John Fogerty was clearly against the Vietnam War. I believe this song was actually written as a dig against the American Government, which is the Satan, he making reference to. The devil, Presidents Nixon & Johnson, set out to crush and exterminate this "enemy" in a pure act of brutal belligerence.
The line "Let the people know my wisdom" was the classic point that protesters constantly asked why, why are we there, who invited us to convert this tiny nation into the western thinking. All of the information and responses from the Government could not begin to explain or justify this act of war. The line could be translated as - Let those people know that we (Nixon, Johnson et al) can & will murder & destroy indiscriminately.
The "thunder magic & smoke" represent the U.S. air strikes that pummeled the land. One of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War was the siege of Khe Sanh in early 1968, known as "Operation Niagra." More than 24,000 tactical and 2700 B-52 strike dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. Also, there was an airborne weapon called “puff the magic dragon” which fired up to 6,000 rounds per minute and the aircraft carried 54,000 rounds – when this let loose, it literally leveled everything in its path – you better run through the jungle!
This war was the biggest farce perpetrated upon the American people and John Forgerty had the courage to stand up and fully use his 1st Amendment right to challenge our leaders.
John Fogerty was clearly against the Vietnam War. I believe this song was actually written as a dig against the American Government, which is the Satan, he making reference to. The devil, Presidents Nixon & Johnson, set out to crush and exterminate this "enemy" in a pure act of brutal belligerence.
The line "Let the people know my wisdom" was the classic point that protesters constantly asked why, why are we there, who invited us to convert this tiny nation into the western thinking. All of the information and responses from the Government could not begin to explain or justify this act of war. The line could be translated as - Let those people know that we (Nixon, Johnson et al) can & will murder & destroy indiscriminately.
The "thunder magic & smoke" represent the U.S. air strikes that pummeled the land. One of the most publicized battles of the Vietnam War was the siege of Khe Sanh in early 1968, known as "Operation Niagra." More than 24,000 tactical and 2700 B-52 strike dropped 110,000 tons of ordnance in attacks that averaged over 300 sorties per day. Also, there was an airborne weapon called “puff the magic dragon” which fired up to 6,000 rounds per minute and the aircraft carried 54,000 rounds – when this let loose, it literally leveled everything in its path – you better run through the jungle!
This war was the biggest farce perpetrated upon the American people and John Forgerty had the courage to stand up and fully use his 1st Amendment right to challenge our leaders.
That’s my take on it.
@jeffllynch Pretty good take!
@jeffllynch Pretty good take!