Stormy Weather
Don Redman and His Orchestra 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 rainin' all the time

Life is bare
Gloom and misery everywhere

Stormy weather
Just can't get my poor self together
I'm weary all the time, the time
So weary all the time

When he went away, the blues walked in and met me
If he stays away, old rocking chair will get me
All I do is pray the Lord above will let me
Walk in the sun once more

Can't go on
All I have in life is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together
Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time

I walk around, heavy-hearted and sad
Night comes around, I'm still feelin' bad
Rain pourin' down, blindin' every hope I had
This pitterin', patterin', beatin' and spatterin' drives me mad
Love, love, love, love
This misery is just too much for me

Can't go on
Everything I had is gone
Stormy weather
Since my man and I ain't together

Keeps rainin' all the time
Keeps rainin' all the time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Stormy Weather" convey an intense feeling of sadness and loss, triggered by the absence of the singer's loved one. The song talks about the gloomy atmosphere that surrounds the singer since the man she loves left her. The first verse starts with a comparison between the singer's state of mind and the weather, which is used symbolically to represent her emotional turmoil. The second and third verses expand on the impact of the separation on her life, highlighting her struggles to find joy and meaning in anything without her lover.

The chorus changes slightly with each repetition, emphasizing the singer's sense of desperation and isolation, with her being unable to distract herself or shake off the sadness. The last verse presents a vivid portrayal of how the singer's misery seems to amplify the already bad weather outside. The overall message is that the singer's life is completely consumed by the sadness she feels, and the absence of her loved one has left her feeling hopeless and alone.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't know why
I can't understand why

There's no sun up in the sky
The sky is cloudy and dark

Stormy weather
The bad times

Since my man and I ain't together
My lover and I are apart

Keeps rainin' all the time
The hard times won't end

Life is bare
I feel empty and hopeless

Gloom and misery everywhere
I see sadness and suffering everywhere

Just can't get my poor self together
I can't get myself to feel better

I'm weary all the time, the time
I'm tired and hopeless all the time

So weary all the time
I'm exhausted and hopeless all the time

When he went away, the blues walked in and met me
I became very sad when my lover left me