About the song
Some songs transcend generations not just through their melody, but by the emotional weight they carry when reinterpreted by new voices. One such example is ***Willie Nelson & Paula Nelson – Have You Ever Seen the Rain***, a tender, deeply felt duet between the legendary **Willie Nelson** and his daughter **Paula Nelson**. Originally penned and performed by **John Fogerty** for **Creedence Clearwater Revival** in 1970, this classic rock ballad has been covered countless times. Yet, this particular version, featured on Willie’s 2013 album *To All the Girls…*, carries an intimacy and warmth that makes it feel less like a cover and more like a quiet conversation between generations.
From the opening acoustic guitar, there’s a sense that something sacred is about to unfold. **Willie Nelson**, with his unmistakable weathered voice—softened by time but still brimming with quiet authority—takes the first verse with the patience of a man who has seen his fair share of storms, both literal and metaphorical. When **Paula Nelson** enters, her voice brings a gentle strength, complementing her father’s in a way only a daughter’s could. There’s an unspoken story between their harmonies: of legacy, of love, of shared experiences under the same rain.
This rendition strips the song down to its emotional core. Gone are the swampy rock textures of the original, replaced by something more contemplative, more lived-in. The lyrics—*“Someone told me long ago / There’s a calm before the storm”*—take on new meaning when sung by two voices from the same family, hinting at resilience passed down through bloodlines.
What makes **Willie Nelson & Paula Nelson – Have You Ever Seen the Rain** so affecting isn’t just the talent on display. It’s the profound simplicity with which they approach the song. There’s no attempt to reinvent the wheel here—only to offer the listener a new perspective on an old truth. For older listeners especially, this version may stir memories not just of the original song, but of time itself—how it moves, how it changes us, and how sometimes, the rain doesn’t fall alone.
Video
Lyrics
Someone told me long ago
There’s a calm before the storm
I know
It’s been coming for some time
When it’s over, so they say
It’ll rain a sunny day
I know
Shining down like water
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day?
Yesterday, and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know
Been that way for all my time
‘Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle, fast and slow
I know
It can’t stop, I wonder
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain
Coming down on a sunny day?
Coming down on a sunny day
Coming down on a sunny day
