Burrell made his first recording in 1951, with Dizzy Gillespie. After moving from Detroit to New York City in 1956, he recorded with a wide range of prominent musicians, including John Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Cedar Walton. He also led his own groups since 1951.
In the 1970s he began leading seminars about music, particularly Duke Ellington's (Burrell has a music degree from Wayne State University). A highly popular performer, he has won several jazz polls in Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the United States.
He has recorded about 40 LPs, including Midnight Blue (1961), Blue Lights, Guitar Forms, Sunup To Sundown (1990), Soft Winds (1993), Then Along Came Kenny (1993), and Lotus Blossom (1995).
Burrell now serves as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA.
I Think It's Going To Rain Today
Kenny Burrell Lyrics
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A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
It's human kindness is overflowing
Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
It's human kindness is overflowing
And I think it's going to rain today
No, I think it's going to rain today
The lyrics to Kenny Burrell's song "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" speaks to the themes of loneliness, desperation and ultimately hope. The opening lines, "Broken windows and empty hallways, a pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray" sets the scene of a desolate and rundown environment. This image evokes a feeling of sadness, a place where people have given up hope. However, the following line "human kindness is overflowing" introduces a glimmer of hope amidst the bleakness. It suggests that even in the worst of situations, people have the ability to be kind and show compassion, which can bring a sense of comfort to those in need. The repetition of this line throughout the song further emphasizes this message.
The chorus, "And I think it's going to rain today" is repeated twice in the song, creating a sense of oncoming rain which could symbolize the cleansing of the environment, the washing away of sorrow and the possibility of new beginnings. The lyrics, "Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles, with frozen smiles to chase love away" allude to the idea that people in the midst of their own turmoil put on a façade to present themselves as happy and content, although deep down they are far from it. The following lines, "Bright before me the signs implore me, to help the needy and show them the way" suggests that despite the pain people are experiencing, there is still help to be offered and people who are willing to guide them towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Broken windows and empty hallways
The desolate and abandoned environment around me implies that something is not right
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
The moon's lack of luminosity and the dreary atmosphere accurately reflects the mood of the surroundings
Human kindness is overflowing
Despite the bleak environment, people readily show their capacity for compassion and empathy
And I think it's going to rain today
Amidst the backdrop of somberness and benevolence, there could be an imminent occurrence of sorrow and tribulation
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
People are too preoccupied with their own appearance, oblivious to the precious connections that they could make with one another
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Despite acting pleasant, individuals conceal their true feelings, making it impossible for them to cultivate true affection
Bright before me the signs implore me
The signs are clear instructions on how to exhibit kindness to others, but often go unnoticed or ignored
To help the needy and show them the way
The message of the signs is to nurture generosity and guide those who are struggling towards better prospects
No, I think it's going to rain today
Despite hope for betterment, there is an apprehension of impending grief and despair
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Randy Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind