Lowell George's first band, The Factory, formed in 1965. Members included future Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward (he replaced Dallas Taylor in Sept 1966), and Martin Kibbee (a.k.a. Fred Martin) who would later co-write several Little Feat songs with George, including "Dixie Chicken" and "Rock & Roll Doctor". Frank Zappa produced two tracks for The Factory. Following the disbanding of The Factory, George briefly joined the band The Standells. There followed a few months in late 1968 to early 1969 where George was a member of Zappa's band, the Mothers of Invention.
After leaving the Mothers of Invention, George invited fellow musicians to form a new band, which they named Little Feat. As Feat's primary motive force and chief songwriter, he sang, played slide guitar and produced much of their output of eight albums...plus "Hoy Hoy," a collection of live recordings and studio outtakes released posthumously. Recorded one amazing solo LP. Died at the age of 34. An autopsy showed that he died of an accidental drug overdose.
With Little Feat, Lowell crafted a completely unique-sounding band. His approach to the slide or "bottleneck" guitar was not based in the blues from whence it originated, but was rather tailored specifically for the New Orleans-style funk, jazz-tinged improvisations and straight-ahead rock which the band played so brilliantly.
Lowell became a major influence on other artists such as Linda Ronstadt and the Rolling Stones. Even a producer for the Grateful Dead.
Notorious for his hard partying life style, died of a heart attack at age 34. The rock world lost a musician of singular talent and vision with his passing.
Lowell's daughter, Inara George, is a solo artist and member of the duo The Bird and the Bee.
I can't stand the rain
Lowell George Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
Hey, window pane
Do you remember
How sweet it used to be
Everything was so grand
Now that we've parted
There's just one sound
That I just can't stand
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
'Cause he's not here with me
Alone with the pillow
Where his head used to lay
I know you've got
Some sweet memories
But like the window
You ain't got nothing to say
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
Just keeps on haunting me
Hey, rain
Get off my window
"I Can't Stand the Rain" is a song that was originally recorded by Ann Peebles in 1973, but it was later popularized by Bonnie Raitt and Lowell George's band, Little Feat. The song is about the pain of heartbreak, and how the sound of rain against a window can stir up memories of an old lover. Lowell George's version of the song is often described as the quintessential version, thanks in part to his soulful vocals and bluesy guitar licks.
In the first verse of the song, the singer is addressing their window and the rain that is falling against it. They are reminiscing about a time when they were happy with their partner, and the rain was a welcome addition to their cozy nights together. But now that they are no longer in a relationship, the rain is just a reminder of what they've lost. The second verse is more somber, with the singer discussing how they are alone and how their partner is no longer with them. They admit that they have sweet memories of their time together, but those memories are bittersweet because they can never be relived.
Overall, the song is a powerful portrayal of the pain of heartbreak and how even the smallest things can trigger memories of an old love.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't stand the rain
The sound of raindrops falling intensifies the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
Against my window
The rain is hitting the singer's window.
Bringing back sweet memories
The sound of rain evokes memories of happier times.
Hey, window pane
The artist addresses the window in a bid to recapture the happiness they once shared with a loved one.
Do you remember
The window is being asked if it can recollect a past it shared with the artist.
How sweet it used to be
The window was once part of a happy relationship.
When we was together
The singer was once part of a fulfilling relationship in which the window played a role.
Everything was so grand
When the artist was with their loved one, everything was perfect.
Now that we've parted
The artist and their lover are now separated.
There's just one sound
Only the sound of the rain bothers the artist since the breakup of their relationship.
That I just can't stand
The sound of the rain brings back too many sad memories to handle.
I can't stand the rain
The sound of raindrops falling intensifies the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
Against my window
The rain is hitting the singer's window.
'Cause he's not here with me
The singer misses their lover.
Alone with the pillow
The singer is lying by themselves with just a pillow for company.
Where his head used to lay
The pillow is a reminder of where the artist's lover once slept.
I know you've got
The pillow represents the memories of the artist's lover.
Some sweet memories
The pillow evokes happy memories of the singer's lover.
But like the window
The pillow, like the window, cannot reciprocate or remember the happiness it once shared with the singer.
You ain't got nothing to say
The pillow can't communicate and talk back to the artist.
I can't stand the rain
The sound of raindrops falling intensifies the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
Against my window
The rain is hitting the artist's window.
Bringing back sweet memories
The sound of rain evokes memories of happier times.
I can't stand the rain
The sound of raindrops falling intensifies the feelings of loneliness and heartbreak.
Against my window
The rain is hitting the singer's window.
Just keeps on haunting me
The sound of rain lingers and continues to trouble the singer.
Hey, rain
The singer addresses the rain.
Get off my window
The artist wants the rain to stop bothering them.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ann Peebles, Bernard Miller, Don Bryant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mischiefmikeyo
Bring one musician back to life card? You're damn right id use it on Lowell. This guy was music incarnate. I wouldn't want to live in a world without his music
pretorious700
Lowell or George Harrison-that's a tough one.
Jay Shatsky
Amen !!
rob g
what a great song done to perfection by the man . RIP Lowell
musicnut1986
I always thought this was one killer album with bluesy horns and keyboards and that awesome slide guitar. Always wondered what other killer albums Lowell had in him that died when he died. We will never know. At least we have this solo album and the Little Feat albums to enjoy.
Stargazer
Musicnut1986. I thoroughly agree.
nyg1954
Soulful man.
Khataroo
This is one of my favorite albums
TEG Knox
Packed solid with excellent tunes. So damn glad he got this completed.
Austin Young
it's pouring down here in h-town and this old song came to mind. hadn't thought of it in years but it's in my head again. R.I.P. Mr. George - so much talent, soul, turmoil and "sweet memories".....