John Fogerty Reveals “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” Was Inspired by Tensions Within Creedence Clearwater Revival….

John Fogerty Reveals “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” Was Inspired by Tensions Within Creedence Clearwater

John Fogerty has revealed that his iconic 1971 song, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”, was inspired by the internal tensions within Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) during the peak of their success. The track, featured on their album Pendulum, reflects the emotional strain among the band members, particularly the strained relationship between Fogerty and his brother Tom, the band’s rhythm guitarist.

Despite their commercial success, the band members were reportedly struggling with depression and dissatisfaction. Fogerty explained that the song’s imagery of rain falling on a sunny day symbolizes the contrast between the band’s outward success and their internal turmoil. He described the situation as a “weird atmospheric event” where external success couldn’t shield them from internal conflicts.

The song was released as a single in early 1971, with “Hey Tonight” as its B-side. Interestingly, “Hey Tonight” was written as a hopeful counterpart to “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”, aiming to reassure the band members that everything would be alright.

In a 2012 concert, Fogerty shared that over time, the song’s meaning evolved for him. He now associates it with his daughter, Kelsy, referring to her as a “rainbow” in his life, thus transforming the song into a symbol of joy and love.