14 on the United States charts on 22 November 1969, the week before Billboard changed its methodology on double-sided hits.

The song depicts the fictional band Willy and the Poor Boys, and how they play on street corners to cheer people up and ask for nickels.

Songwriter John Fogerty explained how the lyrics were derived:[9] [I] was kind of inspired by seeing an advertisement in the paper one day.

But I'm not.The song makes reference to a harmonica, washboard, a kazoo, a Kalamazoo guitar, and a gut bass.

[10] In a 1969 appearance on The Music Scene,[11] the band performed the song dressed up as "Willy and the Poor Boys".