Jimmy Raney began his jazz guitar career very early with the history showing he played in the Jerry Wald band in 1944 at age 17.
In 1946 he worked for a time as guitarist with the Max Miller Quartet at Elmer's in Chicago, his first paying gig. Raney also worked in the Artie Shaw Orchestra and collaborated with Woody Herman for nine months in 1948. He also collaborated and recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Al Haig and later on with Bob Brookmeyer. In 1967 alcoholism and other professional difficulties led him to leave New York City and return to his native Louisville. He resurfaced in the 1970s and also did work with his son Doug, who is also a guitarist. Raney suffered for thirty years from Meniere's Disease, a degenerative condition that eventually led to near complete deafness in both ears. Fortunately, his playing remained unaffected. Raney died of heart failure in Louisville Ky. on May 10th of 1995, just short of his 68th birthday. An obituary in the New York Times referred to Jimmy Raney as 'one of the most gifted and influential postwar jazz guitarists in the world .
Here's That Rainy Day
Jimmy Raney 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 opening lines of Jimmy Raney’s ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ are melancholic and contemplative. The singer ruminates on the dreams that he let go of, perhaps out of practicality or fear of failure. As the song progresses, he acknowledges the irony of the situation as the very thing he joked about becomes his reality. The rainy day is a metaphor for heartache and the singer reflects on how love, once a warm and comforting presence, has now become a ‘cold rainy day’. The song contains a sense of resignation as the singer accepts the loss of his love and acknowledges that his hope has faded away.
While the lyrics appear simple, they contain layers of meanings that allow listeners to relate to their own experiences. The use of rain, a common motif in songs about heartbreak, effectively conveys the emotions of sadness and despair. The metaphor of the rainy day further reinforces this emotion as it is something that cannot be avoided or controlled. The reference to the ‘worn out wish’ that brought the singer love adds another dimension to the song. The singer understands that love can be fleeting and that even the things we want most can disappear without warning.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams
Perhaps I should have held onto my unfulfilled aspirations
Funny, but here's that rainy day
Ironically, the unpleasant situation I was warned about has arrived
Here's that rainy day they told me about
The predicted gloomy occasion has come to pass
And I laughed at the thought that it might turn out this way
I chuckled at the idea that this undesirable outcome could happen
Where is that worn out wish that I threw aside
What happened to the desire that I abandoned
After it brought my lover near
After it helped me find my significant other
It's funny how love becomes a cold rainy day
It's ironic how something warm and positive like love can turn into something dark and dismal
Funny, that rainy day is here
Ironically, that dreaded gloomy day has arrived
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