Shortly after that, with Kenny's assistance, Joan formed the backing group "The Blackhearts" with three obscure New York area musicians: Gary Ryan on bass, Eric Ambel (replaced shortly thereafter by Rick Byrd) on guitar and Lee Crystal on drums. After almost a year of touring, Joan's first album with The Blackhearts, entitled I Love Rock'N'Roll came out in December of 1981. The album included a version of "Little Drummer Boy" on the pre-Christmas editions. The album's impact on the music scene was immediate with the LP reaching the Top Five, while the single "I Love Rock'n'Roll" hit the very top of the Billboard's Charts on March 20, 1982 and stayed #1 for 7 weeks. Joan Jett had come back from nowhere.
A string of Top 40 hits followed, as well as sellout tours with The Police, Queen, and Aerosmith, among others. Jett was the second American act of any kind to perform behind the Iron Curtain, the first one being Blood, Sweat & Tears in Romania in 1969. She was among the first English-speaking rock acts to appear in Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Forced label changes in the 80's led to a decline in popularity. Despite the follow-up albums "Album" and "Glorious Results of a Misspent Youth" being praised by her devout fans, neither got the attention or radio play the first two albums received.
After receiving her own MTV New Year's Eve special, Jett beat out a number of contenders to appear in the movie Light of Day with Michael J. Fox. It was about this time that Ryan and Crystal left the Blackhearts. They were soon replaced by the powerful rhythm section of Thommy Price and Kasim Sulton. Later that year, Jett released "Good Music", which featured appearances by The Beach Boys, The Sugarhill Gang and singer Darlene Love. The album only spawned two minor singles which received little airplay. This label decided the band had to either take in outside help or they would lose their contract.
And so they did. Her next release, Up Your Alley, went multi-platinum and was followed by "The Hit List", which was an international hit. Popular songwriter/producer Desmond Child was brought in, resulting in the release of album "Up Your Alley". This album brought the band a resurgence in popularity, with top 10 singles "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and "Little Liar".
This return to the spotlight would be short-lived, however. Follow-up album "The Hit List", an all-cover songs release, spawned only a minor hit with Jett's version of AC/DC's "Dirty Deeds".
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts became the first rock band to perform a series of shows at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway, breaking the record at the time for the fastest ticket sell-out ever.
1991 and 1994 had two more releases, "Notorious" and "Pure & Simple". But radio had started looking to grunge by this time, and neither album got the attention they deserved.
In the 1990s, Jett and Laguna released "Flashback", a compilation of her career so far on their own Blackheart Records. Her next release, "Notorious" (which featured The Replacements' Paul Westerberg) was the last with Sony/CBS as Jett switched to Warner Brothers.
In 1994, the Blackhearts released the well received Pure and Simple, which featured tracks written with Kat Bjelland (Babes in Toyland), Donita Sparks (L7) and Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill).
While a slew of hits packages, some with an occasional new or previously unreleased track were released following this, it would be 10 years before a new studio album would appear.
This would be 2004's "Naked", and thus far has been a Japan-only release. The album sees Jett returning to a more raw and experimental sound, closer to that of her first 4 releases than the polished material that began with "Good Music".
Failing to get "Naked" released in other markets, Jett released on a more international level "Sinner" in June 2006, on Blackheart Records, her own label.. This album featured many remixed tracks from "Naked", and a complete rewrite of "Stuck in the Middle" to new version "Riddles". Lead-off single and video was a cover of "A.C.D.C." by Sweet.
To support the album, the band appeared on the 2006 Warped Tour, and embarked on a Fall 2006 tour with Eagles of Death Metal.
After a long break from recording, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released a 6-song EP of new material, "Mindsets," in June 2023.
Wynnewood
Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a calm before the storm
I know
It's been coming for some time
When it's over so they say
It'll rain on a sunny day
I know
Shining down like water
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day
Yesterday and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know
It's been that way for all my time
Till 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?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
In "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?", Joan Jett and the Blackhearts present their interpretation of the unpredictability of life. The singer is reflecting on someone who told them about the impending storm that's going to happen despite the calm that they are currently experiencing. The singer is aware that this storm has been approaching for some time, and when it finally comes, it will rain on a sunny day. The lyrics also suggest that the rain could be a metaphor for difficult times that one can face in life, and just like the weather, it comes unexpectedly.
Jett recounts that the sun is cold, and the rain is hard, and it has been that way for all her time. This implies that she has experienced a lot of hard times and that it is just the way life is. The lyrics suggest an acceptance of the fact that regardless of how much one tries to control their life, the uncontrollable will always happen. The chorus, "Have you ever seen the rain?", questions the listeners if they have also experienced the same challenges that life brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone told me long ago
This song is based on a piece of advice someone gave the singer a long time ago.
There's a calm before the storm
The person said that there is usually a peaceful period before a major event.
I know
The singer is acknowledging that they understand the previous lines.
It's been coming for some time
The storm has been approaching for a while.
When it's over so they say
People say the storm will eventually pass.
It'll rain on a sunny day
The storm will bring rain even on a day that would normally be sunny.
I know
Again, the singer is acknowledging they understand.
Shining down like water
The rain will fall heavily, like a waterfall.
I want to know
The singer is now expressing a desire to ask a question.
Have you ever seen the rain?
The question is asking if anyone has witnessed a rainstorm on a day that is typically sunny.
Coming down on a sunny day
The specific circumstance being asked about is a storm occurring on a day of good weather.
Yesterday and days before
The singer is now reflecting on past experiences.
Sun is cold and rain is hard
The contrast between good and bad weather is stark.
I know
Once again, the singer is reflecting on something they are aware of.
It's been that way for all my time
In the singer's lifetime, the weather has always had these contrasting characteristics.
Till forever on it goes
This pattern will continue indefinitely.
Through the circle fast and slow
This pattern will repeat itself frequently, at varying speeds.
I know
The singer is once again acknowledging their awareness.
And it can't stop I wonder
The singer wonders if this pattern of contrasting weather will ever cease.
I want to know
The singer reiterates their desire to ask a question.
Have you ever seen the rain?
The same question is asked again.
I want to know
Yet again, the singer expresses their desire for an answer.
Have you ever seen the rain?
The question is repeated once more.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pasarella Studios
Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm
I know
It's been coming for some time
When it's over so they say
It'll rain on a sunny day
I know
Shining down like water
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day
Yesterday and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know
It's been that way for all my time
Till forever on it goes
Through the circle fast and slow
I know
And it can't stop I wonder
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day
Yeeahh!
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I wanna know
Have you ever seen the rain?
Coming down on a sunny day...
비정한세상
<Have You Ever SeenThe Rain>- C.C.R.,1971
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.
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.
Helio Moura
One of the best female voices for rock n roll!!
Vampyre☥
Can’t wait to play this on replay during a gloomy rainy day with a warm cup of tea.
Thank you Joan for this 🌧
Tanja
Thank you Joan for raising me on your gifted voice, phenomenal music 💕
Norman Seal
Is there anything this beautiful woman can't do????
Love that voice!!!
Donald Murphy
I have had a crush on her since, "Crimson and Clover".
Gary Lentz
She is totally awesome!!!!!
Md. Jisan Uddin
What a soothing voice !!! love this song
Victor Novaes
um dos melhores covers que eu ouvi.
Glen Horn
Phenomenal talent, and still the sexiest woman in rock ❤️
Willy Middaugh
Agree 100%