DÉJÀ VU (ALL OVER AGAIN)^©

Live 11 Oct 2004 version

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you try to read the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Déjà Vu all over again

Day by day I hear the voices rising
Started with a whisper like it did before
Day by day we count the dead and dying
Ship the bodies home while the networks all keep score

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Could your eyes believe the writing on the wall
Did that voice inside you say I've heard it all before
It's like Déjà Vu all over again

One by one I see the old ghosts rising
Stumblin' 'cross Big Muddy
Where the light gets dim
Day after day another Momma's crying
She's lost her precious child
To a war that has no end

Did you hear 'em talkin' 'bout it on the radio
Did you stop to read the writing at the Wall
Did that voice inside you say
I've seen this all before
It's like Déjà Vu all over again
It's like Déjà Vu all over again

Woah woah
Woah woah

Written by John Fogerty, from his 2004 album Déjà Vu All Over Again.

Rehearsed for the Vote For Change tour 29 September 2004 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ, and performed with John Fogerty during each show of the tour (read below):

• 01 Oct 2004 at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
• 02 Oct 2004 at Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH
• 03 Oct 2004 at Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
• 05 Oct 2004 at Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
• 08 Oct 2004 at TD Waterhouse, Orlando, FL
• 11 Oct 2004 at MCI Center, Washington, DC
• 13 Oct 2004 at the Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ

John Fogerty is on vocals and acoustic guitar, backed by the E Street Band, and Bruce on acoustic guitar.

The above lyrics refer to the live 11 Oct 2004 performance at MCI Center, Washington, DC. Check also John Fogerty's original version (exactly same lyrics).

From Backstreets Magazine # 82, page 31:

Fogerty's single [DÉJÀ VU (ALL OVER AGAIN)] about the similarities between the Vietnam war and the current Iraq war likely one of the key factors in his being invited to join the Vote for Change tour. Fogerty performed the song each night of the tour, backed by Springsteen and the E Street Band.

From John Fogerty's interview with Robert S. Bader on Backstreets Magazine # 82:

[Robert S. Bader:] There was a bit of controversy surrounding the tour [Vote For Change tour], and Bruce and some of the other artists took some heat in the media for some of their more outspoken comments. But you seemed to have found just the right tone with your introduction to "Déjà Vu" each night. There's certainly nothing controversial about saying that war is not good for families.

[John Fogerty:] I really do feel that if you get up on a soap box and start screaming at the top of your lungs – especially in very negative terms, the way many folks were doing in the war we now call "Bush bashing" – I find that that's probably a turn-off. Because the sound of the voice is scary; it doesn't make people listen. And I sure didn't want to do that. Beyond that, more to the point is that the song is quiet. The song is reflective. It's mournful, because the aftermath of war is not a big wonderful celebration. It's a lot of dead children. A lot of mothers have lost their children because of war. I'm just overwhelmed by that concept. It's something I learned during the Vietnam time, because so many kids weren't coming back. I got my life, and I got to keep living: move one, have a family, go fishing, eat vanilla ice cream, and go to a ball game. And so many of those kids – people of my generation – were dead. It makes me very sad. Especially if you cannot find a good reason for why a person's life had to end. I think we all pretty much agree that the Vietnam War was senseless and ill-fated. And here we find ourselves in the same maddening and frustrating situation, were the government is asking families to give up their children. It's a sad and reflective mood, so I didn't think jumping up and down on stage and shouting about it would get people's attention. I thought that stating in the way that I think about it – that this is about families – would be effective.

Spoken intro on 11 Oct 2004 at MCI Center, Washington, DC:

Thank you. Thank you for showing up tonight and showing your support... and raising your voice for change. Thank you. I wanna bring out a friend of mine, whose music I've loved for such a long time, I've learned a lot from him, I've heard him described as the Hank Williams of my generation and I think that fits pretty well. John Fogerty come on out (cheers).

(John Fogerty: "How you all doing? thank you. What a night, huh? I'd like to do a new song for you. This is actually on my latest record, this is a song called "Déjà Vu", and I sing this song for families").