Written by John Fogerty, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” was recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival and released as a single on 29 December 1970 from the album Pendulum. A rock song described by Cash Box as among the group’s closest approaches to a ballad, it pairs its memorable refrain with imagery of rain falling on a sunny day. Fogerty later explained that the song reflected tensions within Creedence Clearwater Revival and the impending departure of his brother Tom, capturing the unease the band felt amid its commercial success.
The single reached number one in Canada in March 1971, number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, number three on the Cash Box pop chart, and number 36 in the UK. It became the group’s eighth gold-selling single and surpassed one billion Spotify streams in March 2023. Fogerty recorded a live version for The Long Road Home - In Concert and revisited the song with Alan Jackson on his 2013 album Wrote a Song for Everyone. Notable covers include versions by Bonnie Tyler, Johnny Cash, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Rod Stewart, and Willie Nelson with Paula Nelson.
