About the Song
“Who’ll Stop the Rain” is one of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s most enduring hits, written by John Fogerty and released in 1970. While many have interpreted the song as a protest against the Vietnam War, particularly due to its somber and reflective tone, Fogerty himself explained that it was inspired by his experience at Woodstock in 1969, where he saw festival-goers enduring the rain. The relentless downpour at the festival led him to write the song as a reflection of that experience rather than as a direct protest.
Fogerty recalled the sight of people dancing, cold, muddy, and together in the rain, which captured his imagination. After returning home, he wrote “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” and despite its symbolism, it was not intended as a protest like “Fortunate Son.” Rather, it was about the broader feeling of uncertainty and searching for shelter in the storm, both literally and metaphorically.
The song was included on CCR’s Cosmo’s Factory album, which became a major commercial success, topping the charts in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. “Who’ll Stop the Rain” itself peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #4 in Canada, while reaching #8 in the U.K. in 1970.
Lyrical Meaning and Legacy
When asked about the song’s meaning in a Rolling Stone interview, Fogerty acknowledged that while the song’s symbolic meaning resonated with the political climate of the time, particularly in relation to Washington and the Vietnam War, its personal connection to his experience at Woodstock remained central. The line “I went down Virginia, seekin’ shelter from the storm” notably inspired Bob Dylan’s 1975 song “Shelter From the Storm.”
The song’s association with the Vietnam War was further reinforced when it was used as the title track for the 1978 movie Who’ll Stop the Rain
Cultural Impact
“Who’ll Stop the Rain” became part of a broader collection of CCR songs that dealt with themes of rain, including “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” It has remained one of the band’s most iconic tracks, often played at concerts and even used by Bruce Springsteen during his 2003 summer stadium tour whenever it rained.
Though it never reached #1 on the charts, “Who’ll Stop the Rain” continues to be a signature song for CCR, symbolizing both personal reflection and broader societal turmoil during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Lyrics
Long as i remember the rain 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.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.Heard the singers playin’, how we cheered for more.
The crowd had 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.
