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Length
2:31
Due to the period in which it was created and the resigned but somewhat angry tone of the song, many interpret "Who'll Stop the Rain" as a thinly-veiled protest against the Vietnam War. The final verse, with its references to music, large crowds, rain, and efforts to stay warm, is often seen as reflecting the band's experience at the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. Additionally, the line in the second verse about "five-year plans and new deals wrapped in golden chains" suggests a broader cynicism about politicians. When asked by Rolling Stone about the song's lyrics, John Fogerty said:
"Certainly, I was talking about Washington when I wrote the song, but I remember bringing the master version home and playing it. My son Josh was four years old at the time, and after he heard it, he said, 'Daddy, stop the rain.' My wife and I looked at each other and said, 'Well, not quite.'"
During a 2007 concert, he added:
"This next song has a bit of a fable surrounding it. A lot of folks seem to think I sang this song at Woodstock way back when. No, I was at Woodstock 1969… I think. It was a nice event. I’m a California kid. I went up there and saw a whole bunch of really nice young people. Hairy. Colorful. It started to rain, and got really muddy, and then (yelling) half a million people took their clothes off! (Normal voice again) Boomer generation making its presence known, I guess. Anyway, then I went home and wrote this song."
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