Tear Before The Rain
Jordan Rudess Lyrics


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There in the afterglow
My solo world in view
A glimpse beyond the world I know
An open door that I walk through?

And falling from the sky,
A tear before the rain.
But it will pass me by -
Holding back again...

A man possessed wings to fly
Beyond this space and time
The rhythm of this heart of mine
Is beating like a battle cry

And if I let it go
Will strength provide relief
From fearful winds that blow -
Only disbelief

Tears falling
I'm calling
Out into the air
My sun is rising where I stand - (I know)

One day I wake up
And suddenly I'm found
High flying man has been unbound (and so)

The hourglass is winding down
As all becomes so clear

Now tears that fall are all around
And rainbows in the sky appear

Tears falling
I'm calling
Out into the air
My sun is rising where I stand - (I know)

One day I wake up
And suddenly I'm found
High flying man has been unbound (and so)

And here I am once more
I'm standing in the light
Much stronger than before





A tear before the rain one tear before the rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jordan Rudess's song Tear Before The Rain speaks of the experience of a protagonist who is taking a moment to reflect on their life. They stand in the afterglow and see their solo world in view. However, they glimpse beyond the world that they know, and an open door appears before them. The singer is hesitant at first, pausing to watch a tear falling before the rain. They hold back their emotions, filled with fear and disbelief. Still, their heart beats like a battle cry and gives them the strength to let go of their fears and step through the open door. This experience transforms them, and they become a high-flying man unbound.


The song muses on the theme of self-discovery, growth, and renewal of spirit. The singer's experience of transforming into a high-flying man is symbolic of their inner transformation. It's a fascinating journey of self-discovery that speaks to the human experience of life's twists and turns, which can make us fearful and hesitant to move forward, but also can lead us to discover unexpected joys.


Line by Line Meaning

There in the afterglow
Reflecting on a recently experienced event


My solo world in view
Feeling isolated but having a clear sense of self


A glimpse beyond the world I know
Seeing past the familiar and exploring the unknown


An open door that I walk through?
Questioning whether to take a new opportunity


And falling from the sky,
A symbol of impending change


A tear before the rain.
A brief moment of sadness before a larger transformation


But it will pass me by -
The sadness won't have a lasting effect


Holding back again...
Resisting letting go and fully experiencing the change


A man possessed wings to fly
Feeling empowered and free


Beyond this space and time
Breaking free from physical and temporal constraints


The rhythm of this heart of mine
The strong emotions and passion within oneself


Is beating like a battle cry
Feeling energized and ready to face challenges


And if I let it go
Considering releasing control


Will strength provide relief
Wondering if becoming vulnerable can lead to healing


From fearful winds that blow -
The intimidating forces of change


Only disbelief
Feeling skeptical or hesitant about the future


Tears falling
Emoting sadness or vulnerability


I'm calling
Reaching out for support or guidance


Out into the air
Vocally expressing oneself to be heard


My sun is rising where I stand - (I know)
Feeling optimistic and hopeful about the future


One day I wake up
A sudden realization or shift in perspective


And suddenly I'm found
Discovering something previously unknown or hidden


High flying man has been unbound (and so)
Achieving unexpected freedom or success


The hourglass is winding down
Time is running out or ending


As all becomes so clear
Gaining clarity about a situation or decision


Now tears that fall are all around
Others are experiencing sadness or vulnerability


And rainbows in the sky appear
A sign of hope and positivity among the sadness


And here I am once more
Returning to a familiar situation


I'm standing in the light
Feeling positive and optimistic


Much stronger than before
Having grown from previous experiences


A tear before the rain one tear before the rain
A small moment of sadness before greater change and positivity




Contributed by Audrey R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Renan Castelar

Uma das mais belas musicas que ja ouvi na vida

Tommy Walker

Kip Winger is kickass! awesome vocals here, Winger (the band) is kick ass too!

DuxLikeCheese

I don't understand how Dream Theater haven't let Jordan write any of their lyrics!! This is a masterpiece!

Kodie Gregory

how could this have a dislike? it's amazing

KEYNUTT

Love love love this song. Never would guess it was Kip Winger singing in this lower register. He does a great job with it. My only complaint - not crazy about the backing vocals. Kinda distracting. The keys and vocals are so beautiful they should be left to stand alone.

filippo random phil

absolutely wonderful

Bill Landon

Most-imaginitively beautiful composition

Rod

Great song I heard this back in 2006

jbubal

Seven years of hearing this song and I still get goosebumps.

Marc Papeghin

Same here...absolutely gorgeous song

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