Today’s song is ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain?’ This song was a song written by John Fogerty and released as a single in 1971 from the album ‘Pendulum’ in 1970 by roots rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival’. The song charted highest in Canada, reaching Number 1 on the ‘RPM 100 National Singles Chart’ in March 1971.
In the U.S., in the same year it peaked at Number 8 on the ‘Billboard Hot 100 Singles’s Chart’, (where it was listed as "Have You Ever Seen the Rain? / Hey Tonight"). On ‘Cash Box Pop Chart’, it peaked at Number 3. In the UK, it reached Number 36. It was the group's eighth gold-selling single.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
‘Have you ever seen the rain on a sunny day’ is reported to have meant so many widely different things, from ‘seeing war clouds in a sunny sky’ through to the literal sense in which the song describes it ‘raining a sunny day’ (sunshower).
Between the ages of 21-23 years, I lived in Canada. I had always known that all weather divides at some point on the map and that there has to be a place where a mere distance of feet will see the opposite of rain and dryness. I always recall the old-time song that refers to ‘the sunny side of the street’.
I will never forget one summer’s day in Toronto when I was looking in a shop window on one side of the street while feeling the warm dry sun on my face, when all of a sudden, across the road, the rain had started to pour down on the sidewalk. I recall the phenomena causing great astonishment, quickly followed by mirth, as one side of the street got drenched while the other side of the street was sunbathing as they observed in fascination. I have never seen this phenomenon since.
I dedicate my song today to my niece, Janie Foster who lives in Hampshire with her husband, Chris and their three children. It is Janie’s birthday, today. You are my favourite of all my nieces, Janie, but please do not spoil the dreams of my other nieces by ever telling them I told you so.
Janie is probably the most poetic and artistic of all my nieces. She is also what I term as an 'Earth Mother' who is at peace with herself, her father and mother, her siblings, her loving family, her life and her surroundings. Have a wonderful birthday, Janie, and may it be filled with much happiness...and...lots of cake and ale. Love Uncle Billy and Sheila x
Love and peace. Bill xxx