Songnotes

the hand-crafted music library of @davidpots

  

follow Songnotes:

Lookin' Out My Backdoor

Creedence Clearwater Revival

from the album Cosmo's Factory released in 1970

jump to: lyrics / notes & tabs / videos / chord progressions / song info

Lyrics

(capo 1st Fret)


Intro

    (muted strumming, then...)

    A ... F#m ... D . A . E . A .


Verse

    A                            F#m 
    Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy
    D          A               E 
    Got to sit down and take a rest on the porch
    A                    F#m 
    Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singing
    D         A              E           A 
    Doo, doo, doo... lookin' out my back door

    There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high-heels
    Look at all the happy creatures dancin' on the lawn
    A dinosaur Victrola, listenin' to Buck Owens
    Doo, doo, doo... lookin' out my back door


Chorus

        E                             D                A 
        Tambourines and elephants are playin' in the band
                  A           F#m           E 
        Won't you take a ride on the flying spoon? Doo, doo, doo...
        A                        F#m 
        Wonderous apparition, provided by magician
        D         A              E           A 
        Doo, doo, doo... lookin' out my back door

    (instrumental verse w/ solo)

        Tambourines and elephants are playin' in the band
        Won't you take a ride on the flying spoon? Doo, doo, doo...
        Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrows
        Doo, doo, doo... lookin' out my back door


Key Change


        (muted strumming, then...)

        | F# . . . | E . B . | B . G#m . | F# . . . |

    B                            G#m 
    Forward troubles Illinois... lock the front door, oh boy
    E               B               F# 
    Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn
    B                   G#m 
    Bother me tomorrow, today I'll buy no sorrows
    E         B              F#          B 
    Doo, doo, doo... lookin' out my back door


Outro


    (muted strumming → E B F# B)

Notes & Tabs

Standard Tuning, Capo 1st Fret

This tab shows how to play this song using a capo (positioned on the 1st fret) in standard tuning. You only need to apply a capo (and play in the key of A major) if you want to play along with the album version. Otherwise, a capo is not required. Also, let me disclaim that I'm aware CCR may have played this song without a capo, starting in the key of Bb. If you're looking for the exact tab to play in Bb, seek elsewhere. I'm primarily concerned with creating a tab that is accessible to the masses (and playing in the key of A is certainly easier than that of Bb).

Guitar Chords Used

Here is how to play the guitar used in this song. First, the chords used in the key of A:

e-|---0----2----2---0----
B-|---2----2----3---0----
G-|---2----2----2---1----
D-|---2----4----0---2----
A-|---0----4--------2----
E-|--------2--------0----
      A   F#m   D   E

After changing key to B, you'll want to use these chords:

e-|--------4----0----2----
B-|---4----4----0----2----
G-|---4----4----1----3----
D-|---4----6----2----4----
A-|---2----6----2----4----
E-|--------4----0----2----
      B   G#m   E    F#

Note the Change in Key

Late in the song, note that the song modulates (changes key) up one whole step. Using the chords shown above, you'll notice the change is from the key of A to the key of B. All chord progressions stay the same, as far as each chord's relative position to the root. Ultimately, this change in key is by no means required when playing the song -- but I wanted to make note of this for those interested in a faithful adaptation.

Videos

Offical Album Recording

To listen to the official album recording of this song, refer to this YouTube video:

Recommended Lesson

For a video lesson on how to play this song on guitar, I recommend the following video. It provides a good breakdown of the chords used, shows how to play each section, the strumming pattern used, and so forth.

Chord Progressions

Intro

| A . . . | F#m . . . | D . A . | E . A . |

Verse

"Just got home from Illinois..."
| A . . . | F#m . . . | D . A . | E . . . |
| A . . . | F#m . . . | D . A . | E . A . |

Chorus

"Tambourines and elephants are playin' in the band..."
| E . . . | D   . A . | A . F#m . | E . . . |
| A . . . | F#m . . . | D .  A  . | E . A . |

Song Info

Song: Lookin' Out My Backdoor
Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Album: Cosmo's Factory
Year: 1970
Label: Fantasy

Tip Jar

Want to support Songnotes? If you would like to donate a dollar or few, that would make my day. I've spent over 1000+ hours building this site and transcribing these songs -- and happily make everything available freely. Visit my PayPal page if you'd like to toss something back my way.

Donate via PayPal

Thanks so much!

Video Lessons

Here are some of the video lessons I have made recently. I typically aim to create 3-4 lessons per month. Subscribe on YouTube to be sure you never miss a new lesson.



View my notes & tabs for Dead Flowers →

View my notes & tabs for Issues →

View my notes & tabs for 2U →

View my notes & tabs for Uh Huh →

View my notes & tabs for Meet Me in the Hallway →

View my notes & tabs for Stairway to Heaven →

View my notes & tabs for Wish You Were Here →

View my notes & tabs for Shape of You →

View my notes & tabs for Simple Man →

View my notes & tabs for Highwayman →

View my notes & tabs for Audition (The Fools Who Dream) →

View my notes & tabs for Strangers →

View my notes & tabs for A Lovely Night →

View my notes & tabs for this song →

Browse All Songs

Here's a list of the 173 songs I've added to the site since December 2012. Each song was added by me personally.

Songs are grouped by the year they were released.

2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1977
1975
1974
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
1967
1965
1964
1961
1960
1958
1957

About

My name is David Potsiadlo, and I created Songnotes to share my collection of guitar tabs, chords, and lyrics for my favorite songs.

Since I started playing guitar over 10 years ago, I've often been frustrated by the preponderance of mediocre and incomplete song tabs littered across the internet. To combat this, I started keeping my own collection of notes for each song I learn -- always taking the extra time to make sure accuracy and completeness are never compromised. Years later, my collection grew to the point where I knew I had to share it online with fellow aspiring musicians.

In December 2012, I began designing & developing a website that became Songnotes. Here, I share my personal collection of hand-crafted music notation with all those online. I hope you enjoy.

You can also view my personal website or follow me on Twitter / Dribbble / GitHub / LinkedIn.