my light" from Psalm 27, and "the secular light of love". He describes the music as having a "hymnal, church-like feel." [9]

Fogerty expressed surprise at having come up with a candle as a metaphor for a beacon guiding the singer home. He stated that the song is "about the loner in me. Wanting to feel understood, needing those at home to shine a light so that I can make my way back." [10]

"If you tour a lot, it's one of those songs that just makes you miss home so badly," remarked Slipknot front-man Corey Taylor. "A really sombre piece." [11]

The drum beat was sampled by Moby for "The Sky Is Broken" on his 1999 album Play . [12]

2013 remake

Fogerty recorded a new version of the song with rock band My Morning Jacket for his 2013 album Wrote a Song for Everyone . The remake was recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville on May 2, 2012.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creedence Clearwater Revival</span> American rock band

Creedence Clearwater Revival, commonly abbreviated as CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, his brother, rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook, and drummer Doug Clifford. These members had played together since 1959, first as the Blue Velvets and later as the Golliwogs, before settling on Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1967. The band's most prolific and successful period between 1969 and 1971 produced fourteen consecutive top 10 singles and five consecutive top 10 albums in the United States – two of which, Green River (1969) and Cosmo's Factory (1970), reached number one. The band performed at the 1969 Woodstock festival in Upstate New York, and was the first major act signed to appear there.

<i>Cosmos Factory</i> 1970 studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Cosmo's Factory is the fifth studio album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released by Fantasy Records in July 1970. Six of the album's eleven tracks were released as singles in 1970, and all of them charted in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album spent nine consecutive weeks in the number one position on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA in 1990.

<i>Creedence Clearwater Revival</i> (album) 1968 studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival is the debut studio album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in July 1968, by Fantasy in the US. Featuring the band's first hit single, "Susie Q", which reached number 11 in the US charts, it was recorded shortly after the band changed its name from the Golliwogs and began developing a signature swamp rock sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Moon Rising</span> Creedence Clearwater Revival song

"Bad Moon Rising" is a song written by John Fogerty and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was the lead single from their album Green River and was released in April 16, 1969 four months before the album. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on 28 June 1969 and reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in September of that year. It was CCR's second gold single.

"Born on the Bayou" (1969) is the first track on Creedence Clearwater Revival's second album, Bayou Country, released in 1969. It was released as the B-side of the single "Proud Mary" that reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts. The song was covered by Little Richard.

<i>Bad Moon Rising: The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Bad Moon Rising: The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival is a compilation album of the major hits from American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proud Mary</span> 1969 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Proud Mary" is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival written by John Fogerty. It was released as a single in January 1969 by Fantasy Records and on the band's second studio album, Bayou Country. The song became a major hit in the United States, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1969, the first of five singles to peak at No. 2 for the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travelin' Band</span> Original song written and composed by John Fogerty

"Travelin' Band" is a song written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was included on their 1970 album Cosmo's Factory. Backed with "Who'll Stop the Rain", it was one of three double sided singles from that album to reach the top five on the U.S. Pop Singles Chart and the first of two to reach the number 2 spot on the American charts, alongside "Lookin' Out My Back Door", in which they were unable to interrupt the six-week run of the successful number one, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel. "Travelin' Band" was also a hit in the UK, reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lookin' out My Back Door</span> 1970 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Lookin' out My Back Door" is a song recorded by the American band Creedence Clearwater Revival. Written by the band's lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter John Fogerty, it is included on their 1970 album Cosmo's Factory; this was the group's fifth album, and was also their fifth and final number-two Billboard hit, held off the top by Diana Ross's version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". It was their only Cash Box Top 100 number-one hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run Through the Jungle</span> 1970 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Run Through the Jungle" is a 1970 song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was released as a double A-side single with "Up Around The Bend" and on the album Cosmo's Factory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Have You Ever Seen the Rain?</span> 1971 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" is a song written by John Fogerty and released as a single in 1971 from the album Pendulum (1970) by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart in March 1971. In the U.S., in the same year it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. On Cash Box pop chart, it peaked at number three. In the UK, it reached number 36. It was the group's eighth gold-selling single. In March 2023, the song surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.

Creedence Country is a compilation album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR). It was released by Fantasy Records in October 1981 with the purpose of infiltrating the country market.

<i>The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival</i> 1993 greatest hits album by Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival is a compilation album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in 1993. The album features all the tracks on Chronicle, which was released in 1976, as well as "Good Golly Miss Molly," "Born on the Bayou", "Cotton Fields," "Hello Mary Lou," "The Midnight Special," "Walk on the Water," and "Night Time Is the Right Time," which appear on the 1986 release Chronicle, Vol. 2. "Bootleg" does not appear on either volume.

"Who'll Stop the Rain" is a song written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival for their 1970 album Cosmo's Factory. Backed with "Travelin' Band", it was one of three double-sided singles from that album to reach the top five on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and the first of two to reach the No. 2 spot on the American charts, alongside "Lookin' Out My Back Door"/"Long As I Can See the Light". In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 188 on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green River (song)</span> 1969 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Green River" is a song by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was written by John Fogerty and released as a single in July 1969, one month before the album of the same name was released. "Green River" peaked at number two for one week, behind "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, and was ranked by Billboard as the No. 31 song of 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Hitch-Hiker</span> 1971 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Sweet Hitch-Hiker" is a song by the American roots/swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival from their 1972 album Mardi Gras. It was first released as a single in 1971 and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their 9th and last top 10 hit. On the Record Retailer UK Singles Chart, it peaked at #36.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Girls</span> 1985 song by John Fogerty

"Rock and Roll Girls" is a song written by John Fogerty that was first released on his 1985 album Centerfield. It was also released as the second single from the album, backed with the title track of the album. It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number five on the Mainstream Rock chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commotion (song)</span> 1969 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"Commotion" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival from the album Green River, and was also the B-side of the single release of the album's title track. In 1980, "Tombstone Shadow" b/w "Commotion'" was released as a single in the United States. While released as a B-side, "Commotion" reached #30 in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 in Germany. It was written by John Fogerty and recorded at Wally Heider's Studios in San Francisco in June 1969. The 45rpm was the debut session of the band at Wally Heider's and the first collaboration with engineer Russ Gary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Came Out of the Sky</span> 1970 single by Creedence Clearwater Revival

"It Came Out of the Sky" is a song written by John Fogerty that was included on Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 album Willy and the Poor Boys. It was also released as a single in some countries and has appeared on several of the group's compilation albums. It was included occasionally in the group's live set even after John Fogerty left the group and the remaining members reformed as Creedence Clearwater Revisited.

"Don't Look Now " is a song written by John Fogerty that was first released on Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 album Willy and the Poor Boys. It has also appeared on several of the group's live and compilation albums. It was covered by Minutemen on their 1984 album Double Nickels on the Dime.

References

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  6. "Long as I Can See the Light - Creedence Clearwater Revival | Song Info". AllMusic.
  7. "John Fogerty Tour Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm.
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