Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'

Subject: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: Tiger
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 02:03 PM

Lookin' Out my Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cosmo's Factory, 1970

Last stanza:
Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn
Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrow
Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door

Sure, this is a psychedelic song, but 'forward troubles' makes no sense at all. I've listened/watched the video over and over and it doesn't seem like he has a hard consonant at the end of the (presumed) word 'forward'. Hundreds of lyrics sites say the same thing, but mistakes often wind up being propogated, e.g., "there's a bathroom on the right".

Can some one clear this up and, maybe explain it?

Also, I think it should be "bide" not "buy"

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 07:19 PM

Just listened to it. I think he's saying 'for all our troubles Illinois' Seems a little cryptic. May want to ask him on his website as his head's a little more clear these days. :-)

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 07:32 PM

You're trying to find sense from a guy on fuckin' flying spoon????

Since he just got back from Illinois I'd say he's sending any troubles back there where he ain't and locking the door against others........lyrics below for what its worth....

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',

[CHORUS:]
Doo, doo, doo, Lookin' out my back door.

There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
A dinosaur Victrola list'ning to Buck Owens.

[CHORUS]

Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Wond'rous apparition provided by magician.

[CHORUS]

Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.

[CHORUS]

Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.

[CHORUS]


Spaw

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: Snuffy
Date: 17 Apr 11 - 05:32 AM

Victrola, huh? For 40 years I've thought it was a dinosaur patrolling. I'll have to dig out the vinyl.

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: Tiger
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 04:10 PM

I guess no one will refute the stanza as posted.

But, what the hell does "Forward troubles Illinois" mean?

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST,999
Date: 29 Apr 11 - 04:13 PM

Yeah. General Motors solves everything. Think Detroit.

Subject: REFRESH
From: Tiger
Date: 06 May 11 - 03:16 PM

One more try :)

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 May 11 - 03:38 PM

Tiger: I just checked the sheet music. The lyrics seem to be correct.

I`m guessin`that forward troubles, Illinois means that`s where I just got back from so send troubles there, NOT to me where I am now.

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: Tiger
Date: 06 May 11 - 04:42 PM

Could be, Guest. Thanks. That comma gives it some meaning, I guess.

I'm assuming you mean real sheet music, not something from a website, 'cause mistakes have a way of getting replicated there.

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 May 11 - 04:48 PM

It sure looked like real sheet music.

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 11 - 06:20 PM

You forward mail, (now we forward email).

Forward troubles Illinois and the whole verse basically means if you are bringing any trouble to the door, forward it to Illinois. Things are great here (happy creatures dancing on the lawn) so send them elsewhere.

You gotta be able to give some license and allow the lyricist and the poet the ability to shorten sentences to fit the pentameter.

Subject: RE: Misheard CCR 'Forward troubles Illinois'
From: GUEST,Just Me
Date: 24 May 14 - 02:27 AM

The song is known for its upbeat tempo, its down-home feel, and a signature change in key and tempo towards the end. The song's lyrics, filled with colorful, dream-like imagery, led some to believe that the song was about drugs. According to the drug theory, the "flying spoon" in the song was a cocaine spoon, and the crazy animal images were an acid trip. Fogerty, however, has stated in interviews that the song was actually written for his then three-year old son, Josh. Fogerty has also said that the reference to a parade passing by was inspired by the Dr. Seuss book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. One of Fogerty's musical influences, Buck Owens, is also mentioned in the song.

It is Forward, as in pass on the troubles aka forward to IL, and it is also a Dinosaur Victrola hence the reference to listenin' to Buck Owens... Hope this helps!