What does Long As I Can See The Light mean?

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Long As I Can See The Light Meaning

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Album cover for Long As I Can See The Light album cover

Song Released: 1970


Long As I Can See The Light Lyrics

ut a candle in the window, but I feel I've got to move.
Though I'm going, going, I'll be coming home soon,
'Long as I can see the light.

Pack my bag and let's get movin', 'cause I'm bound to drift a while.
Well I'm gone, gone, you don't...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    May 29th 2011 !⃝

    He's at a point in his life when he just need to get away. To explore new surroundings and walk away from his past to begin a new future without losing his true self. It's a very touching song that evokes the adventurous human spirit to remember that a man is not defined by where he lives and what he does for a living. Rather, a man is defined by who he is through his actions and his experiences. This man is determined to not let life dictate his actions; he lets his actions dictate his life. But he understands that his passion (or his light) will fade with time.Metaphorically speaking, a candle burns bright but with time it will melt and cease to shine. Life is too short and the world is too big to live in only one spot. Life beckons and he must respond.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Dec 23rd 2011 !⃝

    I believe this song is sung from the perspective of a soldier sent to war. Seeing as CCR was making music at the height of the Vietnam war and during a time of war, especially vietnam, parents would keep a candle lit in the window every night there son was away in hopes that he can find his way home.

  3. Farel
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    Sep 23rd 2023 !⃝

    I think the candle in the window is just like this little flame that we can see in the eyes of our loved one. Whenever we move away as long as we can see this light (love) in their eyes we know we can come home. If we don't see it any more, we can just be sad for some time and continue the way. But it's only my interpretation because there is a lot of feeling in this beautiful song. Each time I listen this song it is like the first time. Thank you to John Fogerty even if perhaps I am totally wrong in the meaning. Anyway.

  4. anonymous
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    May 22nd 2022 !⃝

    I always thought it meant death that if he died long as he could see the candle he would be going home to jesus

  5. anonymous
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    Nov 3rd 2019 !⃝

    I feel that the meaning of the song is that through the good and the bad you will always see the light at the end and you do

  6. anonymous
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    Nov 3rd 2019 !⃝

    I see the light is knowing the truth moving and not staying in one place not being afraid to live life fully and also knowing why you are living in the first place

  7. anonymous
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    Oct 30th 2018 !⃝

    I hope that some of the previous people who commented will find this note... Those who served in Vietnam especially and slaves too. I saw Men,Educated MenPray for you Dailyy near Travis AFB.in the home I was raised in Protesting and standing with you... The same during those times for Black Americans... Praying and advocating. The Light in the Window. Thank you.

  8. anonymous
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    Oct 18th 2018 !⃝

    Art can mean whatever you feel or think when exposed to it. For me this song is all about my trip to Vietnam. The good soldier who didn't want to go, but good soldiers follow orders.
    I'll be coming home soon can mean 2 things, one good, one bad.
    You won't have to worry long seems like an ominous prediction, or maybe not.
    That old travelling bone is the soldier's ticket to a plane ride - someone else is making me travel, I just can't stop thinking about it.

  9. anonymous
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    Jan 16th 2017 !⃝

    I did not get sent to Viet Nam but many of my fellow vets came back to candles in the window. we were so looked down on and alone we would move along but always knew there was a candle in the window where there was acceptance.

  10. anonymous
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    Jun 17th 2016 !⃝

    We believe it was Christian based and the candle in the window is Jesus and as long as he can see the light which Is Jesus he'll make it home to heaven without getting lost

  11. anonymous
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    Sep 25th 2015 !⃝

    At a John Fogerty show in Canada (Nov. 2014) Fogerty stated that the title for "Long As I Can See The Light" was inspired when the band played Woodstock in 1969.
    According to Fogerty, they were scheduled to play after the Grateful Dead (whose set ran longer than expected, meaning CCR would not take the stage until ~2:00 am). Fogerty noticed most of the crowd had fallen asleep during the Grateful Dead's set.

    At some point during the performance, Fogerty says he looked into the crowd where he could see just one person awake, waving a lighter and shouting "WE'RE WITH YOU JOHN!!!!!"

  12. anonymous
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    Feb 28th 2013 !⃝

    I thought it was about the war as well until the third verse where he says "guess ive got that old travlin bone". To me that seems to indicate his own choice that he is making or his character rather than being shipped off to war.

  13. anonymous
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    Feb 25th 2012 !⃝

    I always thought it was about the soldiers in the Vietnam war as well, its the right era and factual in reasons the candle was used in the window. We still hang those war mother's flag in a window with a candle (electric).

  14. anonymous
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    Nov 20th 2011 !⃝

    No matter how far he goes, or how long he is going for; as long as he is able to remember his loved one (the light of his life,) he'll keep coming home of her.


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