Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" is a song written by John Fogerty and released as a single in 1971 from the album Pendulum (1970) by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching number one on the RPM 100 national singles chart in March 1971.[2] In the U.S., in the same year it peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[3] On Cash Box pop chart, it peaked at number three. In the UK, it reached number 36. It was the group's eighth gold-selling single.[4] In March 2023, the song surpassed one billion streams on Spotify.[5]
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Creedence Clearwater Revival | ||||
from the album Pendulum | ||||
B-side | "Hey Tonight" | |||
Released | January 1971 | |||
Recorded | 1970 | |||
Genre | Roots rock, country rock[1] | |||
Length | 2:39 | |||
Label | Fantasy | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty | |||
Producer(s) | John Fogerty | |||
Creedence Clearwater Revival singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" (lyric video) on YouTube | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain" on YouTube |
Cash Box said the group "softens their sound" and the song "comes as close to a ballad as anything from CCR."[6]
John Fogerty released a live version of the song on his The Long Road Home - In Concert DVD which was recorded at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 15, 2005. A music video was released for the band's 50th anniversary on December 11, 2018.
On the 2013 John Fogerty album, Wrote a Song for Everyone, the song was included featuring Alan Jackson.[7]
Meaning
In his review for AllMusic, Mark Deming suggests that the song is about the idealism of the 1960s and about how it faded in the wake of events such as the Altamont Free Concert and the Kent State shootings, and that Fogerty is saying that the same issues of the 1960s still existed in the 1970s but that people were no longer fighting for them.[8] However, Fogerty himself has said in interviews and prior to playing the song in concert that it is about rising tension within CCR and the imminent departure of his brother Tom from the band. In an interview, Fogerty stated that the song was written about the fact that they were on the top of the charts, and had surpassed all of their wildest expectations of fame and fortune. They were rich and famous, but somehow all of the members of the band at the time were depressed and unhappy; thus the line "Have you ever seen the rain, coming down on a sunny day?". The band split up in October the following year after the release of the album Mardi Gras.[9]
In a literal sense, the song describes a sunshower, such as in the lyric "It'll rain a sunny day" and the chorus, "Have you ever seen the rain, comin' down on a sunny day?" These events are particularly common in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama, but less common in other parts of the United States, due to localized atmospheric wind shear effects.[10]
Music video
For the band's 50th anniversary in 2018, a music video was released for "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" The video stars then up-and-coming actors including Jack Quaid, Sasha Frolova, and Erin Moriarty. Quaid and Moriarty would go on to star together in The Boys. The video was shot in Montana by director Laurence Jacobs who described it as "a coming-of-age story" and "something distinctly real that encapsulated identity. Not teenage years, but specifically your early 20s when you're still growing and trying to become someone." The story, cowritten by Jacobs and Luke Klompien, is of "three best friends hanging in Montana until one of them moves away", and includes scenes of the cast "skipping rocks into the river", "driving through the countryside in a vintage red Chevy pickup truck watching the sunset and bonding by the fire."[11][12] A behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of the video was released June 26, 2019, featuring interviews with the cast and director, and also shows dialogue between the actors.[13]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[35] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[36] | Gold | 250,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[37] sales since 2009 |
Platinum | 50,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] | 5× Platinum | 150,000‡ |
South Africa | — | 100,000[39] |
United Kingdom (BPI)[40] 2005 release |
Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[41] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Bonnie Tyler version
"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" | |
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Single by Bonnie Tyler | |
from the album Faster Than the Speed of Night | |
B-side | "Time" |
Released | 17 June 1983 |
Genre | Pop |
Length | 4:08 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | John Fogerty |
Producer(s) |
|
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler covered the song on her 1983 album Faster Than the Speed of Night. The track was released as the album's third single in June 1983.
Charts
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[42] | 69 |
Ireland (IRMA)[43] | 13 |
UK Singles (OCC)[44] | 47 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[45] | 63 |
Other cover versions
Boney M. covered the song on their 1977 album Love for Sale. This was later sampled in Modjo's "Music Takes You Back".
