Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen The Rain?

Quick facts — song

• Title: “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”
• Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Release date (single): January 1971 (B‑side: “Hey Tonight”)
• Album: Pendulum (1970)
• Label: Fantasy Records
• Writer / Producer: John Fogerty
• Length: ≈ 2:39
• Genres: Roots rock; swamp rock; country rock
• Formats: Single; album track; digital/streaming

Quick facts — video

• Director: Laurence Jacobs
• Writers: Laurence Jacobs; Luke Klompien
• Cast: Jack Quaid; Erin Moriarty; Sasha Frolova
• Location: Montana, USA
• Premiere: 11 Dec 2018
• Runtime / format: Short-form narrative; BTS featurette 26 Jun 2019
• Production company: Craft Recordings (commissioned)
• Concept: Coming-of-age story of three friends facing separation; motifs include river skipping, road trips, and campfires.

Background & release

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” was released in January 1971 as the lead single from the album Pendulum. At the time, Creedence Clearwater Revival were at the height of their success but also experiencing tensions within the band. The video released in 2018 was part of the CCR50 campaign, which aimed to celebrate the group’s legacy with new visual interpretations of their classic songs.

Composition & lyrics

The song is often seen as John Fogerty’s reflection on his brother Tom Fogerty leaving the band. The line “I want to know—have you ever seen the rain comin’ down on a sunny day?” suggests the sadness of change during a time of success. The single’s B‑side, “Hey Tonight,” carries a more optimistic tone, assuring that things would move forward despite the challenges.

Tom Fogerty left the band in early 1971 and went on to release three solo albums before passing away in 1990. A fourth album he had finished in 1988 was released after his death.

Music video: concept & production

The 2018 video tells a coming‑of‑age story set against Montana’s wide landscapes. It follows three friends as one prepares to move away, showing how their bond begins to change. The video uses images of rivers, road trips, and campfires to highlight both the joy and the sadness of moving into a new stage of life. Laurence Jacobs wanted the film to feel authentic, focusing on the uncertain years of early adulthood rather than teenage life.

A behind‑the‑scenes featurette released in June 2019 shows interviews with the cast and director and gives a closer look at the filming process.

Music video: concept & production

The 2018 film is a coming-of-age story set against Montana’s expansive landscapes. As one friend prepares to move away, the trio’s dynamic shifts—capturing the bittersweet passage from youth to adulthood. Visual motifs include river skipping stones, a vintage red pickup truck, golden-hour drives, and campfire gatherings. Jacobs aimed for a naturalistic tone focused on the in-between stage of identity formation rather than teenage years.

A behind-the-scenes featurette released in June 2019 includes interviews and on-set footage with the cast and director.

Promotion & reception

The video was welcomed as a fresh way to connect a well‑known song with a new audience. Coverage pointed out its nostalgic tone and emotional storytelling. Classic Rock magazine called it a tribute to friendship and adventure, while other outlets praised the way it gave the song new life with a contemporary story.

Chart performance & certifications

Certification: The single is noted as CCR’s eighth gold-selling single.

Personnel & credits

Song

• John Fogerty — writer, producer, lead vocals, guitars, Hammond B3 (on Pendulum sessions)

Video

• Director — Laurence Jacobs
• Story — Laurence Jacobs; Luke Klompien
• Cast — Jack Quaid; Erin Moriarty; Sasha Frolova
• Production company — Craft Recordings (commissioned)

Timeline

• December 1970 — Pendulum released
• January 1971 — Single released
• Early 1971 — Tom Fogerty leaves CCR
• March 13, 1971 — Peaks at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
• April 1971 — Peaks at #6 in Australia; #8 in Sweden; #36 in the UK (April 3)
• December 11, 2018 — 50th-anniversary video released
• June 26, 2019 — Behind-the-scenes featurette published

References

1. Wikipedia — “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”
2. Louder Sound — Classic Rock announcement
3. Laughing Squid — 2018 video coverage
4. Music Video Wiki (Fandom)
5. Concord — CCR50 short-form project details
6. Wikipedia — Tom Fogerty biography
7. Wikipedia — Pendulum album
8. Official Charts — UK Singles Chart
9. Billboard — Hot 100 archive (Mar 13, 1971)