It Came Out Of The Sky

Album: Willy and the Poor Boys (1970)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is a satire in which a space object plummets to earth and triggers overreactions of greed and paranoia in both the California governor's mansion and the White House. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brad Wind - Miami, FL
  • This is told from the perspective of the meteorite: "Don't you know I'm flying tonight," "Gonna hear the sun tonight," etc.
  • CCR's song "Hey Tonight" was a sequel to this, told from the perspective of the meteorite: "Don't you know I'm flying tonight," "Gonna hear the sun tonight," etc. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brett - Edmonton, Canada, for above 2

Comments: 4

  • Pappy from MichiganThis song is about the great UFO flap of 1966.

    "Well, a crowd gathered 'round and a scientist said it was marsh gas" link:

    https://bit.ly/3et8UGb
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaI saw a comment on Youtube last year that this song was about someone who lost an amp or something like that out of a plane. never could get the person to comment back to hear the whole story. It has become my very FAV CCR tune they ever recorded.
  • Brian from Los Angeles, Ca"Walter and Eric said they'd put him on in their TV show." Refers to legendary newsmen of the time Walter Cronkite and Eric Sevareid. If you've not heard of them, it's because you watch TMZ.
  • Jason from Thousand Oaks, CaThere's a reference in the song to Nixon VP Spiro T. Agnew, "Spiro came and made a speach about raising the Mars tax". Nixon appointed Agnew head of the National Aeronautics and Space Council. After Agnew publicly advocated a space shot to Mars, it was explained to him that there was no money for a project of that magnitude. There's also a reference to Ronald Reagan, "Ronnie the popular say's it was a communist plot". Reagan was the Governer of California at the time, and his transition from acting to politics is where the "popular" sentiment comes from.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins

Tom Bailey of Thompson TwinsSongwriter Interviews

Tom stopped performing Thompson Twins songs in 1987, in part because of their personal nature: "Hold Me Now" came after an argument with his bandmate/girlfriend Alannah Currie.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?

What Musicians Are Related to Other Musicians?Song Writing

A big list of musical marriages and family relations ranging from the simple to the truly dysfunctional.