Bad Moon Rising | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| D | A G | D6 riff | D6 riff |
Verse 1
||: D | A G | D6 riff | D6 riff :||
I see the bad moon a-risin’, I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin’, I see bad times today.
Chorus 1
| G | G G6 | D D/A | D D6 |
Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
| A | G | D6 riff | D6 riff |
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Verse 2
I hear hurricanes a-blowin’, I know the end is comin’ soon.
I fear, rivers overflowin’, I hear the voice of rage and ruin.
Chorus 2
Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bad moon on the rise, alright.
Solo
||: D | A G | D6 riff | D6 riff :||
| G | G | D6 riff | D6 riff |
| A6 | G6 | D6 riff | D6 riff |
Verse 3
Hope you got your things together. Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather, one eye is taken for an eye.
Chorus 3
Well don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Chorus 4
Don’t come around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Bad Moon Rising | Chords + Lyrics (tune down 1 tone)
Intro
| E/G# | B A | E E6 | E (E6) |
Verse 1
||: E | B A | E E6 | E (E6) :||
I see the bad moon a-risin’, I see trouble on the way.
I see earthquakes and lightnin’, I see bad times today.
Chorus 1
| A | A (A6) | E | E6 E |
Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
| B | A | E E6 | E (E6) |
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Verse 2
I hear hurricanes a-blowin’, I know the end is comin’ soon.
I fear, rivers overflowin’, I hear the voice of rage and ruin.
Chorus 2
Don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life
There’s a bad moon on the rise, alright.
Solo
||: E/G# | B A | E E6 | E (E6) :||
| A | A (A6) | E | E6 E |
| B B6 | A A6 | E E6 | E (E6) |
Verse 3
Hope you got your things together. Hope you are quite prepared to die.
Looks like we’re in for nasty weather, one eye is taken for an eye.
Chorus 3
Well don’t go around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Chorus 4
Don’t come around tonight, well it’s bound to take your life.
There’s a bad moon on the rise.
Bad Moon Rising Chords: Exploring the Honky-Tonk Riff and Progressions
The chords for Bad Moon Rising follow a classic blues turnaround, moving like this:
D (I) – A (V) – G (IV) – D (I).
Over the D chord, we hear a honky-tonk-style D6 riff—a variation on the classic blues 6th extensions. This riff is best understood using TAB, as writing out every chord change would make it appear more complex than it is (see my lesson: Bad Moon Rising – Guitar Lesson with TAB).
Chorus Progression:
| G (IV) | G G6 | D (I) D/A | D D6 |
| A (V) | G (IV) | D6 riff | D6 riff |
The chord movements are among the most common in popular music, built around I – V, IV – I, and V – IV—all of which feature in my Top 10 Chord Progressions list.
What makes Bad Moon Rising stand out is the contrast between its cheerful, honky-tonk-inspired riff and its dark, apocalyptic lyrics. This combination is key to the song’s unique feel.
You’ll also find Bad Moon Rising‘s chords written in the key of E, suggesting you either tune down a whole step or use a Digitech Drop pedal. This approach works well for electric guitar in a band setting, though it adds a level of complexity for beginners.
For acoustic players, the key of D is more accessible. Once you’ve practised the TAB, a simple chord chart will be all you need to play Bad Moon Rising confidently.
Bad Moon Rising Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
I’ve structured Bad Moon Rising‘s chord chart by separating the two main sections, followed by a text guide detailing the song’s form.
If you’d like to download the chart, here’s a PDF version: Bad Moon Rising chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iRealPro, and you can access the file here: Bad Moon Rising iRealPro. With the iRealPro app, you can change the key easily—a great option if you want to play Bad Moon Rising in E while tuning your guitar down a whole step.
When transposing to the key E, you may notice the addition of E/G# in the bass for some chords. Using the chords and lyrics above, along with the iRealPro app, you can make these adjustments effortlessly.
Bad Moon Rising TAB | Course Preview
In the course, we use TAB to play Bad Moon Rising in the key of D, allowing you to play along with the original recording without needing to tune down like John Fogerty did.
As a preview, here’s the verse.
Contrast in songwriting
As a keen student of hit songs, you may have noticed that most great songs rely on contrast.
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a prime example. The lyrics paint a picture of storms and impending doom, yet the chords, riff, and melody are irresistibly upbeat.
John Fogerty admitted in an interview that he didn’t realise this contrast at first—he was so focused on the dark themes. It wasn’t until the band started playing the song that he realised how cheerful it sounded. Deciding to embrace the contrast, he went on to create one of his biggest hits.
Another reason for the song’s continued popularity is the misheard lyric joke. Many listeners have humorously mistaken the line “there’s a bad moon on the rise” for “there’s a bathroom on the right.” Fogerty himself has played along with the joke, occasionally singing the alternate lyric in live performances.
Once again, this proves that embracing what naturally unfolds is often a better approach than rigidly clinging to what ‘must be’.
Bad Moon Rising reached #1 in the U.K. and #2 in the U.S. in 1969. It also secured the 364th spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Bad Moon Rising Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: