The duo started performing together in Toronto in 1959. By 1962, they were living in New York City, where they caught the attention of manager Albert Grossman, who managed Peter, Paul and Mary and would soon become Bob Dylan's manager. Grossman secured them a contract with Vanguard Records and they released their first album late in the year.
Four Strong Winds, their second album, featured title song "Four Strong Winds", written by Ian Tyson. "Four Strong Winds" was a major hit in Canada and ensured their stardom. Years later, the song was named as the greatest Canadian song of all time by the CBC-Radio program 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.
Their third album, Northern Journey, featured the song "Someday Soon", a composition by Ian Tyson that would rival "Four Strong Winds" in its popularity.
Their fourth album, Early Morning Rain, introduced the work of the couple's fellow Canadian songwriter and performer Gordon Lightfoot through the title song and "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me".
In 1969, Ian & Sylvia formed the country rock group Great Speckled Bird.
By 1975, Ian & Sylvia had stopped performing together and soon afterwards were divorced.
In 1992, they were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
In 1994, they were both made Members of the Order of Canada.
Early Morning Rain
Ian & Sylvia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long ways from home
And I miss my darling so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go
Out on runway number nine
Big 707 set to go
But I'm stuck here on the ground
Where the cold winds blow
Well the liquor tasted good
And the women were all fast
There she goes my friend
Oh she's rolling now at last
Here the mighty engines roar
See the silver wing on high
She's away and westward bound
High above the clouds she'll fly
Where the morning rain don't fall
And the sun always shines
She'll be flying over my home
In about three hours time
This old airport's got me down
It's no earthly good to me
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground
Cold and drunk as I might be
You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain
You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain
The song, Early Morning Rain, by Ian & Sylvia is a melancholic, introspective ballad narrated in first-person about being stranded at an airport. The singer describes himself as a lonely traveler with no destination in sight, clutching a dollar bill in his hand, and feeling an ache in his heart while surrounded by cold winds and pockets full of sand. He watches a 707 plane fly high above the clouds, taking off and flying towards his home. Though he can't help but feel envious of the plane passengers who will soon be with their loved ones, he is stuck on the ground, drunk and miserable. The singer knows he can't "jump a jet plane like you can a freight train," but he knows he must move forward despite his desolation.
The song speaks to the universal feeling of being lost and seeking comfort within the familiar. Many people have found themselves stuck in situations they can't control, desperately wanting to go home or find a new path, but finding themselves stranded, unable to move forward. The singer's feelings of isolation and yearning touch the heart of anyone longing for connection and familiarity. The song's imagery of the airplane soaring westward represents freedom and the possibility of moving on, but it contrasts sharply with the pain the singer feels being left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
In the early morning rain
The singer is experiencing sadness and isolation in the early morning rain.
With a dollar in my hand
The singer is in poverty and destitution with no monetary security
With an aching in my heart
The singer is feeling sorrowful and heartbroken due to missing someone
And my pockets full of sand
The artist has little to no money as they cannot afford to have a proper meal or afford basic amenities. Sand represents worthlessness.
I'm a long ways from home
The artist is far away from their familiar surroundings and place of origin
And I miss my darling so
The singer is yearning for the presence of their beloved
With no place to go
The singer is feeling hopeless and clueless about how to escape their present unfortunate life situation
Out on runway number nine
The artist is watching a Boeing 707 airplane from the distance
Big 707 set to go
The plane is preparing to take off
But I'm stuck here on the ground
The artist is stranded and grounded, unable to travel by plane as they cannot afford a ticket
Where the cold winds blow
The area the singer is stranded in is bitter cold and the weather is unforgiving
Well the liquor tasted good
The artist is consuming alcohol, which offers temporary pleasure and relief from their troubles
And the women were all fast
The singer is surrounding themselves with women who behave indiscreetly or lack morality
There she goes my friend
The airplane has taken off
Oh she's rolling now at last
The singer is lamenting the fact that they are not on the plane, experiencing a sense of envy and longing
Here the mighty engines roar
The airplane's engines are generating a loud noise
See the silver wing on high
The artist is admiring the appearance of the silver wing of the airplane from the ground
She's away and westward bound
The airplane is flying towards the west
High above the clouds she'll fly
The airplane will fly at a high enough altitude that it will be above the clouds
Where the morning rain don't fall
The upper atmosphere where the airplane flies is beyond the reach of rain
And the sun always shines
The upper atmosphere where the airplane flies is always illuminated by the sun
She'll be flying over my home
The airplane will fly over the artist's home
In about three hours time
The singer estimates that the airplane will reach their home in about three hours
This old airport's got me down
The artist feels depressed and trapped at the airport
It's no earthly good to me
The airport serves no purpose to the singer as they are unable to leave the ground and travel by plane
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground
The singer is reiterating their state of being stranded and unable to leave the airport
Cold and drunk as I might be
The singer is intoxicated and feeling cold
You can't jump a jet plane
It's impossible to physically hop on a plane in the way that one could jump on a freight train
Like you can a freight train
Trains are easier to access and do not require a ticket or permission to hop on
So I'd best be on my way
The singer knows that it's time to leave the airport and find a way to move on from their current situation
In the early morning rain
The singer is still feeling a sense of desolation and loneliness, but they have decided to continue their journey despite their hardships
Lyrics © DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nab_zer0
In the early morning rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long ways from home
And I miss my darling so
In the early morning rain
With no place to go
Out on runway number nine
Big 707 set to go
But I'm stuck here on the ground
Where the cold winds blow
Well the liquor tasted good
And the women were all fast
There she goes my friend
Oh she's rolling now at last
Here the mighty engines roar
See the silver wing on high
She's away and westward bound
High above the clouds she'll fly
Where the morning rain don't fall
And the sun always shines
She'll be flying over my home
In about three hours time
This old airport's got me down
It's no earthly good to me
Cause I'm stuck here on the ground
Cold and drunk as I might be
You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain
You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I'd best be on my way
In the early morning rain
@malonesinclaire9201
Brings back so many memories. Ian Tyson died today an l was reminded of his great gift to us. Thank u for the good memories Ian.
@ethanphillips7522
Im only 17 and this is my favorite song, I bring up my age because I want everyone to know that music never dies. This song puts me to sleep most nights and keeps me awake when I’m hurting. Of all the versions this is by far the best, i love the way they belt out some parts and hush up with others, it gives me chills even 2 years after I discovered it.
@Dulcimerea
music is eternal.
@jimhendrickson5553
Haven't seen him since in 40 years
@jimhendrickson5553
I'm 70, but when I was 17, in 1968, I was in a a duo with my friend Keith; this was one of our favorite tunes too.
@Dulcimerea
@@jimhendrickson5553 thank you jim
@heydude7568
sorry ethan but eva cassidy blows them all out the water
@harryryan168
These two wonderful legends are still going strong at the age of 86 (Ian) and 79 (Sylvia). Although no longer married, their love no doubt played out across the many poignant pieces of music they created together. Thank you Ian and Sylvia. What you created was and still is, timeless.
@nielskjr5432
Never heard of them before. Are they Canadians?
@jimbenvenuti2291
@@nielskjr5432 Yes