Stormy Weather
Arlen Lyrics


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Don't know why
There's no sun up in the sky
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps raining all of the time

Oh, yeah
Life is bad
Gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather, stormy weather
And I just can get my poor self together
Oh, I'm weary all of the time
The time, so weary all of the time

When he went away
The blues came in and met me
Oh, yeah if he stays away
Old rocking chair's gonna get me
All I do is pray
The Lord will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Oh, I can't go on, can't go on, can't go on
Everything I have is gone
Stormy weather, stormy weather
Since my man and I, me and my daddy ain't together
Keeps raining all of the time
Oh, oh, keeps raining all of the time
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah raining all of the time
Stormy stormy




Stormy weather
Yeah

Overall Meaning

Arlen's song "Stormy Weather" is a melancholic ballad that follows the emotional journey of its protagonist through a period of intense heartbreak and loneliness. The opening lines "Don't know why there's no sun up in the sky, stormy weather" suggest a world that is bleak and chaotic – a reflection of the singer's inner turmoil. She then reveals that this emotional turmoil stems from the fact that she is no longer with her "man", which is causing her to feel like she can't get her "poor self together" and is "weary all of the time". The recurring phrase "Stormy weather" underscores the persistent feelings of turmoil and chaos that she is experiencing.


The second verse of the song charts a deeper layer of sadness and despair as the singer reflects on her current predicament. She describes feeling like "life is bad, gloom and misery everywhere" and unable to escape her feelings of despair, stating that she "can't go on, can't go on, can't go on". The song's bridge shifts to a more hopeful message, as the singer prays that the "Lord will let [her] walk in the sun once more". This provides a glimmer of hope that she will eventually find a way to move past her heartbreak and experience joy again.


Overall, "Stormy Weather" is a powerful and emotionally resonant song that captures the raw pain of heartbreak and the long and difficult journey towards healing and hope.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't know why
I can't understand why things are the way they are.


There's no sun up in the sky
It's cloudy and dark outside, no sign of sunshine.


Stormy weather
I'm experiencing difficult times in my life.


Since my man and I ain't together
Ever since my partner left me, things have been tough.


Keeps raining all of the time
My struggles and hardships continue, without any break.


Life is bad
My day-to-day struggles are overwhelming and seem never-ending.


Gloom and misery everywhere
Everywhere I look, there is sadness and despair.


And I just can't get my poor self together
I am unable to gather myself, I am too upset and distressed.


Oh, I'm weary all of the time
I am exhausted both physically and emotionally, all the time.


The time, so weary all of the time
This has been going on for a long time, and I am beyond tired.


When he went away
My partner left me unexpectedly, and things have been tough since.


The blues came in and met me
I became extremely sad and depressed after my partner left.


Oh, yeah if he stays away
If my partner doesn't return, things will only get worse for me.


Old rocking chair's gonna get me
I will end up all alone, with nothing but old age to keep me company.


All I do is pray
All I can do is hope and pray for better times.


The Lord will let me
I hope that God will bless me and grant me relief from my troubles.


Walk in the sun once more
I hope to experience happiness, positivity, and good fortune again.


Oh, I can't go on, can't go on, can't go on
I have reached my limit, I cannot bear this pain any longer.


Everything I have is gone
All the good things in my life have disappeared since my partner left.


Since my man and I, me and my daddy ain't together
In the absence of my partner, I feel like I am missing a significant family member.


Oh, oh, keeps raining all of the time
My struggles persist, with no end in sight.


Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah raining all of the time
It continues to rain all the time, adding to the sense of despair.


Stormy stormy
My life feels like a storm that never gives up, never calms down.


Stormy weather
I'm still struggling and things are still tough.




Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Spencer Smith

My favorite version of the song.

Dawn Wright

I'm still going through the playlists and loving them. I am an elder millennial (born in 85 lol) so consider that when reading this: I keep wondering why EVERYONE knows who Bing Crosby is but I had never heard of Russ Columbo or Harold Arlen before. I am loving Arlen's voice here and in "Linda" (I'm sure I will hear more as I go..)

Dawn Wright

Also I'm not sure what happened to my username..

Yevgeny

The 86th here. I've just discovered Harold and this song -- wonderful.

Yevgeny

@Dawn Wright Seems youtube have messed up their databases, my username has been altered as well.

Clem Schubert

This is what perfection sounds like. Listen closely and remember.

Nicholas J. Lilly Cline

Has a self-awareness of being a grand new addition to the American Songbook.

225 Marklin

Wonderful.

tommytimp

According to liner notes from one collection, this is one of the first recorded uses of electric piano. But it could easily be a celesta.

Harry Minot

This could not be finer!

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