As You Lean Into the Light
Paul Weller Lyrics


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Gentle rain, here it comes again
Rattling 'round your window, threatening pain
Coming on like a friend but you know better than
Yesterday that held you by a different hand

Hail and stone and all that's gone
When everything that passes cuts to the bone
Turning like a wheel, dragging a heavy stone
A weight that ties you down that you will never own

Strange to see a paper smile on thee
When once you moved and light the room for us all to be
Now if I could be the sun I'd shine in your life




If I could be the rain I'd rain from your eyes
And I'd wash away the emptiness you feel inside

Overall Meaning

In Paul Weller's song "As You Lean Into the Light," he paints a picture of someone who is experiencing emotional pain and is trying to cope with it in different ways. The gentle rain described in the first verse can represent the new approach to the pain, and it appears to be comforting at first. However, the singer suggests that the person knows better than to trust it, implying a sense of cynicism or skepticism.


The second verse describes the weight of the emotional pain, with references to hail, stone, and a heavy wheel that draws the singer down. He suggests that this weight will never truly belong to the person, and they will carry it with them always.


The final verse is a message of hope from the singer to the person experiencing pain. He comments on their previous ability to light up a room but notes that they are now struggling. He says that if he could, he would be both the sun and the rain, and would try to wash away the person's emptiness. It's a touching reminder that even in the darkest moments, people can find solace in the love and support of others.


Overall, the song is a beautiful testament to the struggles of the human experience and the power of love to heal and uplift us.


Line by Line Meaning

Gentle rain, here it comes again
Mild rain, it's about to come


Rattling 'round your window, threatening pain
Making noise around your closed window and causing inconvenience


Coming on like a friend but you know better than
It appears friendly, but you have doubts


Yesterday that held you by a different hand
Refers to the past that was different from the current situation


Hail and stone and all that's gone
Refers to everything that has disappeared over time


When everything that passes cuts to the bone
Refers to the painful memories of the past


Turning like a wheel, dragging a heavy stone
Life is like a wheel that moves forward, but it feels heavy to carry


A weight that ties you down that you will never own
The burdens of life that will never be owned, but are always carried


Strange to see a paper smile on thee
It's unusual to see a fake smile on someone’s face


When once you moved and light the room for us all to be
Refers to the past when the person used to bring joy and light to other people's lives


Now if I could be the sun I'd shine in your life
Expresses the desire to bring sunshine to the person's life


If I could be the rain I'd rain from your eyes
Expresses the desire to bring comfort to the person's eyes with tears


And I'd wash away the emptiness you feel inside
Expresses the desire to wash away the person’s emptiness or loneliness




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL JOHN WELLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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