Craig Werner called this song by Creedence Clearwater Revival “the best blues song ever written about Vietnam”. Indeed, for most rock music lovers, this work is associated with that terrible war. But if you take a closer look at the history of the creation of “Who’ll Stop the Rain”, you get the impression that the main idea of the track is not so simple.
The song was written by CCR leader John Fogerty. Here are a couple of excerpts from his interview that will shed light on the author’s intention and the events that preceded the birth of the legendary hit:
You know, there’s a myth around the next song. A lot of people seem to think that I sang it back then at Woodstock. No. I was at Woodstock in 1969… It was a pleasant experience. I’m a guy from California. I went there and saw a lot of really nice young people. hairy. Bright. It started to rain and it got very dirty, and then half a million people took off their clothes!!! The baby boom generation has declared its existence out loud. So I came home and wrote this song.
2007, live in Shelburne
Of course, I was talking about Washington when I wrote this song, but I remember bringing the master version of the song home and playing it. My son Josh was then four years old. Hearing her, he said, “Daddy, stop the rain.” And my wife and I looked at each other and said: “Well, I would like to.”
Rolling stone
“Who’ll Stop the Rain” was included in the album “Cosmo’s Factory”. It was released on the back of the “Travelin’ Band” single.
Over the years, the song has been performed by Bruce Springsteen, The Ventures, Rod Stewart and many other famous musicians.
The composition sounds in various art and documentary films, serials and commercials. The rights to this and many other CCR songs belong to the Fantasy Records label, which, apparently, does not hesitate to make money on it by any means. Of course, John Fogerty is not happy about this:
People will remember “Forrest Gump” because it’s a great movie, but they won’t remember all the crappy movies that Fantasy Records put Creedence music in: car ads, tire ads. I even remember a commercial about paint thinner with the song “Who’ll Stop the Rain”. My God. Clever, isn’t it?
NPR
Rolling Stone magazine included “Who’ll Stop the Rain” in its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.
Interesting Facts
- The line “I went down Virginia, seekin’ shelter from the storm” is said to have inspired Bob Dylan to write “Shelter from the Storm” (1975).
- In 1978, the film “Who’ll Stop the Rain” was released. It was originally planned to be called “Dog Soldiers”, but when the producers got the right to use the song in the film, they decided to change the name in honor of the song.
Who’ll Stop the Rain LyricsWho’ll Stop the Rain LyricsLong as I remember,
The rain has been comin’ down.
Clouds of myst’ry pourin’
Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages
Tryin’ to find the sun
And I wonder
Still I wonder
Who’ll stop the rain
It’s raining
Clouds of secrets are pouring
Land of confusion
Good people from generation to generation
Trying to find the sun
And I’m wondering
Still wondering
Who will stop the rain I went down Virginia
Seekin’ shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable
I watched the tower grow.
Five Year Plans and New Deals,
Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder
Still I wonder
Who’ll stop the rain
Looking for shelter from the storm
Like being in a fable
I watched the fortress grow
Five-Year Plans and the New Deal2,
Chained in golden chains
And I’m wondering
Still wondering
Who’s gonna stop the rain Heard the singers playin’
How we cheered for more.
The crowd then rushed together,
Tryin’ to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin’,
Fallin’ on my ears.
And I wonder
Still I wonder
Who’ll stop the rain
As we applauded for more
In the crowd, everyone huddled together,
Trying to keep warm
But the rain kept pouring and pouring,
Watering my head3
And I’m wondering
Still wondering
Who will stop the rain
