Brubeck's style ranged from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. Much of his music employed unusual time signatures, a fact jokingly referred to by his greatest hits album 'Time Signatures: A Career Retrospective'. Upon his death, a number of commentators noted his crossover appeal to mainstream pop audiences, something putting him in the company of other jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong and Herbie Hancock among others.
Here's That Rainy Day
Dave Brubeck Lyrics
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Funny, but here's that rainy day
Here's that rainy day they told me about
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way
Where is that worn out wish that I threw aside
After it brought my lover near
It's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
Funny, that rainy day is here
The Dave Brubeck Quartet's "Here's That Rainy Day" is a classic jazz ballad about love and loss. The song begins by reflecting on dreams that were left unsaid, perhaps a metaphor for opportunities missed in life. The second verse reflects on a lover that the singer pushed away, only to miss them terribly once they had gone. The metaphor of a rainy day is employed throughout the song, with love being compared to a cold, wet day. The song's lyrics are complemented by Brubeck's melancholic and reflective piano, which captures the emotional weight of the lyrics.
The song is about regret and hindsight, themes that are common in many jazz ballads. By the end of the song, the singer realizes the irony of their situation: the very thing that they laughed at (the rainy day) has become a reality. This realization brings forth a sense of sadness and introspection, which is captured beautifully by the song's melody.
Interestingly, the song's melancholic tone and reflective lyrics were inspired by a real-life event in Dave Brubeck's life. According to Brubeck, the song was written after he received news that his favorite aunt had passed away. This event caused him to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the people and opportunities that we have.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams
Perhaps I should have held onto my unfulfilled dreams in case of bad times.
Funny, but here's that rainy day
It's ironic to see the very day people warned me about arriving now.
Here's that rainy day they told me about
This is the very day that someone had predicted would be difficult, and now it's happening.
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way
I didn't take the possibility seriously when it was mentioned earlier.
Where is that worn out wish that I threw aside
Where did that aspiration I once had and abandoned go?
After it brought my lover near
It was what brought my beloved into my life before.
It's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
It's surprising how a sentiment as warm as love can spoil like the weather outside.
Funny, that rainy day is here
It's still hard to believe that the day is finally here.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind