"Evan Almighty" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Evan Almighty (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)" Soundtrack Description

Overview

Can a studio family comedy wear both gospel uplift and classic-rock winks without feeling stitched together? Evan Almighty says yes. The commercial album—issued by Curb Records—leans into radio-friendly optimism (LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Plumb) while the film itself raids a wider pantry: CCR and Elton John needle-drops, a John Mayer montage, and an end-credit dance to C+C Music Factory.

Underneath the songs, John Debney’s orchestral score does the heavy narrative lifting: a noble ark theme, comic punctuation, and a flood set-piece that swells bigger than the gags. The result is a two-tier soundtrack: one album built for cross-format play, one score album on Varèse Sarabande for cue-by-cue storytelling. Trusted sources: Apple Music, AllMusic, Discogs, Variety.

Questions & Answers

Is there an official soundtrack album?

Yes. Evan Almighty (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture) released June 19, 2007 on Curb Records (digital runtime ≈44 min).

Is there a separate score album?

Yes. Evan Almighty (Original Motion Picture Score) by John Debney, 16 tracks, ~48–49 minutes, released by Varèse Sarabande in 2007.

What song plays over the cast’s end-credit dance?

“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory (first end-credit cue).

What music scores the big ark-building montage?

John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change” anchors the main build montage; Elton John’s “Just Like Noah’s Ark” appears earlier when construction starts.

Which version of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is on the album?

The album includes John Fogerty’s performance; the cue also opens the film as the Baxters arrive in Virginia.

Any songs heard in the film but missing from the album?

Yes. Notably Rascal Flatts’ “Revolution” (used in-film) isn’t on the Curb album; it later appeared as a bonus track on the band’s own release.

Notes & Trivia

• The song album (Curb) and the score album (Varèse Sarabande) arrived weeks apart in 2007.
• “Ready for a Miracle” won a Dove Award (Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year); the album itself drew a Dove nomination.
• Rascal Flatts’ “Revolution” charted on Hot Country Songs but isn’t on the film’s retail soundtrack.
• The credit roll turns into a choreographed cast dance—rare for a major-studio family comedy of the 2000s.

Genres & Themes

Country-pop & CCM uplift — anthems about purpose (“Ready for a Miracle,” “The Power of One”) mirror the film’s “Act of Random Kindness” motif.

Classic/modern radio rock — CCR/Fogerty and John Mayer box in the ark-building montage with Americana familiarity and mid-2000s polish.

Big, smiling end-credit dance-pop — C+C Music Factory’s 1990 staple converts moral-of-the-story into a literal dance commandment.

Tracks & Scenes

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” — Creedence Clearwater Revival
Where it plays: ~0:02 — opening beats as the Baxters drive to their new life; quick scenic montage and move-in arrivals. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: sets a friendly Americana tone before the miracles start.

“Just Like Noah’s Ark” — Elton John
Where it plays: ~0:38 — early ark-construction moments with Evan and his sons; mishaps included. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: an on-the-nose but cheerful wink at the premise.

“Revolution” — Rascal Flatts
Where it plays: ~0:45 — continued ark-building, winches whirring, animals looking on. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: punchy momentum; notably absent from the retail album despite on-screen use.

“Sharp Dressed Man” — ZZ Top
Where it plays: ~0:50 — Evan styles the involuntary beard, tries to pass as his old self, robe under the suit gag. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: quick comedic shorthand for vanity versus vocation.

“Waiting on the World to Change” — John Mayer
Where it plays: ~0:58 — main build montage intercut with press coverage and congressional pressure. Non-diegetic.
Why it matters: mid-2000s optimism used ironically—waiting vs. doing.

“Ready for a Miracle” — LeAnn Rimes
Where it plays: ~1:05 — animals help, press swarms, Evan’s mission gains shape; returns in late credits. Non-diegetic / credits.
Why it matters: the gospel lift that aligns the film’s message with pop-CCM sheen.

“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” — C+C Music Factory
Where it plays: ~1:28 — first end-credit cue; the cast dances as God’s “new commandment.” Credits sequence.
Why it matters: breaks the fourth wall to exit on pure release.

Music–Story Links

The needle-drops are structural. Opening Americana (CCR) says “new start”; Elton John turns the premise into a joke you’re invited to enjoy. Mayer’s montage argues for passivity—right before the plot flips to action. Gospel-pop reframes the ridiculous as providence, and the credits dance converts moral into motion: kindness as a verb, not a slogan.

How It Was Made

Score: John Debney; released by Varèse Sarabande (16 cues, ~48–49 minutes). The program includes big-orchestra set-pieces and choir (credit: Page LA Studio Voices in retailer listings).

Music supervision: Kathy Nelson, veteran of Universal’s song-driven comedies. Song album: Curb Records’ compilation balances faith-market crossovers with country/pop names primed for radio and TV placement. Trusted sources: Variety; Apple Music.

Reception & Quotes

“Ambitious but temp-tracky; enjoyable yet oddly derivative.” Movie Music UK

“Neither demanding nor trailblazing… pleasant fluff.” Filmtracks

Awards: the album received a Dove nomination; “Ready for a Miracle” won its Dove category. Availability: both albums remain on mainstream streamers.

Additional Info

• Album label/date: Curb Records, June 19, 2007 (songs); Varèse Sarabande, 2007 (score).
• End-credit sequence doubles as an in-theater dance cue — uncommon in PG family films of the era.
• Several “inspired by” cuts on the Curb album do not appear on-screen; conversely, a few on-screen songs are absent from the CD.
• Rascal Flatts’ “Revolution” later surfaced as a bonus track on the band’s own release rather than on the film album.
• The CCR/Fogerty vs. Mayer contrast gives the build montage two distinct shades of Americana.

Technical Info

• Title: Evan Almighty (Music From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)
• Year: 2007
• Type: Various-artists compilation (songs) + separate original score album
• Composer: John Debney
• Music Supervisor: Kathy Nelson
• Labels: Curb Records (songs); Varèse Sarabande (score)
• Notable placements: CCR — “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” (opening); Elton John — “Just Like Noah’s Ark” (early build); John Mayer — “Waiting on the World to Change” (main montage); LeAnn Rimes — “Ready for a Miracle” (animals help / credits); C+C Music Factory — “Gonna Make You Sweat” (credit dance)

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: Apple Music; AllMusic; Discogs; Variety; Wikipedia; SoundtrackRadar; The Numbers; Movie Music UK; Filmtracks.

November, 09th 2025