The world lost two musical luminaries this week: guitar god Eddie Van Halen and perhaps the lesser-known Johnny Nash, whose iconic song “I Can See Clearly Now” is nevertheless known by most people of a certain age.

John Lester Nash – known as “Johnny” – died on Tuesday at age 80, rose from pop crooner to early reggae star to the creator and performer of the million-selling reggae-flavoured anthem “I Can See Clearly Now,” which topped the charts in 1972.

Uniquely, the silky-voiced Nash was American, born in Houston, and one of the first Jamaicans to have success with the reggae genre, helping to introduce it in the US. He also helped launch the career of his friend Bob Marely.

Reportedly written by Nash while recovering from cataract surgery, “I Can See Clearly Now” was a story of overcoming hard times that itself raised the spirits of countless listeners, with its swelling pop-reggae groove, promise of a “bright, bright sunshiny day” and Nash’s gospel-styled exclamation midway, “Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies!” – a backing chorus lifting the words into the heavens.

The rock critic Robert Christgau would call the song “2 minutes and 48 seconds of undiluted inspiration.”

Although overlooked by Grammys judges, “I Can See Clearly Now” was covered by artists ranging from Ray Charles and Donny Osmond to Soul Asylum and Jimmy Cliff, whose version was featured in the 1993 movie “Cool Runnings.” It also turned up everywhere from “Thelma and Louise” to a Windex commercial, and in recent years was often referred to on websites about cataract procedures.

The fame of the song outlasted Nash’s own. He rarely made the charts in the years following and by the 1990s had essentially left the business.

Lyrics

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 (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies
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 (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Oh what a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day