Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" by Link Wray and his Ray Men popularized "the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists", facilitating the emergence of "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone placed Wray at No. 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. In 2013 he was a nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly, and instrumental rock.
Wray was born on May 2, 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, to Fred Lincoln Wray, Sr. and his wife, Lillian M. Wray (née Coats). They were Shawnee Native Americans. Three songs he performed were named for American Indian tribes: "Shawnee", "Apache", and "Comanche". "Apache" was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan; it was originally a hit in the United Kingdom for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover version 30 years later, when it was also associated with The Ventures and the Incredible Bongo Band.
Wray served in the US Army during the Korean War, and contracted tuberculosis, which laid him up in a hospital for a year. His stay concluded with the removal of a lung, which doctors predicted would mean he would never be able to sing again.
In 1958, Wray's first hit, "Rumble", was banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence. The record was first released on Cadence Records as Cat # 1347 (as Link Wray and the Ray-Men). Before, during, and after his stints with major labels Epic and Swan, Wray released 45's under many names. Tiring of the corporate music machine, he began recording albums using a three-track studio he converted from an outbuilding on his brother's property that his father used to raise chickens.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1970s, Wray was introduced to Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina by bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson. He subsequently formed a band initially featuring special guest Cipollina along with the rhythm section from Cipollina's band Copperhead, bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and drummer David Weber. They opened for the band Lighthouse at The Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles from May 15–19, 1974. He later did numerous concerts and radio broadcasts in the Bay Area including KSAN (FM) and the Bill Graham venue Winterland Ballroom, with Les Lizama later replacing Hutchinson on bass. He toured and recorded two albums with retro-rockabilly artist Robert Gordon in the late 1970s. The 1980s to the present day saw a large number of reissues as well as new material. One member of his band in the 1980s, drummer Anton Fig, later became drummer in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 1994, he played on four songs of the album Chatterton by French rocker Alain Bashung.
Wray's first three marriages—to Elizabeth Canady Wray, Katherine Tidwell Wray, and Sharon Wray—each ended in divorce. Although Wray had eight children with his first three wives, he had little contact with any of them after relocating to Denmark in the early 1980s.
Wray died of heart failure at his home in Copenhagen, at the age of 76. Survivors included his fourth wife, Olive Julie Povlsen Wray, and their son. He was buried in the crypt of the Christian's Church, Copenhagen.
Jack Rose cited Wray as an influence, as did Iggy Pop and Neil Young. Jimmy Page says that Link Wray had a "real rebel attitude" and credits him in It Might Get Loud as a major influence in his early career. According to Rolling Stone, Pete Townshend of The Who once said, "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble,' I never would have picked up a guitar." "The only people I ever really looked up to were Link Wray and Iggy Pop," said Mark E. Smith of The Fall. "Guys like…Link Wray… are very special to me.
Fallin' Rain
Link Wray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i hear talking of people, i feel the falling rain
i see a young man cryng' cause the whole world has let him down
i see a young man cryng' staring at the cold, cold ground
my mind is like a spring in a clock that won't unwild
can't see, can't think, can't feel, i'm out of time
i'm up and down, tell me where will it end
i hear thunder and i can feel the wind
i can feel angry faces in the eyes of men
i hear talking of people the whole word has gone insane
and all there is left is the falling rain
i see fire and rain and bloodshed all around
and it keeps going through my brain, ihear the sound
i hear talking of people the whole word has gone insane
and all there is left is the falling rain
all there is left is the falling rain
Link Wray’s song, “Fallin’ Rain” is a song that invokes a sense of despair and hopelessness. The lyrics talk about the sounds of rainfall and the emotions that it evokes in the singer. The singer hears the sound of people talking and crying underneath the sound of the rain. The rain can be seen as a metaphor for the sadness that surrounds the singer. He sees a young man crying and wondering how the world could let him down.
The lyrics also paint a picture of chaos and destruction. The singer hears thunder and can feel the wind. Angry faces resemble the turmoil that is happening to the world. However, instead of the terrible things happening to the world, it is the sadness that is left behind. The somber atmosphere created throughout the song is a representation of the singer's state of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
i hear a sound, its ' going through my brain
There's a sound that I continuously hear that's affecting my thoughts.
i hear talking of people, i feel the falling rain
I hear people talking and it's bringing me down, making me feel like it's raining on me.
i see a young man cryng' cause the whole world has let him down
I witness a young man who's crying because he's been disappointed by the whole world.
i see a young man cryng' staring at the cold, cold ground
The young man is staring hopelessly at the ground.
my mind is like a spring in a clock that won't unwild
My mind is like a tightly wound spring that won't release.
can't see, can't think, can't feel, i'm out of time
I feel like I'm stuck and unable to see, think or feel anything, like I'm out of time.
i'm up and down, tell me where will it end
I'm experiencing highs and lows, and I wonder when it will all be over.
on this carroussel, tell me where will it end
I feel like I'm just going round and round in circles without any resolution.
i hear thunder and i can feel the wind
I hear thunder and I can feel the wind blowing around me.
i can feel angry faces in the eyes of men
I sense hostility and anger in the people around me.
i hear talking of people the whole word has gone insane
I hear people talking about how the whole world has gone crazy.
and all there is left is the falling rain
All that remains is the ongoing sadness and despair, represented by the falling rain.
i see fire and rain and bloodshed all around
I witness destruction and violence everywhere I look, represented by fire, rain, and bloodshed.
and it keeps going through my brain, ihear the sound
These images keep replaying in my mind, haunting me with their sounds and sights.
all there is left is the falling rain
The only thing left is the constant sadness and despair, represented by the falling rain.
Writer(s): Fred Lincoln Wray Jr
Contributed by Nicholas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@NormanKahler
I hear a sound
It's going through my brain
I hear talk of people
I feel the fallin' rain
I see a man crying
'Cause the whole world has let him down
Kids are laughing at funny faces
Of a clown
My mind is like a spring in a clock
It won't unwind
I can't see, I can't think, I can't feel
I'm out of time
I'm up and then I'm down
Tell me where is it going to end?
You say start at the beginning
Of the end, my friend
I hear thunder
And I can feel the wind
I can see angry faces
In the eyes of men
And don't forget Kent State
Where kids lay bleeding on the ground
And there's no place on this planet
Where peace can be found
So there'll be stabbings, shootings
And young men dying all around
And it keeps going through my brain
And I can still hear the sound
I hear talking of people
The whole world has gone insane
And all there is left is the fallin' rain
And all there is left is the fallin' rain
All there is left is the fallin' rain
@omarmiguel7483
Elijah Berle's part on Vans Alright, Ok by Greg Hunt brought me here.
@kylegishi4635
One of my favorite video part ever
@lostboys8271
yess sir such a beautiful part
@shongiffin4735
Same, brother.
@918kickinwing
Watchin Elijah Berle kill it.
@ariellarampaul2803
Same 😂😂
@thejamnasium6447
god this song is sensational. I'd go so far as to say this whole album is one of the most underrated of all time.
@joebloggs8636
I agree %100
@scottstewart9584
You'd both be high. It's a nice song but sober up, boys.
@scottstewart9584
@@BetterCallSol-ug2ot No, don't waste a beer....you win.