Little Drops of Rain
Judy Garland Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Little drops of rain
Little grains of sand
Make the mighty ocean
And the pleasant land

Little notes that sing
Little words that rhyme
Make the mighty memories
And the dreams of time

Never let a minute
Lie there on the shelf
For there may be in it
All loves life itself

Little smiles of hope
Little drops of tears
Make this thing called love
Go dancing down the years

Little drops of rain
Little rays of sun




Make the hopeful rainbow
Glow for everyone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Little Drops of Rain" by Judy Garland poetically capture the power of small things in creating something greater. The first two lines, "Little drops of rain, little grains of sand," reflect the idea that small things can build up to become greater than their singular parts. These small things can relate to memories and dreams; "Little notes that sing, little words that rhyme, make the mighty memories and the dreams of time." This illustrates how seemingly insignificant moments can gather and shape the course of one's life.


The song continues with a call to action, "Never let a minute lie there on the shelf, for there may be all in it; love's life itself." This reminds us to value each moment and understand that every small instance contributes to the larger picture. The lyrics then highlight the importance of hope and tears in love, "Little smiles of hope, little drops of tears, make this thing called love go dancing down the years." The song concludes with a hopeful message, "Little drops of rain, little rays of sun, make the hopeful rainbow glow for everyone," showing that even small things can bring joy and positivity to everyone's life.


Line by Line Meaning

Little drops of rain
Even small things can have a big impact on our lives


Little grains of sand
Tiny details can build up over time to create something much bigger


Make the mighty ocean
Small drops of water eventually result in the immense size and power of the ocean


And the pleasant land
Small grains of sand contribute to the beauty and serenity of the land


Little notes that sing
Simple melodies can evoke powerful emotions and create lasting memories


Little words that rhyme
Even short and simple phrases can have significant meaning and impact


Make the mighty memories
Small moments can stay with us and become treasured memories


And the dreams of time
Small hopes and aspirations can build into a lifetime of fulfilling dreams


Never let a minute
Time is precious and should not be wasted


Lie there on the shelf
Don't let moments pass without making something of them


For there may be in it
Each moment presents a chance for something meaningful to happen


All loves life itself
Making the most of every moment is a way of valuing and celebrating life


Little smiles of hope
Small gestures of positivity and optimism can bring joy and inspire others


Little drops of tears
Even moments of sadness and grief can be transformed into something beautiful


Make this thing called love
Love is made up of many small moments that build into a powerful force


Go dancing down the years
Love has the ability to endure and bring joy throughout a lifetime


Little drops of rain
Repeating the idea that small things can make a big impact


Little rays of sun
Sunlight, another small thing that can expand into something beautiful


Make the hopeful rainbow
The little things in the world can create something that is both beautiful and hopeful


Glow for everyone
This beauty is accessible to all and can bring light and joy to anyone who sees it




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: E. Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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