# Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
**"Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"** is a song by the American rock band [Creedence Clearwater Revival](https://www.edgepedia.org/creedence-clearwater-revival), written by [John Fogerty](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-fogerty) and released as a single in January 1971 from the band's 1970 album *[Pendulum](https://www.edgepedia.org/pendulum-creedence-clearwater-revival-album)*. Backed with "Hey Tonight," it reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became, decades later, the band's most-streamed recording, with more than two billion plays on Spotify.[1](https://sites.google.com/site/theelectricbayou/songs/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain) • [2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) • [3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Album | *Pendulum*, released December 9, 1970; the track runs 2:40[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) • [4](https://open.spotify.com/track/2LawezPeJhN4AWuSB0GtAU) |
| Single release | January 1971, backed with "Hey Tonight"; the first CCR 45 rpm single of 1971[1](https://sites.google.com/site/theelectricbayou/songs/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain) |
| Chart peak | No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1971; No. 36 in the UK[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) • [5](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain/) |
| Certification | Gold within weeks of release; raised to triple platinum by the RIAA in December 2020[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) |
| Subject | Fogerty wrote it about the impending breakup of the band[6](https://americansongwriter.com/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-ccr-behind-the-song/) |
| Streaming record | CCR's most popular track, over two billion Spotify streams versus 1.7 billion for "Fortunate Son"[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams) |
## Release and chart performance
The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of January 30, 1971, entering at No. 56 with its B-side "Hey Tonight" also listed. It peaked at No. 8 in March and reached No. 36 in the UK, where it spent six weeks on the Official Singles Chart from March 20 to April 24, 1971.[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) • [5](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain/) The No. 8 peak was, at the time, a comparatively modest result for a band whose preceding singles had mostly reached the [Top Five](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-five).[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
The *Cash Box* trade review read the single as a change of direction, writing that Creedence "slows and softens their sound" and that "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" comes "as close to a ballad as anything from CCR."[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) The single went gold within a few weeks of release, and in December 2020 the RIAA raised its certification to triple platinum.[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/)
## Meaning
Fogerty wrote the song while *Pendulum* was being recorded, during a period of mounting tension inside the band. In his autobiography *Fortunate Son* he stated plainly: "'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' is about the breakup of the band... I was watching the band disintegrate right in front of my eyes."[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone journalist Michael Goldberg he explained the central image: "you can have a bright, beautiful, sunny day, and it can be raining at the same time. 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.'"[6](https://americansongwriter.com/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-ccr-behind-the-song/) In a 2025 interview he called it "literally about Creedence breaking up."[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
The timing matched the song's subject. [Tom Fogerty](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-fogerty), John's older brother and the band's original lead vocalist, left Creedence Clearwater Revival in February 1971, just after the single's release.[7](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/interviews/how-creedence-clearwater-revival-fell-to-pieces) • [3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams) The remaining trio released one more album, *[Mardi Gras](https://www.edgepedia.org/mardi-gras-album)*, before announcing their disbandment on October 16, 1972.[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
In a literal reading, the lyrics describe a sunshower, rain falling while the sun shines, in lines such as "It'll rain a sunny day" and the chorus "Have you ever seen the rain, comin' down on a sunny day?"[8](https://www.theaudiodb.com/track/32748126) AllMusic's reviewer Mark Deming read the rain more broadly as an unpleasant reality lurking beneath the surfaces of life, noting that images of water and rain as a portent of trouble recurred throughout Fogerty's songwriting.[9](https://www.allmusic.com/song/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-mt0060536314)
**A changed meaning for the writer.** At a 2012 concert in Arizona, Fogerty told the audience that the song, once an expression of anguish, had become a happy one for him: "now this song reminds me of my little girl, Kelsy, and every time I sing it, I think about Kelsy and rainbows."[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams) • [6](https://americansongwriter.com/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-ccr-behind-the-song/)
## The recording
The *Pendulum* version runs 2:40 and centers on the ringing chords of Fogerty's guitar, punctuated by piano and sustained organ chords.[4](https://open.spotify.com/track/2LawezPeJhN4AWuSB0GtAU) • [9](https://www.allmusic.com/song/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-mt0060536314) Doug Clifford, the band's drummer, played on the track.[10](https://drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com/beat/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/08134426/13.-Have-You-Ever-Seen-the-Rain.pdf) The chord progression is blissfully uncomplicated: the verse runs C-C-G-C while the chorus moves F-G-C-C/B-Am-Am7/G, and Fogerty's raspy voice delivers the song's emotional force.[3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
