Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen The Rain

In 1971, the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival unveiled the enduring rock anthem “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” This track served as a single from their sixth studio album, Pendulum, and achieved remarkable success by making its mark on various international charts. Notable countries where it gained traction include Malaysia, Norway, Australia, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden.

Its pinnacle was reached in Canada, where it claimed the coveted No. 1 spot on the Canada RPM Top Singles chart. In the United States, it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured the No. 3 position on the Cash Box Top 100, solidifying its status as one of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s major hits.

John Fogerty, an influential figure in rock and roll history and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, penned the poignant lyrics of “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” The inspiration behind the song was rooted in the imminent departure of Fogerty’s brother, Tom Fogerty, from Creedence Clearwater Revival, coupled with escalating tensions within the band at a juncture when they should have been reveling in their success.

Fogerty revealed that he wrote the song during a period when the band was riding high on a wave of consecutive hits, enjoying both wealth and fame that surpassed their wildest expectations. Paradoxically, despite their outward success, the band found themselves mired in feelings of misery and depression.

Internal dynamics within the band added to the complexity, with members perceiving Fogerty as overly controlling and domineering. Conversely, Fogerty was troubled by his bandmates’ frequent complaints regarding their limited artistic contributions, particularly their desire to write and produce their own songs.

Ultimately, Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded in 1972, a year after the official release of “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.”

Reflecting on the song, Fogerty remarked, “The band was breaking up. I was reacting, ‘Geez, this is all getting serious right at the time when we should be having a sunny day.’”

Video

Lyrics

Someone told me long ago
There’s a calm before the storm
I know, it’s been coming for some time
When it’s over, so they say
It’ll rain a sunny day
I know, shining down like water

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Coming 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 wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day

Yeah!

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day