In Rolling Stone issue 649, John Fogerty explained that the lyrics were inspired by a movie called The Devil And Daniel Webster, in which a hurricane wipes out most of a town. This is where he got the idea for the words "I feel the hurricane blowin', I hope you're quite prepared to die." Overall, he said the song is about the "apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us."

This contains a classic misheard lyric. The line "There's a bad moon on the rise" is often heard as "There's a bathroom on the right." Not only do many people sing the wrong lyrics, but John Fogerty himself sang the "bathroom on the right" lyric once during the "Premonition" concert. It can be heard after the last verse of the song quite plainly.

Fogerty would often have fun with this trope, sometimes pointing to a nearby bathroom from the stage when he got to the famous misheard line.

Lyrics

I see a bad moon a-rising

I see trouble on the way

I see earthquakes and lightnin'

I see bad times today

Don't go 'round tonight

It's bound to take your life

There's a bad moon on the rise

I hear hurricanes a-blowing

I know the end is coming soon

I fear rivers over flowing

I hear the voice of rage and ruin

Don't go 'round tonight

It's bound to take your life

There's a bad moon on the rise

I hope you got your things together

I hope you are quite prepared to die

Look's like we're in for nasty weather

One eye is taken for an eye

Oh don't go 'round tonight

It's bound to take your life

There's a bad moon on the rise

There's a bad moon on the rise

Songwriters: John C. Fogerty

Bad Moon Rising lyrics © The Bicycle Music Company