About the song
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is a classic song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, penned by John Fogerty. Released in 1971 as a single from their album *Pendulum*, this track quickly made its mark on the music scene. It reached number one in Canada and climbed to number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number three on the Cash Box pop chart and hit number 36 in the UK. By 2023, the song had achieved over a billion streams on Spotify, a testament to its enduring popularity.
The song stands out as a unique blend of rock and ballad, described by Cash Box as “as close to a ballad as anything from CCR.” John Fogerty’s inspiration for the song was rooted in both personal and broader societal experiences. While some critics, such as Mark Deming from AllMusic, interpreted the song as a reflection on the decline of the 1960s countercultural ideals during the Nixon era, Fogerty himself explained that the song was more about the internal struggles within the band. It particularly touched on the tensions leading to the departure of his brother, Tom Fogerty, and the band’s eventual split.
The lyrics metaphorically describe a sunshower—a weather phenomenon where rain falls while the sun is shining. This imagery reflects a sense of contradictory emotions, which Fogerty linked to the band’s own feelings of unease and melancholy amid their commercial success.
In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Creedence Clearwater Revival released a music video for the song in December 2018. This video, directed by Laurence Jacobs and set in Montana, features a story of three friends experiencing a coming-of-age journey. The video includes scenes of friendship and nostalgia, beautifully capturing the essence of growing up and the bittersweet nature of change.
The song’s legacy is marked not only by its commercial success but also by its profound emotional impact, resonating with audiences across generations.
Video
Lyrics
Someone told me long ago
There’s a calm before the storm
I know
It’s been comin’ for some time
When it’s over, so they say
It’ll rain a sunny day
I know
Shinin’ down like water
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Comin’ down on a sunny day?
Yesterday, and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know
Been that way for all my time
‘Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle, fast and slow
I know
It can’t stop, I wonder
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Comin’ down on a sunny day?
Yeah
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Comin’ down on a sunny day?