Standing In The Rain
Carole King Lyrics


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We met along the back streets where we would not be seen
Our bodies full of passion, with love our only dream
The neon flashed in our hotel room, but I never complained
Until the night you left me standing in the rain

I wondered what had happened, afraid to call your home
So I spent the night in the local bar, but I had to drink alone
I must have gotten in a fight, 'cause I woke up bleeding with pain
I had the midnight sun with you
Now I'm standing in the rain
Standing in the rain

Another woman answered when I called you in the morning
The sound of her voice came without a warning
The sun was coming up, but inside my soul was storming
I guess there are some promises you just can't keep

I'm still wandering down those back streets
But with a different point of view
'Cause I lost everything I had when I bet it all on you
I try not to think about it, or else I'll go insane
Sometimes I cry, wondering why you left me standing in the rain
Standing in the rain




Why did you leave me standing
Standing in the rain

Overall Meaning

In Carole King's song "Standing In The Rain," the lyrics depict a story of a couple who met in secret in back streets where they would not be seen. They were full of passion and love was their only dream. However, the singer of the song is left standing in the rain by their partner, who disappeared without any explanation. The neon lights of their hotel room no longer bring comfort, and the singer spends the night in a bar drinking alone. The pain is evident when the singer wakes up in the morning, brutally beaten, and with no one to call. When they do eventually get in touch with their partner, they learn that promises are meant to be broken, and the singer has lost everything they had when they bet it all on this person.


The song talks about the pain of betrayal and unfulfilled promises. It portrays a sense of helplessness and the feeling of being lost without someone who was an integral part of the singer's life. The singer was so invested in the relationship that they lost themselves, their identity, and everything they had. The song reminds us that sometimes promises are broken, and we can be left standing in the rain wondering why.


Line by Line Meaning

We met along the back streets where we would not be seen
We met secretly in the less traffic lanes where we hoped no one would notice us.


Our bodies full of passion, with love our only dream
Our hearts and minds were consumed with the intense feelings of love and romance.


The neon flashed in our hotel room, but I never complained
Although the bright neon lights disturbed me, I chose to overlook it because I was so happy to be with you.


Until the night you left me standing in the rain
However, all that happiness disappeared on the night you left me outside in the rain and went away.


I wondered what had happened, afraid to call your home
I was anxious and clueless about what had taken place, and I refrained from calling your home due to fear.


So I spent the night in the local bar, but I had to drink alone
I had to endure the loneliness and painful memories of that night by myself in the nearby bar.


I must have gotten in a fight, 'cause I woke up bleeding with pain
Based on my injuries, it was evident that I was in a scuffle and ended up hurt and in pain.


I had the midnight sun with you
Being with you was a wonderful experience that brightened my dark days and nights.


Now I'm standing in the rain
But now, I am alone and helpless as I stand outside being rained on.


Another woman answered when I called you in the morning
The next morning when I called you, someone else answered your phone.


The sound of her voice came without a warning
I was completely surprised by the sound of that woman's voice, and it further broke my heart.


The sun was coming up, but inside my soul was storming
Despite the sun rising, my mind and soul were chaotic and stormy with pain and hurt.


I guess there are some promises you just can't keep
Perhaps, some promises are difficult to keep, and that's why you couldn't keep them.


I'm still wandering down those back streets
Even today, I am still wandering down those same back streets.


But with a different point of view
But now, I have a new perspective on life and love.


'Cause I lost everything I had when I bet it all on you
Sadly, when I put everything I had on you, I ended up losing it all.


I try not to think about it, or else I'll go insane
I avoid thinking about the past because it hurts and may drive me crazy.


Sometimes I cry, wondering why you left me standing in the rain
It's tough not to cry sometimes when the memories and the pain overwhelm me, and I still wonder why you left me in the rain.


Standing in the rain
The phrase 'standing in the rain' is repeated to emphasize the pain, isolation, and desolation suffered by the singer as they recall their lost love.


Why did you leave me standing
This question is repeated to express the singer's incomprehension of why their lover abandoned them so heartlessly.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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