Punk rock band Minutemen covered the song on their 1985 album 3-Way Tie (For Last).
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts covered the song on their 1990 album The Hit List.
Smokie covered the song on their 1995 album The World And Elsewhere.
Spin Doctors covered the song for the soundtrack of the 1993 film Philadelphia.
Rod Stewart included the song on his 2006 covers album Still the Same... Great Rock Classics of Our Time.
Johnny Cash covered the song for his 1985 album ‘Rainbow’
Ramones included the song on their 1994 covers album ‘Acid Eaters’
Willie Nelson and his daughter Paula Nelson covered the song for his 2013 album To All the Girls...[46]
Versions in other languages
Spanish
- Laureano Brizuela – "Cerca de ti"
- Ana Gabriel – "Ven a ver Llover"
- Juan Gabriel – "Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Gracias al Sol)"
- Karina – "Quiero saber"
Portuguese
- The Fevers – Não Devo Mais Ficar[47]
- Gilberto e Gilmar – Não Devo Mais Ficar[48]
- VOLNEI da COSTA & TCHÊ BOYS – Eu não Sei[49]
- KLB – Não Devo Mais Ficar
- Paulo Ricardo – Eu Não Devo Mais Ficar[50]
References
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival 50th Anniversary". 26 February 2021.
- "Item: 2736 – Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
"Item: 2795 – Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-03-03. - "Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
- Chronicle, Vol. 1 Liner notes
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival". Spotify.
- "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 23, 1971. p. 22. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- https://www.allmusic.com/album/wrote-a-song-for-everyone-mw0002349081
- Deming, Mark. "Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-08-21.
- Scott, Jason (July 14, 2020). "Behind the Song: Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- Mahan, Simon (September 2, 2016). "Did a rock band explain why wind power will work in the south, 45 years ago?". Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
- Lewry, Fraser (December 11, 2018). "Creedence Clearwater Revival unveil new "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" video". Louder Sound. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- Sands, Nicole (December 11, 2018). "Jack Quaid Stars in Creedence Clearwater Revival's Video for "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"". People. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- Sexton, Paul (June 26, 2019). "Watch Making-of Video for Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain"". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- "Argentina's Best Sellers" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 32, no. 47. May 15, 1971. p. 45. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- "Hits of the World". Billboard. April 17, 1971. p. 53. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Google Books.
- "Creedence Clear Water". Hung medien. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- "Ultra Top – Charts". Ultratop. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- "Hits of the World". Billboard. May 1, 1971. p. 53. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Google Books.
- "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- "Hits of the World". Billboard. April 7, 1971. p. 57. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Google Books.
- "flavour of new zealand – search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz.
- "Hits of the World". Billboard. May 8, 1971. p. 69. Retrieved July 16, 2021 – via Google Books.
- "SA Charts 1965 – 1989 Songs H-I". South Africa's Rock Lists. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- "Cash Box Top 100 3/13/71". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival". Billboard.
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
- "Creedence Clearwater Revival Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- "Forum – 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
- "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1971". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- "Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1971". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- "Danish single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Creedence Clearwater Revival; 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- "Italian single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 17, 2020. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- "New Zealand single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain?". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- Feldman, Peter (March 18, 1972). "From The Music Capitols of the World – Johannesburg". Cash Box. p. 54. Retrieved April 19, 2020 – via Google books.
- "British single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- "American single certifications – Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 316. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Have You Ever Seen the Rain". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Bonnie Tyler – Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- Moore, Bobby (October 23, 2021). "Hear Willie Nelson Cover "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" With Daughter Paula Nelson". Wide Open Country. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
- "The Fevers – Não Devo Mais Ficar (Have You Ever Seen the Rain)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- "Gilberto e Gilmar – Não Devo Mais Ficar (Have You Ever Seen the Rain)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- "- YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- "Paulo Ricardo "Eu Não Devo Mais Ficar"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 23 April 2021.