## Covers and later life
The song has attracted dozens of cover versions, from [Johnny Cash](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-cash) to [Joan Jett](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-jett) and from [Rod Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-stewart) to the Ramones; Willie Nelson, Bonnie Tyler, Alison Moorer, and Boney M have also recorded it.[2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/) • [3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams) Bonnie Tyler's version appeared on her 1983 album *Faster Than the Speed of Night*.[11](https://rockalia.com/es/component/muscol/R/142-rod-stewart/6440-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain) Fogerty recorded a duet version with Wynonna for the soundtrack of the film *Evan Almighty*, and cut a new version with country singer Alan Jackson for his 2013 album *Wrote A Song For Everyone*.[12](https://www.mikecurb.com/book/pdfs/P174-195_Discography8-online.pdf) • [2](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/)
In 2018, as part of the CCR50 anniversary campaign, a new official music video was commissioned, starring [Jack Quaid](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-quaid), Sasha Frolova, and Erin Moriarty as childhood friends in Montana; the video introduced the song to a new audience.[13](https://volt.fm/track/425879/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-by-creedence-clearwater-revival) • [14](https://mediakits.concord.com/p/pendulum--mardi-gras-half-speed/press-release.html) The song crossed one billion Spotify streams and joined the platform's Billions Club, and by the mid-2020s it had passed two billion streams, making it CCR's most-streamed track ahead of "Fortunate Son."[15](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/creedence-clearwater-revivals-have-you-ever-seen-rain-joins-spotifys-billions-club) • [3](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
After regaining the rights to his catalog, Fogerty re-recorded the song as "Have You Ever Seen The Rain (John's Version)" for *[Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years](https://www.edgepedia.org/legacy-the-creedence-clearwater-revival-years)*, released in 2025 ahead of his 80th birthday, backed by his sons Shane and Tyler Fogerty.[16](https://johnfogerty.bandcamp.com/track/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-johns-version) • [17](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNWqMYDzbzA)
## References
1. [Electric Bayou: Have You Ever Seen the Rain](https://sites.google.com/site/theelectricbayou/songs/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain)
2. ['Have You Ever Seen The Rain': Creedence's Poignant Classic, uDiscover Music](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-song/)
3. [The story of a rock classic that's now hit over two billion streams, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/i-dont-think-we-wouldve-found-any-success-had-i-not-written-any-songs-or-had-someone-else-been-the-lead-singer-me-and-the-fellas-wouldve-been-playing-down-at-a-local-club-somewhere-the-story-of-a-rock-classic-thats-now-hit-over-two-billion-streams)
4. [Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/2LawezPeJhN4AWuSB0GtAU)
5. [Have You Ever Seen The Rain?, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/creedence-clearwater-revival-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain/)
6. [Behind The Song: Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?", American Songwriter](https://americansongwriter.com/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-ccr-behind-the-song/)
7. [How Creedence Clearwater Revival fell to pieces, LouderSound](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/interviews/how-creedence-clearwater-revival-fell-to-pieces)
8. [Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain?, TheAudioDB](https://www.theaudiodb.com/track/32748126)
9. [Have You Ever Seen the Rain, AllMusic song review by Mark Deming](https://www.allmusic.com/song/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-mt0060536314)
10. [Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen The Rain (drum notation), Drumeo](https://drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com/beat/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/08134426/13.-Have-You-Ever-Seen-the-Rain.pdf)
11. [Rod Stewart, Have You Ever Seen the Rain?, Rockalia](https://rockalia.com/es/component/muscol/R/142-rod-stewart/6440-have-you-ever-seen-the-rain)
12. [Mike Curb discography: Have You Ever Seen The Rain (Evan Almighty)](https://www.mikecurb.com/book/pdfs/P174-195_Discography8-online.pdf)
13. [Have You Ever Seen The Rain? track stats, volt.fm](https://volt.fm/track/425879/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-by-creedence-clearwater-revival)
14. [Pendulum & Mardi Gras half-speed reissues press release, Craft Recordings](https://mediakits.concord.com/p/pendulum--mardi-gras-half-speed/press-release.html)
15. [CCR's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" joins Spotify's Billions Club, ABC Audio](https://digital.abcaudio.com/news/creedence-clearwater-revivals-have-you-ever-seen-rain-joins-spotifys-billions-club)
16. [Have You Ever Seen The Rain (John's Version), John Fogerty on Bandcamp](https://johnfogerty.bandcamp.com/track/have-you-ever-seen-the-rain-johns-version)
17. [Have You Ever Seen The Rain (John's Version), official YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNWqMYDzbzA)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical works and recordings › Albums and recorded releases › Songs and tracks as recordings*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license