A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Bryan Ferry Roxy Music Lyrics
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Where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
Walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
Stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
Been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in a mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
Oh what did you see, my blue eyed son?
What did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a bleedin'
A white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue eyed son?
What did you hear, my darling young one
I heard the sound of thunder that roared out a warning
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a blazin'
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
Heard one person starve, many people laughin'
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard hard hard hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
Oh who you did meet, my blue eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young girl whose body was burning
A young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
Another man who was wounded with hatred
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
Oh what'll you do now, my blue eyed son?
What'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm goin' back out 'fore the rain starts fallin'
Walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where people are many and their hands are all empty
Where pellets of poison are flooding the waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, and none is the number
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountains so all souls can see it
Then I'll stand in the ocean until I start sinking
But I'll know my song well before I start singing
And it's a hard it's a hard and it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a so hard
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
The song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is a powerful commentary on the state of the world during the Cold War Era. The lyrics portray a sense of fear and despair about the potential for nuclear war and the destruction it would bring. The first stanza describes the journey of the singer, who has seen and experienced the horrors of the world - from the misty mountains to sad forests and dead oceans. The repetition of "it's a hard" emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the challenges that must be overcome.
The second stanza describes what the singer has witnessed - a newborn baby surrounded by wild wolves, a highway of diamonds with nobody on it, and a room full of men with bleeding hammers. The imagery painted here is vivid and haunting. The lack of presence by anyone on the highway of diamonds implies that wealth and material prosperity are meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
The third stanza describes what the singer has heard - the sound of thunder warning of impending danger, the roar of a wave that could drown the entire world, and the lamentations of a starving person. The repetition of "hard" and "hard hard hard" increases the tension and sense of urgency in the lyrics.
The final stanza ends with the singer's call to action - to go back out before the rain starts falling, walk into the deepest forest, and reflect upon what has been seen and heard. The lyrics convey a sense of determination to make a difference, to speak out, and to resist against the calamities of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh where have you been, my blue eyed son?
Where have you been, my beloved child?
Where have you been, my darling young one?
Where have you roamed, dear one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I have struggled through a dozen treacherous terrains
Walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I have moved forward in the face of adversity down six difficult roads
Stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I have stood amidst seven sorrowful woods
Been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I have wandered along the shores of twelve lifeless seas
I've been ten thousand miles in a mouth of a graveyard
I have travelled thousands of miles through graveyards, where death is ever present
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard
It is an immense challenge, and it keeps getting more difficult
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
Oh what did you see, my blue eyed son?
What did you witness, my dear child?
What did you see, my darling young one?
Tell me, what did your eyes behold?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves around it
I saw a newborn child surrounded by danger and potential harm
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a path of riches devoid of any company
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a dark tree branch, blood still flowing from it
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a bleedin'
I saw a chamber packed with laborers, their hands seeping with blood
A white ladder all covered with water
A pale ladder drenched entirely in water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw tens of thousands of chatterboxes rendered speechless
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
Innocent youths wielded deadly weapons
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard hard
It is an immense challenge, a great hardship
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
And what did you hear, my blue eyed son?
What did you listen to, dear child?
What did you hear, my darling young one
Tell me, what did you hear?
I heard the sound of thunder that roared out a warning
I heard ominous thunderclaps, a harbinger of danger
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I felt the deafening sound of a tide capable of submerging everything
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a blazin'
I registered a hundred fiery percussionists beating their drums
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I noticed ten thousand whispers unheard by anybody
Heard one person starve, many people laughin'
I overheard the cries of someone dying of hunger, while others joyfully laughed
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
I heard a poet's song, sung with passion, despite his tragic, untimely demise
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
I heard the mournful sobs of a clown in the narrow street
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard hard hard hard
It is an immense challenge, and ever-growing in difficulty
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
Oh who you did meet, my blue eyed son?
Whom did you encounter on your journey, dear child?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
Tell me, whom did you come across?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I encountered a little one beside a deceased steed
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I chanced upon a Caucasian fellow walking a dark puppy
I met a young girl whose body was burning
I met a youthful lady who was dying, engulfed in flames
A young girl, she gave me a rainbow
A young girl granted me the gift of a vibrant multicolored arch
I met one man who was wounded in love
I encountered a man who had been injured emotionally
Another man who was wounded with hatred
I also came across someone whose wounds were caused by intense hostility
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard
The road ahead is an immense challenge
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
Oh what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
What will be your next move, dear child?
What'll you do now, my darling young one?
Tell me, what is your plan?
I'm goin' back out 'fore the rain starts fallin'
I will journey once more before the tempest arrives
Walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
I shall venture into the heart of the darkest woods
Where people are many and their hands are all empty
Where people abound, but they all possess nothing
Where pellets of poison are flooding the waters
Where toxic specks contaminate the streams
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where a humble dwelling in the valley stands alongside a filthy, cold jail
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden
Where the one who enacts punishment always keeps his visage veiled
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where hunger is revolting and spirits are disregarded
Where black is the color, and none is the number
Where everything is pitch black, and there is complete desolation
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
I shall share, reflect upon, proclaim, and live out my experiences
And reflect it from the mountains so all souls can see it
I will cast my stories throughout the mountains so that all can bear witness
Then I'll stand in the ocean until I start sinking
Then I will stand in the sea until I begin to sink
But I'll know my song well before I start singing
But I will be fully prepared to sing my anthem
And it's a hard it's a hard and it's a hard
It is an immense challenge, ever-surmounting in difficulty
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a hard
It will be a great struggle, and it will only get more difficult
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
And it's a hard and it's a hard and it's a so hard
It is an immense, gargantuan struggle
And it's a hard rain's a gonna fall
A heavy deluge of troubles awaits
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSebboxxx
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of the thunder that roared out a warning
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman, her body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded in hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where their home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner's face is always well-hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it
And reflect from the mountains so all souls can see it
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my song well before I start singing
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
@redrightgoth
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ’fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
@lyndababy
IMO one of the best renditions of this song. The contrast between the upbeat tempo and the dark truth of the lyrics is brilliant.
@ThefightingCelt
I absolutely love Dylan's original ... and I also love this version. Bryan Ferry has re-arranged Dylan's classic into something very different and just as brilliant and awe-inspiring, in my humble opinion.
@danielward67
I prefer this version. Ferry's the better musician.
@thebasedgodmax1163
@Daniel Ward BD was always a better songwriter than musician. he's great of course, but he's not the best singer or guitarist or so on.
@deanm6577
It's 42 years since I first heard Bryan sing this. Heard it over & over many times since. Simply wonderful. Genius of Bryan Ferry.
Thank You Bryan.
@Tubemanjac
Never too late to join.
@henningandersen9027
One of the best cover-versions of any song of any time.
@leecollier2135
The best cover
@jorgewemyss3994
absolutely agree
@widM_
Musically maybe, in any other aspects is one of the worst covers ever. It doesn't transforms any spirit and message of the original. He turned profound anti-war song which moves you and haunts you with symbolist imagery into fun bland danceable song. Like he would not know what he's actually singing about. Sorry, this song is not meant to dance to.