Feels Like Rain
Buddy Guy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Down here the river, meets the sea
And in the sticky heat I feel ya' open up to me
Love comes out of nowhere baby, just like a hurricane
And it feels like rain
And it feels like rain

Lying here, underneath the stars right next to you
And I'm wondering who you are and
How do you do?
How do you do, baby?
The clouds roll in across the moon
And the wind howls out your name
And it feels like rain
And it feels like rain

We never going to make that bridge tonight baby
Across lake Ponchartrain
And it feels like rain
And it feels like rain

So batten down the hatch baby
And leave your heart up your sleeve
It looks like we're in for stormy weather,
That ain't no cause for us to leave
Just lay here, in my arms
Let it wash away the pain




And it feels like rain
And it feels like rain

Overall Meaning

Buddy Guy's "Feels Like Rain" is a slow, bluesy love song that showcases the power of love and its impact on an individual. The lyrics transport the listener to the heat of summer as the river meets the sea, and in this moment, the intimacy and passion between two people ignite. The heat is scorching, and the humidity creates a sticky feeling, but in each other's arms, they find comfort and relief. Love flows like a hurricane without warning, and it feels like rain. The rain that is being referred to here is the cleansing of the soul, a new beginning, a feeling of purity that only comes when you let go of the past.


The song takes on an introspective turn in the second verse where the singer, lying beside his lover under the moon, wonders who they are and how they are doing. The cloud formation changes, and the wind rises, and the lover's name is whispered through the howling wind. It feels like rain, and the moment becomes ethereal, a connection beyond the physical, beyond the present.


The final verse emphasizes the uncertainty of the future, the impossibility of crossing the bridge, and how stormy weather is coming. It's a metaphor for the emotional turmoil they may face in their relationship. However, they decide to weather it together, no matter what, and let the rain-like love wash away the pain. The song ends on a hopeful note, "It feels like rain," that love can help them find a way to navigate the challenges ahead of them.


Line by Line Meaning

Down here the river, meets the sea
The singer is in a location where the river merges with the ocean.


And in the sticky heat I feel ya' open up to me
The atmosphere is humid , intimating a sexual feeling expressed by the person he is with.


Love comes out of nowhere baby, just like a hurricane
Unexpected love feels like coming out from nowhere, just like a hurricane.


And it feels like rain
The feeling of love and passion is intense, likened to rain showers.


Lying here, underneath the stars right next to you
The artist is lying under the stars, beside his lover.


And I'm wondering who you are and How do you do?
The singer questions the identity of his lover, and how they feel about each other.


The clouds roll in across the moon
Clouds cover the moon, signifying a dark turn of events.


And the wind howls out your name
The wind sounds like the person’s name, as if it’s calling out to them.


We never going to make that bridge tonight baby Across lake Ponchartrain
They won't make it to the other side of the lake due to the storm.


And it feels like rain
The feeling is so strong, that it feels like rain.


So batten down the hatch baby
Prepare for a storm, by battening down the hatches.


And leave your heart up your sleeve
Be open and raw with emotion, don't hide it away.


It looks like we're in for stormy weather, That ain't no cause for us to leave
The storms and bad weather should not come in between the relationship.


Just lay here, in my arms Let it wash away the pain
The singer suggests that they should stay together and let go of their pain.


And it feels like rain
The feeling is so strong, it's like it's raining.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN HIATT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@oliviacase6417

My dad played blues guitar ever since he was a little boy growing up on a farm in rural Virginia in the 50s. He had a hard life full of hatred, drugs, and resentment as a result of a wrongful prison sentence he was forced to carry out at the age of 15 where he was tried as an adult for murder. His beloved mother died while he was in prison and they escorted him to her funeral in shackles as he watched her lowered into the ground. He was finally released from prison aged 33, his young adulthood stolen, only anger at the world remaining.

He found family in motorcycle clubs similar to what you see in Sons of Anarchy. He married three times and had a total of 7 children between them. By the third and final marriage, my father decided he was done with drugs, alcohol, and the rough and tough lifestyle that he had previously led. Upon learning of my mother's first pregnancy (dad's fourth child), he quit everything cold turkey.

By the time the youngest child came around, he had been clean for a while and had really gotten back into his blues guitar. That child had a special bond with her dad that makes me smile just thinking about. He would read her stories, watch Andy Griffith, the Three Stooges, and SpongeBob, laugh for hours when recounting his Ambien fueled kitchen raids the previous nights, and hey the daughter even became a musician herself. She played piano beautifully, not blues like her father, but still that passion for music was passed on nonetheless.

One of the daughter's favorite things to do was listen to her dad play blues guitar and sing. Oh, how he could sing, though he would never admit it. He'd play and sing all the greats, SRV, Jimi Hendrix, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, and yes, Buddy Guy.

