The 550,000,000-streamed 1969 song John Fogerty considers his finest hour: “My best song”
John Fogerty says “Proud Mary” is his best song, crediting both its personal meaning and the circumstances in which he wrote it. The Creedence Clearwater Revival hit took shape after he was discharged from the US Army in 1968, when relief at leaving military service gave way to an immediate burst of songwriting.
Fogerty recalled finding his discharge letter outside his home, celebrating, then picking up his guitar and quickly writing the song’s opening lines. He said he knew it was his finest work by the time he reached the refrain. The article also notes Tina Turner’s 1971 cover, which took the song in a different direction and became the better-known version.
- Fogerty calls “Proud Mary” his best song.
- He began writing it after his 1968 Army discharge.
- Tina Turner’s 1971 cover became the better-known version.