A Hard Rain's A-gonna Fall
Roxy Music (Bryan Ferry) Lyrics
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Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
"Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan was written in the early 60s, during a time when tensions were high due to the Cold War and the impending threat of nuclear war. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but one can generally see it as a warning of the troubled times the world was facing.
In the first verse, the singer asks his son where he's been and he replies that he's been through many challenges, referencing "twelve misty mountains" and "six crooked highways." He also mentions the "seven sad forests" and the "dozen dead oceans." This can be interpreted as the many obstacles the world is facing both environmentally and politically.
In the second verse, the singer asks what his son saw, and he mentions a "newborn baby with wild wolves all around it," as well as a "black branch with blood that kept drippin'". He also mentions a room full of men with their hammers bleeding and a white ladder covered in water. These are all metaphorical references to the chaos and violence of the world.
In the third verse, the singer asks what his son heard, and he mentions the sound of thunder, waves that could drown the whole world, and an endless amount of whispering with no one listening. He also mentions hearing a song by a poet who died in the gutter, as well as a clown crying in an alley. This further emphasizes the tragedies of the world.
The final verse presents a call to action, as the singer asks his son what he's going to do. His response is to keep walking, to speak out against the injustices of the world, and to reflect it off the mountain so all souls can see it. He also mentions standing on the ocean until he starts sinking, which can be interpreted as the idea of fighting until the very end.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Where in the world have you been, my child with blue eyes?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
Where have you been, my beloved child?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I fell and struggled on the slope of twelve cloudy peaks.
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways,
I've traveled by foot and on all fours on six winding roads.
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests,
I walked in the heart of seven melancholy woods.
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
I've stood before twelve lifeless seas.
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
I've traveled ten thousand miles within a cemetery.
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's very difficult, so difficult.
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And a difficult storm is coming.
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
What did you witness, my child with blue eyes?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
What did you see, my beloved child?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a baby surrounded by wild wolves.
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it,
I witnessed a road full of diamonds with no one on it.
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin',
I saw a darkness dripping with blood.
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin',
I saw a group of men bleeding from their hammers.
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw a white ladder completely soaked with water.
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
I saw ten thousand speakers with silenced tongues.
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
I saw young children with weapons like guns and swords.
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's very difficult, so difficult.
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And a difficult storm is coming.
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
What did you hear, my child with blue eyes?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
What did you hear, my beloved child?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin',
I heard thunder warning of something.
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world,
I heard a great wave that could submerge the world.
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin',
I heard a hundred drummers with fiery hands.
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard ten thousand whispers, but no one was listening.
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
I heard someone starving, and others laughing.
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
I heard the last song of a poet who died in the street.
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
I heard a clown crying in the alleyway.
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's very difficult, so difficult.
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And a difficult storm is coming.
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my child with blue eyes?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
Who did you meet, my beloved child?
I met a young child beside a dead pony,
I met a young child next to a deceased pony.
I met a white man who walked a black dog,
I met a white man walking a black dog.
I met a young woman whose body was burning,
I met a young woman burning from within.
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow,
I met a young girl who shared a rainbow with me.
I met one man who was wounded in love,
I met a man who was hurt by love.
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
I met a man injured by the emotion of hate.
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's very difficult, so difficult.
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And a difficult storm is coming.
Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
What will you do now, my child with blue eyes?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
What will you do now, my beloved child?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin',
I'll leave before the rain begins to fall.
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
I'll hike to the bottom of the darkest forest.
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where people are abundant but lack possessions.
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where toxic pellets are contaminating their water.
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the residence in the valley meets the wet, filthy jail.
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where the face of the executioner is always veiled.
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where hunger is unappealing and souls are ignored.
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
Where darkness is the color, and nothingness is the number.
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And I will explain it, ponder it, pronounce it, and live it.
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
And I will echo it from the mountain so everyone can witness it.
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
Then I will stand on the sea until I begin to sink.
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
But I will know my tune fully before I begin to sing it.
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's very difficult, so difficult.
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
And a difficult storm is coming.
Lyrics © BOB DYLAN MUSIC CO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSebboxxx
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
And where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of the thunder that roared out a warning
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
And who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman, her body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded in hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
And what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
And what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest dark forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where their home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
And the executioner's face is always well-hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where the souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll tell it and speak it and think it and breathe it
And reflect from the mountains so all souls can see it
And I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my song well before I start singing
And it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
@redrightgoth
Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I’ve stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways
I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, and it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin’
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin’
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin’
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin’
Heard ten thousand whisperin’ and nobody listenin’
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin’
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony
I met a white man who walked a black dog
I met a young woman whose body was burning
I met a young girl, she gave me a rainbow
I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded with hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
Oh, what’ll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what’ll you do now, my darling young one?
I’m a-goin’ back out ’fore the rain starts a-fallin’
I’ll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison
Where the executioner’s face is always well hidden
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it
Then I’ll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin’
But I’ll know my song well before I start singin’
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
@lyndababy
IMO one of the best renditions of this song. The contrast between the upbeat tempo and the dark truth of the lyrics is brilliant.
@ThefightingCelt
I absolutely love Dylan's original ... and I also love this version. Bryan Ferry has re-arranged Dylan's classic into something very different and just as brilliant and awe-inspiring, in my humble opinion.
@danielward67
I prefer this version. Ferry's the better musician.
@thebasedgodmax1163
@Daniel Ward BD was always a better songwriter than musician. he's great of course, but he's not the best singer or guitarist or so on.
@deanm6577
It's 42 years since I first heard Bryan sing this. Heard it over & over many times since. Simply wonderful. Genius of Bryan Ferry.
Thank You Bryan.
@Tubemanjac
Never too late to join.
@henningandersen9027
One of the best cover-versions of any song of any time.
@leecollier2135
The best cover
@jorgewemyss3994
absolutely agree
@widM_
Musically maybe, in any other aspects is one of the worst covers ever. It doesn't transforms any spirit and message of the original. He turned profound anti-war song which moves you and haunts you with symbolist imagery into fun bland danceable song. Like he would not know what he's actually singing about. Sorry, this song is not meant to dance to.