Over the years, that hate inside of him faded and wisdom came in its stead. Playing guitar became difficult. Arthritis and tendinitis set in hard within his fingers. He'd wake up sometimes with his hands locked in a claw position, unable to straighten his fingers. It was the cold and wet days that were the worst, he'd say, he could even feel the rain coming. It then became like a tradition for him to get out his guitar and play for his daughter, and sing, "it feels like rain."

Well, drug and alcohol use takes its toll on your body. Dad lived for 30 years after quitting cold turkey but he had contracted Hepatitis C from sharing needles all those years ago and it destroyed his liver. He passed away March 6, 2018, 3 days after my 26th birthday. I still play piano. I miss listening to him play guitar and talking with him about his life.

I saw a storm cloud approaching over the horizon today and felt the humidity in the air. I thought about my dad as I said to myself "It feels like rain."

Rest in peace, Goliath.



All comments from YouTube:

@rodneydavid6940

As a 19 year old broke college kid from Tahlequah, OK, back in 1996, we scraped together every dollar we had and 5 of us piled in my buddy's grandma's 1979 Lincoln and drove to Memphis for the Beale Street Music Festival... (I have the goose bumps typing this). Anyway we got there after dark and it was raining,.. the first stage we walked up to there was this Blues Guitar player/singer named Buddy Guy on stage... and he was playing this song as we got close enough to hear. It was a life changing, religious experience for me. I went home, bought every one of his CD's and a guitar. Buddy changed my life that day❤❤❤❤❤❤

@edsontavares7859

Buddy é o cara, fiquei com inveja.
Cidade de Canoas RS Brasil.

@TKASPEROWICZ

In August, probably around 2012ish he was playing the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on the NH coast. A thunderstorm rolled in and Buddy became one with Mother Nature. He is the only one left of the original blues generation. God Bless this man and all he has given to his craft. He has brought a lot of joy to people.

@TKASPEROWICZ

In August, probably around 2012ish he was playing the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom on the NH coast. A thunderstorm rolled in and Buddy became one with Mother Nature. He is the only one left of the original blues generation. God Bless this man and all he has given to his craft. He has brought a lot of joy to people.

@hykeeba-9254

This is an awesome story. Cheers dude 🍻

@Nancy-jm8ly

I was in Madison in watching Buddy when a strong came up the river and he cut to this song Never forget that moment

@LynnMclaughlin-x911

Buddy’s voice is smooth as butter! Such a gift!

@Healinglove

He's the best! Saw him live, hugged him, truly a beautiful human being. No one like him. ❤🎉

@oliviacase6417

My dad played blues guitar ever since he was a little boy growing up on a farm in rural Virginia in the 50s. He had a hard life full of hatred, drugs, and resentment as a result of a wrongful prison sentence he was forced to carry out at the age of 15 where he was tried as an adult for murder. His beloved mother died while he was in prison and they escorted him to her funeral in shackles as he watched her lowered into the ground. He was finally released from prison aged 33, his young adulthood stolen, only anger at the world remaining.

He found family in motorcycle clubs similar to what you see in Sons of Anarchy. He married three times and had a total of 7 children between them. By the third and final marriage, my father decided he was done with drugs, alcohol, and the rough and tough lifestyle that he had previously led. Upon learning of my mother's first pregnancy (dad's fourth child), he quit everything cold turkey.

By the time the youngest child came around, he had been clean for a while and had really gotten back into his blues guitar. That child had a special bond with her dad that makes me smile just thinking about. He would read her stories, watch Andy Griffith, the Three Stooges, and SpongeBob, laugh for hours when recounting his Ambien fueled kitchen raids the previous nights, and hey the daughter even became a musician herself. She played piano beautifully, not blues like her father, but still that passion for music was passed on nonetheless.

One of the daughter's favorite things to do was listen to her dad play blues guitar and sing. Oh, how he could sing, though he would never admit it. He'd play and sing all the greats, SRV, Jimi Hendrix, B. B. King, Eric Clapton, and yes, Buddy Guy.

Over the years, that hate inside of him faded and wisdom came in its stead. Playing guitar became difficult. Arthritis and tendinitis set in hard within his fingers. He'd wake up sometimes with his hands locked in a claw position, unable to straighten his fingers. It was the cold and wet days that were the worst, he'd say, he could even feel the rain coming. It then became like a tradition for him to get out his guitar and play for his daughter, and sing, "it feels like rain."

Well, drug and alcohol use takes its toll on your body. Dad lived for 30 years after quitting cold turkey but he had contracted Hepatitis C from sharing needles all those years ago and it destroyed his liver. He passed away March 6, 2018, 3 days after my 26th birthday. I still play piano. I miss listening to him play guitar and talking with him about his life.

I saw a storm cloud approaching over the horizon today and felt the humidity in the air. I thought about my dad as I said to myself "It feels like rain."

Rest in peace, Goliath.

@barbarateresarhiannonsreal1756

Beautiful!

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