Flash and the Pan was an Australian New Wave group (essentially an ongoing … Read Full Bio ↴Flash and the Pan was an Australian New Wave group (essentially an ongoing studio project) formed in the late 1970s by Harry Vanda and George Young, both former members of the Easybeats. George Young is also an older brother to Angus Young and Malcolm Young of AC/DC. Both Vanda and Young produced several AC/DC albums.
Until the release of "Waiting for a Train" in 1983 they had been a one-hit wonder in the UK, which was a coincidence as the expression 'a flash in the pan' denotes something that is only briefly popular. The duo gained further exposure through the track from their debut album, "Walking in the Rain", which was later covered by Grace Jones.

Walking in the Rain
Flash & The Pan Lyrics

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Walking down the street
Kicking cans
Looking at the billboard
Also ran
Summing up the people
Checking out the race
Doing what I'm doing
Feeling out of place

Walking, walking in the rain

Feeling like a woman
Looking like a man
Sounding like a no-no
Make it when I can
Whistling in the darkness
Shining in the light
Coming to conclusion
Right is might is tight

Walking, walking in the rain

Come in all you jesters
Enter all you fools
Sit down no-no
Ogre, ghouls
Trip the light fantastic
Dance the swivel hips
Coming to conclusion
Button up your lips

Walking, walking in the rain
Walking, walking in the rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Walking In The Rain" by Flash & The Pan tell the story of a person who feels out of place and disconnected from the world around them. The first verse sets the scene with the person walking down the street, kicking cans and looking at the billboard. They are "summing up the people, checking out the race" - perhaps a reference to the competition and pressure of modern society. The person is doing what they are doing, but they feel out of place.

In the chorus, the person repeats the line "Walking, walking in the rain" which creates a sense of loneliness and sadness. The second verse describes the person feeling like a woman but looking like a man, and sounding like a "no-no." This suggests they don't fit into traditional societal roles or expectations. They continue to whistle in the darkness and shine in the light, perhaps losing their sense of self and identity in the discomfort of trying to fit in.

The bridge of the song invites all the "jesters" and "fools" to come in and join them. They encourage the group to "trip the light fantastic," which means to dance with wild abandon. Yet, they also tell the fools to "button up their lips" - perhaps a commentary on how the world often silences and shuts down those who don't fit in. Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the struggles of fitting in and finding oneself in a world that often values conformity over individuality.

Line by Line Meaning

Walking down the street
Strolling along the road

Kicking cans
Playing with tin cans on the street

Looking at the billboard
Glancing at the advertisements on the board

Also ran
Noticing the losers

Summing up the people
Analyzing the passersby

Checking out the race
Observing the competition

Doing what I'm doing
Continuing with my actions

Feeling out of place
Feeling like I don't belong

Walking, walking in the rain
Walking through the rain

Feeling like a woman
Feeling emotional

Looking like a man
Appearing confident