About the song
Willie Nelson has long been a master of breathing new life into well-worn classics, and his rendition of Have You Ever Seen the Rain—performed alongside his daughter Paula Nelson—proves just how timeless a great song can be when placed in the right hands. Originally penned by John Fogerty and released by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1971, the song has remained one of rock’s most enduring anthems, a bittersweet meditation on change, loss, and the inevitable passage of time. Yet, in Willie Nelson’s interpretation, it takes on a new dimension—more weathered, more personal, and even more reflective.
The familial connection at the heart of this recording adds a layer of intimacy that makes it stand apart from previous covers. Willie’s voice, now deeply lined with the wisdom of years, blends beautifully with Paula’s, whose warm, clear tone provides a striking contrast to her father’s signature phrasing. There’s a tenderness here that underscores the song’s themes in a way that feels deeply lived-in. When Nelson sings about seeing the rain before the storm has even passed, it’s impossible not to hear echoes of his own journey—the highs, the lows, the triumphs, and the heartbreaks.
Musically, this version strips things back to the essentials, replacing the original’s swampy rock instrumentation with an arrangement that leans into Nelson’s strengths: gentle acoustic guitar, a steady rhythm, and just enough atmospheric pedal steel to conjure up the vast open spaces of the American West. It’s the kind of performance that feels unhurried, content to let the song breathe and unfold naturally, much like the man himself.
For longtime fans of Willie Nelson, this cover serves as a reminder of why he remains one of America’s most cherished musical storytellers. And for those encountering Have You Ever Seen the Rain for the first time through this version, it’s an invitation to experience a classic song in an entirely new light—one marked by the kind of authenticity that only a lifetime in music can bring.
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
