Have You Ever Seen the Rain? – English Lyrics

• By: Bonnie Tyler

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Bonnie Tyler's electrifying 1983 cover of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" This pop rock anthem, with its soaring vocals and dramatic production, offers an engaging way to explore English idioms and emotional expression. Its universally relatable themes of hidden struggles, conveyed through powerful lyrics, make it a compelling piece for language learners to connect with English on a deeper, more evocative level.

[English]

Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm.

I know, and 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.

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, and 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

comin' 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?

I want to know, have you ever seen the rain

comin' down on a sunny day?

Have you ever seen the rain?

Have you ever seen the rain?

Have you ever seen the rain?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water that falls from the clouds in drops
seen /siːn/ A1	verb - past participle of see; to perceive with the eyes
storm /stɔːrm/ A1	noun - a violent weather condition with strong winds and heavy rain
sunny /ˈsʌni/ A1	adjective - characterized by bright sunshine
calm /kɑːm/ A2	adjective - not excited or worried; peaceful
shinin' /ˈʃaɪnɪŋ/ A2	verb - present participle of shine; to emit light
wonder /ˈwʌndər/ A2	verb - to think about something curiously or inquisitively
circle /ˈsɜːrkl/ A2	noun - a round shape or arrangement
comin' /ˈkʌmɪŋ/ A1	verb - present participle of come; to move or travel toward a place
hard /hɑːrd/ A1	adjective - solid, firm, and difficult to break or penetrate
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - low in temperature
fast /fæst/ A1	adjective - moving or capable of moving at high speed
slow /sloʊ/ A1	adjective - not moving or performing quickly
forever /fəˈrɛvər/ A2	adverb - for all future time
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation or experience

Key Grammar Structures

• Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm.

  ➔ Present Perfect + Past Time Indicator

  ➔ The phrase 'Someone told me long ago' uses the Present Perfect ('have told') with 'long ago' to indicate an action that happened in the past with relevance to the present.

• I know, and it's been comin' for some time.

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ 'It's been comin' for some time' uses the Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• When it's over, so they say, it'll rain a sunny day.

  ➔ Future with 'will'

  ➔ 'It'll rain a sunny day' uses 'will' to express a future action based on present evidence or belief.

• I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?

  ➔ Present Perfect in Questions

  ➔ The question 'Have you ever seen the rain?' uses the Present Perfect to ask about past experiences with relevance to the present.

• 'Til forever on it goes through the circle fast and slow,

  ➔ Contraction and Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ 'Til forever' is a contraction of 'until forever,' and 'through the circle' is a prepositional phrase indicating movement or progression.