This one is a sad song. It reminds me a little of Cat’s in the Cradle…except more painful. This one was inspired by Fogerty’s parents getting a divorce when he was younger.
This song was on their last studio album Mardis Gras. To put it bluntly…a bad album. The only bad album in their original catalog. The band was coming apart at this time and John’s brother Tom had already quit after the last album. They made the album as a trio. John Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford. The others wanted to be able to have more of a say on the direction of the band.
John had heard this for a while so he basically told them…you two are responsible for a 1/3 of the album so go write. The other two were not ready for this as they had to write songs and sing also. The album was a disaster and was known as “Fogerty’s Revenge” and after the album they did a tour and the band was over after that.
The song peaked at #25 in the Billboard Album Charts and #29 in Canada in 1972. The album peaked at #11 in the Billboard 100 and #12 in Canada on the strength of Sweet Hitch Hiker and Someday Never Comes.
John Fogerty:
- “Someday Never Comes” is simply a song about my parents undergoing a divorce when I was a child and me not knowing many things. When my dad left me, he told me to be a man and someday I would understand everything. Now, I’m here basically repeating the same thing really. I had a son in 1966 and I went away when he was five years old or so and again told him “someday” he would understand everything. Really, all kids ask questions like “Daddy, when are we going fishing?” and parents always answer with “someday”, but in reality someday never comes and kids never learn what they’re supposed to learn. –
- When I wrote this song, my life was pretty chaotic. I knew my marriage was going to break up. My band was falling apart. I was beginning to sense the darkness that was Fantasy Records. This song was inspired by my parents’ divorce when I was a young boy and the effect it had on me. At the time, they told me, “Someday, you’ll understand.” The truth of this is that you never do and I found myself facing this as a parent. The irony was painful and inescapable
Someday Never Comes
First thing I remember was asking papa, why,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And daddy always smiled and took me by the hand,
Saying, someday you’ll understand.
Well, I’m here to tell you now, each and every mother’s son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes.
Well, time and tears went by and I collected dust.
For there were many things I didn’t know.
When daddy went away, he said, try to be a man,
And someday you’ll understand.
Well, I’m here to tell you now, each and every mother’s son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes.
And then one day in April, I wasn’t even there,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
A son was born to me. Mama held his hand,
Sayin’ someday you’ll understand.
Well, I’m here to tell you now, each and every mother’s son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
Think it was September, the year I went away,
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And still I see him standing, tryin’ to be a man,
I said, someday you’ll understand.
Well, I’m here to tell you now, each and every mother’s son,
That you better learn it fast, you better learn it young,
‘Cause someday never comes
Ooo someday never comes.
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Brilliant track… a typical slice from John Fogerty, which would become one of the last great CCR songs before they disbanded.
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There are so many marriages that end up in divorce and that is hard on the kids. I am lucky that my parents stayed together for ever and that my dad actually enjoyed playing with all of his children, but he was better with my brother and I than he was with my sister.
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I went through it when I was about 4 or 5…but after a bit I was a little happy because I didn’t hear the fighting anymore… they got a long great apart…after the first few months.
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Another great one from the great CCR. My understanding of John Fogerty is that he could be a bit of a jerk, putting it mildly. But he is immensely talented. The rest of the band was talented too–just not immensely so, although the drummer, Doug Clifford, is really, really good.
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They were very good instrumentally… I think of great sport stars like Ted Williams….when he managed a team it didn’t work because he wanted everyone to do what he did…and not everyone can be that good.
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not the best CCR song, but the most under-rated by far, to me. A great song I remember from back then but never hear on radio. Never gave the lyrics a lot of thought but you’re right, they are sad. Still , a song I’m happy to see remembered.
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The way he sings it is very painful…it conveys the message really well.
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I could do with hearing it a few times on oldies radio in place of “Proud Mary” for a tenth time in the week.
Like you said, similar topic and poise to ‘Cats in the Cradle’, both well written and thoughtful songs.
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YES! I agree with hearing it before Proud Mary.
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This is a favorite of mine and at least one of my brothers. It’s written and sung in a way that reaches kids who are going through a really rough time with their parents. I like the comparison to Cat’s in the Cradle. It’s sort of the kid’s point of view of that.
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The way he sings it is totally different…and it does work in this one. It took a few listens for me to really like it…but I do now.
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Mercifully I’ve never had the divorce experience – but certainly taught a lot of kids who went through it and they would almost inevitably say “I don’t know who I am”. Credence Clearwater Revival has always been one of my favourite groups.
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They are great…
I did when I was 4 and it was bad but a relief not to hear them fight…but it would have been better without it.
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I never thought about the lyrics for this. It’s pretty underrated – it wasn’t on the CCR compilation I had growing up.
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I think most second and third generation fans grew up with packages instead of original albums… I was lucky…I had Chronicles and it did have this one.
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Yes agree one is their underrated classics. I also never listened closely to lyrics so thanks for the backstory. Yes I first had Chronicle. It’s unbelievable the number of great songs they put out in such a short time
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Nice! Saw Fogerty last weekend. Heavy on the CCR, but not this one. Have not posted on that one yet, but it is next on the list.
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Cool… I didn’t think he would still play this one…the one I would want to hear the most was not a hit…”I Wrote A Song For Everyone”…one of my favorite CCR songs.
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Yeah, the surprise songs he did were “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Keep on Chooglin”. Rest of the CCR stuff were hits
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I know guys like him and the Stones must play some of the hits…I get that but I wish they would deviate a little and do a half of set of B sides.
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Yeah, I guess when you have that many great songs, you just pick a couple B siders. Last time I saw the Stones they did Mercy Mercy. They said it was their first time performing that since Hyde Park. That was pretty cool. Also did Rocks Off, one of my fav Stones tunes. Caught the Stones on Tattoo You tour and they did Star Star. Couldn’t believe it!
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Oh Star Star! I would have loved to have seen that. The rarest thing they did was Faraway Eyes… which was cool!
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Another band that will be on my draft thing. Very good tune Max
(Found another band that fits that style we both like. Green On Red, Railroad Jerk. The Pink Stones. Maybe you turned me on. It was someone on the blogs I visit)
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No you did me with two of those…now I have to hear the Pink Stones!
last weekend I covered all female blues/soul/rock bands. Some good ones.
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