You know the feeling. You’re driving, the sun finally hits the windshield after a nasty storm, and that opening bassline starts thumping. Most people immediately think of a "bright, sunshiny day" and start humming along. But if you’ve ever argued with a friend over who actually sings I Can See Clearly Now, you aren’t alone. It is one of those rare tracks that has been reinvented so many times that the original singer sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of movie soundtracks and coffee commercials.
So, who sings I Can See Clearly Now? The short answer is Johnny Nash. He didn't just sing it; he wrote it, produced it, and basically used it to change the face of pop music in 1972.
But it’s rarely that simple. Depending on when you grew up, you might swear it’s Jimmy Cliff or a group of Irish rockers. Let’s break down the history of this anthem and who really owns that legendary vocal.
The Man Behind the Magic: Johnny Nash
Johnny Nash wasn't Jamaican. People always assume he was because the song has that distinct, laid-back "reggae-lite" feel. He was actually a soul and gospel singer from Houston, Texas. By the time he released I Can See Clearly Now in June 1972, he’d already been in the industry for fifteen years.
Nash was a pioneer. He was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to travel to Kingston and record at Federal Records. While he was there in the late 60s, he met a then-unknown guy named Bob Marley. Nash was so impressed he signed Marley and the Wailers to his own label, JAD Records.
Why Nash’s Version is Still King
The original version of I Can See Clearly Now is a masterpiece of production. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 4, 1972, and stayed there for four weeks. It wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural shift.
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- The Voice: Nash’s high tenor is crystal clear. It sounds like hope.
- The Genre: It was called "reggae rock" at the time. It wasn't "pure" reggae—it lacked the heavy "one-drop" beat—but it introduced the vibe to a massive American audience.
- The Instrumentation: That weird, spacey bridge? That was Francis Monkman playing a Moog synthesizer. It was cutting-edge for 1972.
Honestly, the song is only 2 minutes and 48 seconds long. It’s incredibly short, but it’s packed with so much optimism that it feels bigger. Nash once said that hitting #1 with this song was the "ultimate form of acceptance." He eventually stepped away from the spotlight to live on a ranch in Texas, but his voice remains the gold standard for this track.
The 90s Revival: Jimmy Cliff and "Cool Runnings"
If you were a kid in the 90s, your version of I Can See Clearly Now belongs to Jimmy Cliff. In 1993, the movie Cool Runnings—the true-ish story of the Jamaican bobsled team—became a sleeper hit. The soundtrack needed a vibe that felt like Jamaica but worked for a global audience.
Jimmy Cliff was the perfect choice. He was already a legend for The Harder They Come, but this cover actually became his highest-charting single in the U.S., peaking at #18.
Cliff’s version is different. It’s "fizzier." It has that early 90s pop-dance undertow. It’s a bit more polished and definitely leans harder into the island rhythms than Nash's original. For many, this is the "official" version because it’s so tied to the emotional climax of that movie.
That Overwrought Irish Cover (Hothouse Flowers)
Then there’s the 1990 version by the Irish band Hothouse Flowers. This one usually trips people up. If you live in the UK or Ireland, you probably remember this version because it was inescapable.
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It reached #5 in Ireland and #23 in the UK. Lead singer Liam Ó Maonlaí really goes for it. Some critics at the time called it "overwrought," but it has a raw, gospel-rock energy that’s totally different from the reggae vibes of Nash or Cliff. It’s big, it’s loud, and it features a lot of straining sinews. It also got a massive boost because it was used in a famous Nescafé coffee advert.
The "Genius" Take: Ray Charles
You can’t talk about this song without mentioning Ray Charles. In 1977, "The Genius" released his album True to Life. He took the song and turned it into a soulful, funky journey.
Ray’s version is longer—about four and a half minutes. He stretches out the syllables, adds stabs of Hammond organ, and brings a grit to the lyrics that the "sunshiny" original doesn't have. When Ray sings about "dark clouds," you believe he’s actually seen them.
Other Notable Versions You Might Have Heard
Because the song is basically a template for "feeling better," everyone has tried it.
- Gladys Knight & The Pips (1973): They gave it a stirring gospel intro. It’s gentle, backed by strings and a clarinet. It’s very classy.
- Screeching Weasel: Yes, even punk bands love this song. They gave it the 120mph, fuzzed-out guitar treatment.
- Holly Cole: For the jazz fans, her 1993 version is smoky, minimalist, and focuses entirely on the bassline and her sultry vocals.
- Grace VanderWaal: More recently, she brought the song back to a younger generation with her ukulele-driven cover.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the song is about "blindness" or literal sight. There’s actually a dark, albeit unconfirmed, fan theory that it’s a song about suicide—about the "pain being gone" because the person has decided to end it all.
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That is almost certainly not true. Johnny Nash wrote it during a time when he was finally finding his sound and his success after years of struggling in the industry. It’s a song about clarity after a struggle. It’s about the "rainbow I’ve been praying for." It’s literal optimism.
Another common error? Thinking Bob Marley sang it. While Marley played on Nash's album and wrote three other songs on it (including "Stir It Up"), he did not sing or play on the track "I Can See Clearly Now."
Summary of the Heavy Hitters
- The Original: Johnny Nash (1972) - The soulful, reggae-influenced #1 hit.
- The Movie Version: Jimmy Cliff (1993) - From Cool Runnings, the most popular 90s version.
- The Soul Version: Ray Charles (1977) - Funky, organ-heavy, and deeply soulful.
- The Rock Version: Hothouse Flowers (1990) - Irish passion and big piano energy.
Your Next Steps for Music Discovery
If you want to really appreciate the depth of this song, do a "version-off." Start with the Johnny Nash original to hear the 1972 Moog synthesizer. Then, jump straight to Ray Charles to hear how a soul legend can change the entire mood of the lyrics. Finally, check out Holly Cole’s version if you want to hear how the song sounds when you strip away the "sunshine" and replace it with a double bass.
It's a fascinating look at how one piece of songwriting can survive five decades and still feel fresh. Check out the original I Can See Clearly Now album too—it features some of Bob Marley's earliest professional collaborations and is a huge piece of music history.