(I remember) trains and boats and planes
And people from the past
Always making promises you know things that'll never last
And fever broke when the storms took hold
And morale was at an all time low

And you were staying up 'till dawn reading Crowley and Allan Poe
And I was thinking back to the time when I was nine and you were ten
You had a magic set that turned me into you then I said

Hey the day the rain came down that's the day you weren't around
I was lost in the woods one time and the sky was losing light
I was brave and sixteen then I thought well hell I'll stay all night

I took the sun from the sky and held it in my arms for a souvenir
The sound of ringing bells awoke me as the dawn was drawing near
And you were standing there casting spells like they grow on trees
I've seen it all and for your next trick maybe you could tell me who said
Hey the day the rain came down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Felt’s “The Day the Rain Came Down” paint a nostalgic picture of a past romance filled with disappointment and mystique. The first verse refers to unfulfilled promises from the past, likely from the disillusionment that follows after those promises were broken. The chorus “Hey the day the rain came down, that’s the day you weren’t around” emphasizes the point that the relationship fell apart during a tumultuous time, perhaps indicating that it wasn’t built to last.

The second verse delves further into the past, this time referring to childhood memories. The singer remembers a time when they were younger, and their partner had a magic set. In typical childhood fashion, the singer was in awe of the tricks that were performed and looked up to their partner. The lyric “you had a magic set that turned me into you then I said” shows the admiration and fascination the singer had for their companion.

The final verse finds the singer wandering through the woods at night, during a time when they are courageous and self-assured. They take the sun from the sky as a symbol of their boldness, but soon realize their mistake when they are awoken by the sound of bells. The bells are likely meant to be interpreted as a warning or admonishment. In the final line “I’ve seen it all and for your next trick maybe you could tell me who said hey the day the rain came down” it is unclear who the singer is addressing. It could be the partner the song is addressed to, or perhaps it is aimed at the wider perception of love and relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

trains and boats and planes
Memories of various modes of transportation and the places they took us.

And people from the past
Recollections of people we used to know.

Always making promises you know things that'll never last
Remembering how people would make promises they couldn't keep.

And fever broke when the storms took hold
The illness that plagued us disappeared when the storms came.

And morale was at an all time low
Our emotional state hit rock bottom.

And you were staying up 'till dawn reading Crowley and Allan Poe
You were reading late into the night, lost in the works of occult writers Crowley and Allan Poe.

And I was thinking back to the time when I was nine and you were ten
I was reflecting on the past, specifically when I was nine and you were ten years old.

You had a magic set that turned me into you then I said
You had a magic kit that made me feel like I was you, and I told you about it.

Hey the day the rain came down that's the day you weren't around
The day it rained was the day you weren't there for me.

I was lost in the woods one time and the sky was losing light
I found myself lost in the woods as the sun began to set.

I was brave and sixteen then I thought well hell I'll stay all night
Despite being scared, I decided to stay in the woods all night.

I took the sun from the sky and held it in my arms for a souvenir
I imagined myself holding the sun as a keepsake.

The sound of ringing bells awoke me as the dawn was drawing near
The sound of bells woke me up as morning approached.

And you were standing there casting spells like they grow on trees
You were performing magical incantations with ease.

I've seen it all and for your next trick maybe you could tell me who said
I've experienced a lot, and now I'm challenging you to impress me with your knowledge of a quote's origin.

Hey the day the rain came down
Repeating the refrain that signifies the day when everything changed.

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