Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

"Have You Ever Seen The Rain" as written by and J. C. Fogerty....
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?


Lyrics submitted by rom

"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" as written by John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY

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Have You Ever Seen the Rain? song meanings
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  • +15
    Song MeaningBasically it means you go through some tough times, but you get back on your feet and everything is all good, you're happy, the outlook is great, it's a beautiful day, then something bad happens again, you just deal with it. He's asking have you ever seen the rain? yeah, it's depressing but it goes away. Don't think it doesn't.

    Perfect for where we at now.
    Outfielderon January 18, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +6
    General Commenti remember when my father used to play this song when we'd go on car trips. i was very young at the time and i hated it because it seemed so depressing, like one of those "i pity myself" songs. but now that i'm older it's taken on a new meaning and that is what's so great about songs like these - there's so much room for interpretation.

    ...with every rainy day will come another sunny day. but the part that really gets me is when he asks "i want to know, have you ever seen the rain?" - it's a common human experience to feel the ups and downs he describes in the song, and to say "no" to this question would be to deny that you are human, that you do cry, you can laugh and that life isn't always pleasant. it isn't a "pity myself" song; it's more of a "can you connect to your fellow human being?" kind of song. i hope i make sense.
    anothaliason February 19, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment i think this is how i feel
    hurleychick42069on May 03, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General CommentMe too. Reminds me of this cycle I go through, emotional pain and times of feeling better, only to end up back here again...Wow, I sound like a nut. It's true, though.
    minttown1on May 27, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General CommentMark Deming of AllMusic.com suggests that this song is about the shifting focus on idealism that started around 1970. In the wake of events like Altamont and Kent State, the idealistic energy of the youth turned into the "self-centered decadence of the '70s." Fogerty suggests that the issues worth fighting for in the '60s are still present in the '70s, "but that we had lost the courage and the vision to face up to them." It's an interesting point he raises. (Quotes belong to Deming, not Fogerty)
    ctdunstanon November 20, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General CommentTo me, this song epitomizes the monotony of depression and just living a hard life, in general. Its also a slap in the face to those people who either have everything go OK all the time and wonder why you're so depressed, or those same people who fall on a small bit of hard time - "I want to know, have you ever seen the rain - coming down on a sunny day?" and "Been that way for all my time..". Also, that uncanny ability some of us have to predict crappy things and prepare. It just means a lot. it's the perfect song.
    orbitnon June 14, 2008   Link
    • 3 Replies
  • +2
    Song Meaningi really think the meaning to this song is how everybody thinks after the war, everything and everyone will be good again.. "When it's over, so they say, It'll rain a sunny day...".... but hes asking if you have seen the rain, meaning "have you seen the soldiers die?".. and hes saying that everything and everyone is NOT going to be well again... someone told me that CCR was playing during the vietnam war so ya thats the meaning.. Do you think so???
    mangotree20on April 04, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General CommentYeah, i know what you're saying. Im happy most of the time but every once in a while lonesome creeps in and I go through a huge bout of mellon collie.
    Steblotchon July 09, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Commentgood old John really captured the lyrics greatly. I guess its about starting off with a good feeling, then having a sucky one, then going back in square 1. like a never ending cycle.
    Yakuza Warlordon June 26, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentEbowtheletter the full band never recorded an other album after this. Tom left before the tour following this album. In addition, the last CCR album was in fact different then any other, with Stu Cook and Doug “Cosmo” Clifford writing and sings on some songs. The band was dead before that last album, and the member are the first to admit it today. John did in fact write this song about the band falling apart. They where still playing hits (ie the sunny day) but he could still feel the rain.
    bradburyesquon June 01, 2006   Link

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