[3] It critiques the fact that hippies get to enjoy their idealism and their music, but while they are having fun and ignoring responsibilities the less fortunate have to do the hard work such as farming, mining and making clothing.
[4] Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer Doug Clifford later explained:[7] That's a song that will slap you right in the face...It's a sobering tune, if you listen to the lyrics.
Stu was really an underrated bass player.Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote that the song "manages to encapsulate the class system in two minutes and eight seconds.
[7] Band biographer Craig Hansen Werner calls it "a country-tinged variation on the straight ahead rock and roll of 'Fortunate Son.
'"[8] Fogerty biographer Thomas Kitts describes the song as having an "echoey vocal, straightforward backbeat, simple bass line and acoustic guitar" which come together to give it the sound of pre-World War II country music, which Kitts finds consistent with the song's "support of traditional values".
[8] Rolling Stone critic Alec Dubro credits "Don't Look Now" for attempting to deal with its difficult issue and for displaying a broader vision than that of most rock lyricists.
[3] AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine calls it "a great rockabilly spiritual," an "overlooked gem" and "an album favorite.
"[2][9] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Rob Sheffield highlighted the "sharp working class anger" of "Don't Look Now" in regarding the song as part of "Fogerty's songwriting peak.
[9] Punk band Minutemen covered "Don't Look Now" on their 1984 album Double Nickels on the Dime.