Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain? Meaning

Song Released: 1971

Have You Ever Seen the Rain? Lyrics

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 will rain a sunny day,
I know, shining down like water

I wanna know: have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Feb 18th 2017 !⃝

   I think it's about a man who's always happy, but then starts suffering from depression! He then asks the person who put him through depression if he or she's ever seen the rain, meaning has he or she ever suffered from depression.
2. olrjr

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   Apr 18th 2023 !⃝

   This is a song about a man who has been living dangerously, and on the edge, be it, committing crimes, unprotected sex, or living recklessly using drugs. He has been warned about it and he has acknowledged this truth, but in spite of the reality of things ending one day in an undesierable manner he chases his final exit with vigor, enjoying the calm (the joy) before the storm.
   
   Finally, that fateful day has come and he sings about his life. Yesterday and days before, the sun is cold the rain is hard, which speaks to the oddity, and veraciousness of his life style, but he could not stop the momentum, nor direction of his life. He was addicted, he loved it, and he craved it. When he learns of his fate: it could be that the authorities have closed in on him, his HIV test has come back positive, or he suddenly finds himself in a critical situation in which his life hangs in the balance from maybe a critical accident?
   
   As he realizes the suddenness of his tragic end, and while speaking to perhaps a friend, or a loved one, he muses over the clear wreckage that has come down on his life, and wonders if they have ever realized the swiftness of consequences as he, and know that there is no remedy for your fate. Often times just when we think we have gotten away with living a life without boundaries, beyond the norm, we get away with it so much, for so long, that when the consequences do come – they are very overwhelming even though you know that sooner or later there will be that proverbial price, that we don’t want to pay or are unable to pay. This man’s consequences come promptly, like a rain storm, crystal clear as platinum gold, a priceless lesson he finally pays.
3. anonymous

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   Jun 29th 2020 !⃝

   Rain on a sunny day generally means the end of a storm. I think this represents an end to something bad; the optimistic person who realizes that all bad things do eventually come to an end.
4. anonymous

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   Oct 12th 2019 !⃝

   Very good song we could use more like him
5. anonymous

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   Oct 7th 2018 !⃝

   I think it's about having a relationship that eventually ends and he goes through depression that's what the rain is all about just my opinion

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   Sep 18th 2017 !⃝

   It means bombs raining down in Vietnam on a sunny day !!!

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Jul 22nd 2017 !⃝

   Its about there time at Woodstock. "The crowd rushes in try'n to keep warm". Remember it rained hard at Woodstock.
8. anonymous

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   Apr 26th 2017 !⃝

   It was about his brother leaving the group.
   
   Howwever, for many Vietnam vets, it describes what they saw over there, and asks if you have seen what they have seen.
9. anonymous

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   Mar 17th 2016 !⃝

   Here we go again another war song. Read his book.
10. anonymous

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    Mar 13th 2016 !⃝

    The day they were voted #1 in the world Doug and Stu called a press conference and said they were going to start writing and signing songs. He new it was over. Raining on a sunny day
11. anonymous

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    May 26th 2012 !⃝

    It is about the war this song go's with who'll stop the rain witch is also about war

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway