Summer Rain
Paul Kelly Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She comes and goes, like summer rain.
I wait all day for summer rain.
And when she comes, I smile again
She cools my brain, like summer rain.

She'll change your plans like summer rain
I raise my arms to summer rain.
I lift my head and taste again.
The sweet, sweet drops of summer rain.

She's warm, she's fresh like summer rain
She comes in a rush, like summer rain.




And when she comes she makes a change,
I'll wait all day for summer rain.

Overall Meaning

The song “Summer Rain” by Paul Kelly is a beautiful piece describing the way rain can be symbolic of a relationship. Kelly uses rain as a metaphor to represent a woman in his life who comes and goes just like the summer rain. The woman has the power to alter his mood, feelings, plans and also helps him to cool down his brain. The song expresses the happiness and relief that comes from the arrival of the woman who acts as a life-giving force. The lyric “I wait all day for summer rain” suggests that the subject is eager and excited to see the woman again, to experience the deep feelings she elicits in him.


The tempo of the song is soothing and romantic, matching the tender vibe of the message. Kelly’s vocals are shot through with longing and a yearning for intimacy as he describes the encapsulating effect of the woman on his soul. The repetition of the phrase ‘summer rain’ helps to emphasize the symbolism of the rain outside in contrast to the emotional rain of the singer’s heart. Overall, Paul Kelly has given us a simple but incredibly powerful image of the ebb and flow of deep intimate love in being reaffirmed by a precious person who affects our lives in many ways.


Line by Line Meaning

She comes and goes, like summer rain.
She is unpredictable and comes and goes like the summer rain.


I wait all day for summer rain.
I am constantly anticipating her arrival like waiting for summer rain to fall all day.


And when she comes, I smile again
Her arrival brings me joy and happiness.


She cools my brain, like summer rain.
Her presence calms and soothes me like the relief brought on by summer rain.


She'll change your plans like summer rain
She has the power to alter and disrupt your plans similar to how summer rain can change your outdoor activities.


I raise my arms to summer rain.
I express happiness and gratitude by raising my arms, similar to how people enjoy and celebrate summer rain.


I lift my head and taste again.
I enjoy and savor the moments and experiences she brings, similar to how people enjoy the taste of summer rain.


She's warm, she's fresh like summer rain
Her presence is comforting and revitalizing, similar to the feeling of being refreshed by the warmth and freshness of summer rain.


She comes in a rush, like summer rain.
Her arrival can be sudden and swift, similar to how summer rain can appear suddenly and pour down in a rush.


And when she comes she makes a change,
Her arrival brings about a difference or alteration, similar to how summer rain can change the appearance of the surroundings.


I'll wait all day for summer rain.
I'll be patient and look forward to meeting her, just like I would wait all day for the arrival of summer rain.




Contributed by Landon K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions