[4] Fogerty biographer Thomas Kitts explains that the song "draws on Chuck Berry rhythms, guitar licks and crisp storytelling.

[8] San Francisco Examiner critic Philip Elwood described the song as "a lively rock 'n' roll vehicle combining a wild vocal and absolutely perfectly styled instrumental ensemble.

"[5] Kitts interprets the song as exposing the "self-centeredness and limited vision of politicians, religious leaders, and the media, all of whom exploit events for aggrandizement and self-promotion" but they are all outsmarted by a simple Midwestern farmer.

[3] He regards the song as being "a more humorous, less bitter attack on officials and institutions than we see elsewhere in Fogerty" and that it "champions the working classes who through efficiency and practicality get things done and are not so simple as the empowered think.

"[4] The New Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Rob Sheffield highlighted the "sharp working class anger" of "It Came Out of the Sky" in regarding the song as part of "Fogerty's songwriting peak.

"[12] In early 1970 Tampa Tribune reporter Rory O'Connor felt that it had the potential to be the band's "next million seller single" and noted that it was receiving significant airplay on local radio.

[13] Music journalist Hank Bordowitz praises Fogerty's "willingness to take a stand on the issues of the day" and for his "prescience" in being one of the first to criticize Reagan in a song.

"[17] After Fogerty left the group and Clifford and Cook formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited, they continued to occasionally play the song live.