Introduction
When Willie Nelson touches a song, it never stays the same. The man who has carried the weight of outlaw country on his back for decades dared to step into the world of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”—and what he delivered wasn’t just a cover, it was a revelation.
Most artists would tremble at the thought of reimagining such an iconic piece of American rock history. But Nelson? He strips it down, reshapes it, and rebuilds it into something raw, something dangerous. His weathered voice doesn’t just sing the words—it bleeds them. Every line feels like a confession from a man who has lived long enough to see storms both in the skies and in his soul.
What makes it shocking isn’t the choice of song, but the way Nelson transforms it. The original by CCR carried the spirit of the ‘70s—youthful rebellion, questions about war, politics, and change. Nelson drags those questions into the present, giving them the weight of a lifetime. The rain is no longer just about politics or protest—it becomes personal. It becomes about the broken promises, the losses, the betrayals, and the endless cycles of hope crushed by reality.
This is not just Willie Nelson covering a classic. This is Willie Nelson owning it. He doesn’t chase nostalgia—he rips it apart. With a trembling guitar, a voice carved out of smoke and sorrow, and silence heavy enough to crush the air, Nelson makes you believe that “the rain” is still falling, harder than ever.
If you thought you knew “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” think again. Willie Nelson has turned it into a warning, a lament, and a mirror held up to every listener brave enough to face it.
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
