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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This is not a song about suicide, as has been hypothesized. It is a song of hope and courage for individuals who have experienced adversity in their lives but have overcome it. (thanks, Robert - Trumbull, CT)

Johnny Nash is a Texas singer/songwriter who recorded Reggae-influenced music. In 1967 he went to Jamaica and recorded his song "Hold Me Tight" and a cover of Sam Cooke's "Cupid" with a local rhythm section. Both songs became hits in Jamaica, and over the next two years also charted in England and the United States. By 1972, "Cecilia" and "Mother And Child Reunion" found some success in the States incorporating Reggae rhythms, and Nash followed that trend with "I Can See Clearly Now." Nash had legitimate Reggae credentials - Bob Marley (before he became crazy famous) was an assistant producer and session player on the album, and also wrote 3 of the songs, including "Stir It Up," which became Nash's next - and final - hit.

A cover version by Jimmy Cliff went to #18 in the US in 1994. His version was in the John Candy movie Cool Runnings, about the Jamaican bobsled team.

Nash wrote this song himself. He recorded it in London with members of The Average White Band, who in 1974 had a hit of their own with "Pick Up The Pieces."

This was #1 in the US for 4 weeks late in 1972.

This was featured in the opening sequence of the 1997 John Cusack film Grosse Pointe Blank. It was also used in the movie Themla And Louise. (thanks, Kristy - La Porte City, IA)

According to the official biography of Barclay James Harvest, "I Can See Clearly Now" sold seven million copies, and arranger Martyn Ford received the princely sum of £35 for his services. (thanks, Alexander Baron - London, England)

Ray Charles performed this on an episode of Saturday Night Live.

Comments:

MusicMama you are insightful and sweet. I never thought this was about suicide, either, quite the contrary, but I do get a weird vibe from it. I think it might be the bridge that does it, but then comes right back in to "I can see clearly, now...", which works to reinforce the optimistic vibe of the song. Nevertheless, do not forget "Goodday Sunshine", or perhaps "Groovin'". The Stones "Shattered" ALWAYS seems to get me going but then again, I'm a native New Yorker, so... Ricky, Tustin, Ca
- Richard, Tustin, CA

I would love to know ,what johnny nash is doing now...i wish he would bring another song out ...and i could go and see him...lilian liverpoolxxxx
- lilian, liverpool, United Kingdom

I call this the Prozac Song. It reflects my thoughts and feelings after 16 years of clinical depression and finding a medication that worked. The song never fails to make me stop and be thankful that part of my life is behind me.
- Felicia, Baltimore, MD

Not too much info on the production of this tune... I was hoping to either reinforce or debunk my theory that there were never any real horns played on this track. I believe it (in my capacity to know and tell) to be a modular Moog synthesizer, because if you really listen to every minute detail of the horn lines, the tell-tale filter sweep and the crispiness of the oscillator tones reveal something that to me can only be a Moog. Not a VCS 3 or a minimoog, or even an Arp 2600, but a modular Moog. Any facts out there?
- Jesse, Madison, WI

Johnny Nash had probably only the second Reggae song to hit the U.S. charts. The first is usually considered to be Desmond Dekker's "The Israelites" from 1968. Johnny was reportedly singing again at Sugar Hill recording studio in his native Houston in May 2006. If he ever toured again, I would go see him, if only to hear him do I Can See Clearly Now! But I also like Stir it Up and Hold Me Tight.
- Alan, City, MI

How did I miss out on this song back in '72? Great song. Very uplifting. Suicide? Are you out of your mind?
- Chris, Hampstead, NH

When I here this song it always makes me happy. It makes me think about how heaven will be.
- sarah, stephenville, TX

I was released from Federal Prison, [Mail Fraud] in October 1972. I was 50 years old,on parole, unemployed, my wife had run away with my favorite bartender, my home was in fore closer. "I Can See Clearly Now" was released in November 1972. I started dating women about half my age as this song soared to the top. Happy Times!
- Thomas S. Tierney, San Bernardino, CA

It is one day after Barack Obama took the oath of office. Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha are in the White House. The country and the world are trembling with the adrenaline of hope, gratitude and relief. This song is the exact song for that mood. Would that it could last forever. Savor it for every moment that it does. Play the song over and over.
- Lana, Memphis, TN

This song is simply about recovering from a devastating breakup of a love relationship and the pain the follows. It is about getting over the hurt, and having a positive outlook of the future. It all about moving on!
- Steeleagle, Pittsburgh, PA

I heard Nash was tied to a tree and left alone overnignt to experience a thunderstorm and afterwards the dawn to a sunny day.
- Ken, Wichita, KS

The 'rainbow'is not so-called 'suicide',the 'rainbow'is what he has been praying for-the light to happyness.(shelli)
- michaela, brooklyn, NY

