“Up Around the Bend” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Up Around the Bend” is based on somewhat of a urban-to-rural drift ideology. In other words, “up around the bend” represents a physical location as well as an idea. Thus the location itself is not specified nor even necessarily what is important. Rather the focus is on what “up around the bend” represents, as in an escape from an inherently a modern-urban setting to a place of happiness, where people have the wherewithal to sit down, think clearly and chill.

It is the closing line of the second verse, “where the neons turn to wood”, that lets us know “up around the bend” is indeed a place outside of the city. It is at the “end of the highway” (which may also be symbolic of leaving the city behind), in a natural habitat. And based on this understanding, “the sinking ship” which the addressee is being encouraged to “leave… behind” in the first verse would also be synonymous with the city.

But the track, in its entirety, does not read like a treatise against urban living. Rather the singer has found a place of ‘songs’, ‘smiles’, peace and “good conversation”, and he wants the audience to ride “the rising wind” and reach this destination to partake of this experience.

Release Date of “Up Around the Bend” and Chart Success

“Up Around the Bend” was released as a double-sided single, with “Run Through the Jungle” on the other side, in April of 1970. Both of these tracks were featured on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s album critically acclaimed album Cosmo’s Factory.

They also both proved to be hits and collectively peaked at number 4 on America’s Billboard Hot 100 and number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Furthermore, they made the top 10 in these regions:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Ireland
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• West Germany

Also, they reached number 1 in Canada and the Netherlands.

Covers

By virtue of its great success, “Up Around the Bend” has been covered numerous times by a number of artists, most-notably Elton John.

 Usage in Advertisement

The song has also appeared in a number of ads. For example, Wrangler jeans used this classic (by its original artists) in one of their 2016 commercials.

Who wrote “Up Around the Bend”?

Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty wrote and produced this track alone. He conceptualized the song while riding his motorcycle through the Californian hillside.

FYI, the term “around the bend” is actually an idiom in the United Kingdom which is tantamount to a person losing his mind. Thus when Creedence Clearwater Revival toured Britain they were inclined to tell the press that such was not the subject matter of this song.