Introduction
You know those songs that just stop you in your tracks? That’s what happened the first time I heard Willie Nelson and his daughter Paula singing “Have You Ever Seen The Rain.” There’s something almost magical about the way their voices blend together—Willie’s weathered, distinctive tone paired with Paula’s clear, melodic voice creates this conversation between generations that feels like eavesdropping on something deeply personal.
The original Creedence Clearwater Revival version from 1971 is a rock classic, of course. John Fogerty wrote it during a turbulent time for the band, and you can hear that tension in the driving rhythm. But Willie and Paula? They completely reimagined it. They slowed everything down, stripped away the rock elements, and transformed it into this intimate country ballad that gives you space to really hear the lyrics.
And those lyrics! “Someone told me long ago, there’s a calm before the storm…” When Willie sings about rain coming down on a sunny day, it hits differently. At 80-something years old when they recorded this in 2013, the man had seen plenty of metaphorical rain in his life. There’s a wisdom in his delivery that makes you believe he’s lived every word.
What I love most about this version is how it highlights the song’s core message about life’s contradictions. The sunny days with unexpected rain—those moments when everything seems fine until suddenly it isn’t. We’ve all been there, right? But there’s also this sense of acceptance in their interpretation, like they’re saying, “Yeah, the rain comes, but we keep going.”
The father-daughter dynamic adds another layer entirely. This wasn’t just another track on Willie’s “To All the Girls…” album—it was family making music together. Paula Nelson has been making music for decades herself, but there’s something special about hearing her harmonize with her dad. Their voices create this perfect balance, neither overshadowing the other.
What’s fascinating is how this song found a second life years after its release. When it was featured in the 2019 season finale of HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” suddenly everyone was rediscovering this gem. It shot up to #3 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales chart, introducing Willie and Paula’s version to a whole new audience.
I think that’s the mark of a truly great cover—it respects the original while creating something entirely new. Willie and Paula didn’t just sing the notes; they found the heart of the song and opened it up for us to see. When they ask, “Have you ever seen the rain coming down on a sunny day?” it feels less like a question and more like an invitation to reflect on life’s unpredictable nature.
Next time you’re in the mood for something that’ll make you feel things, give this version a listen. It’s the kind of song that stays with you, like an old friend who knows exactly what to say when the rain starts falling on your sunny day.
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