Aunque todo el mundo pensaba que era un himno anti-belico, lo que la canción verdaderamente describe es el aumento de la tensión que existía dentro de la banda y la inminente partida de su hermano Tom de la agrupación por problemas de contratos y participación dentro de las canciones. Recordemos que Creedence se desintegraría un año después del éxito de Have You Ever Seen the Rain?.
Someone told me long ago There's a calm before the storm, I know; It's been comin' for some time. When it's over, so they say, It'll rain a sunny day, I know; Shinin' down like water. [Chorus:] I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? I want to know, have you ever seen the rain Comin' 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. [Chorus] Yeah! [Chorus]