I've never heard this as anything but a song of hope--and an excellent one at that. The thing is, the melodies and instrumentation also depict the pain that the persona of this song has experienced. Perhaps people only hear that part, and think it's a song about suicide or something.
I'm going to make a CD that includes this song, the Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun," Bob Marley's "Comin' In From the Cold," and "Redemption Song," Melanie's "Lay Down," Bette Midler's "The Rose" and others to be determined. I'll play it when I'm feeling down.
- MusicMama, New York, NY

Back in the day, when this song first came out, my older brother and I saw Johnny Nash sing it on the ABC show "Don Kershner's In Concert". My brother told me that Johnny had just gotten off substance abuse, and that this song was his "purifying" rite. My older brother was and is a musician, so I took him at his word (although he was the one who spoiled the Santa Clause thing for me). I always took it as a positive song, as did many of my contemporaries. Great tune. Rob - New Jersey
- Robert, Hayden, AZ

Jimmy Carlin uses this music as his background music in the skate video "Black and White"
- Kyle, Jefferson, MD

When I was growing up and heard this song, I always thought it was a woman singing it. Hmmm...
- Mary, Phoenix, AZ

For me, a song of hope and recovery. It's all I can do to sit here at work and think about the circumstances under which I first heard it (November 1972)and maintain my composure. I'll just say that was moments after the first time I ever connected with my own pain and that I wasn't alone. Really, I felt like I was seeing clearly for the first time and that a major obstacle had been broken through.
- Bruce, North of NYC, MA

can't help but think of the movie "up in smoke" Cheech sings this in the car after they get stoned. ray. palm bay, fl
- ray, palm bay, ID

This song has always been special I think it might have been #1 when I was born Dec 1972. March 2004 my youngest daughter was born and this song was on the radio in the O.R. I knew that there were going to be big problems (the doctors didn't know yet) but that it would end happy and be a bright sun shiny day! I knew that even if she died that somehow it was going to be happy. My Daughter has CDLS only this year has it been really pretty easy. I'm sure we are not done but we can do it!! It's gonna be a bright sun shiny day!
- Heather, Sacramento, CA

Wow, I've always felt incredibly sad when hearing this song - and I've never understood why, as the lyrics are rather optimistic. But as Shelli says, they could really be about something like suicide. The song's got a tragic, fatalistic mood, like he's given up, or left something he loved behind. Anyway - the song is magic, the production is crisp.
- Johan, Oslo, Norway

As a recovering alcoholic, this song has always had great meaning to me in recovery - whether or not he wrote it from that perspective: "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It's gonna be a bright sun shiny day. I think I can make it now, the pain is gone All of the bad feelings have disappeared Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for It's gonna be a bright sun shiny day" Indeed!
- Bill, Columbus, OH

"I think I can make it now the pain has gone". How could a song with that line be about suicide?!?!
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

Where is Johnny Nash now? Does he have a fan club?
- james, London, England

Being that I am presently (2006) going through some of the worse/difficult times in my life, this song is an inspiration and makes me wwant to try and rise above adversity and from the yoke of my adversaries and see the sunshine that's waiting at the end of the tunnel (hopefully). Only then will I be able to say and sing with thanksgiving and gladness that "I can see clearly now the rain is gone...."
- John-Martin, Silver Creek, MS

I'm 58 years old have seen many a great band live and own an extensive collection of classic rock music. That being said this is my favourite song of all time just because it make me feel good.
- Alan, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

I didn't find the song depressing at all.
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Johnny began recording for ABC Paramount in the late 50's, but his biggest claim to fame was the introduction of reggae with his top 10 hit "Hold Me Tight" in 1968, opening the doors for Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, and the others that followed, including his own hits "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972) and "Stir It Up" (1973).
- Rick, San Juan, United States

Suicide??? Shelli, you could not be more wrong! On the contrary, it is a song about beating the odds and reaching one's goals!
- Robert, Trumbull, CT

Where is Johnny Nash?
- rick, tucson, AZ

This song was in the Spike Lee's movie "Crooklyn" (1994) as well.
- François, montr�al, Canada

I had some gospel singers sing this at my mother's funeral - it was an amazing moment. A truly spiritual and uniquely uplifting record. I wonder if Marvin Gaye ever covered it?
- Erik, London, England

Shelli ..I hope you are feeling better .. If not, get some help...songs about blue skies and sunshine are good things..
- rich, elkins, WV

The song was also a Top 30 UK hit in 1990 for Hothouse Flowers - the Irish band who plundered the charts worldwide in 1988 with "Don't Go".
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

Why do people always try to interpret every song as about drugs or suicide? Geez. This is happy song.
- Kurt, Downers Grove, IL

Just a song about having a bad day or life and being able to get over it peacefully.
- Mike, Covina, CA

The lyrics can also be construed as a song about suicide. The pain is gone and the he can see the obstacles. The "rainbow" is the way out - suicide.
- Shelli, Madison, WI