Handful Of Rain
Savatage Lyrics

The night is growing dark
As the darkness envelops the surroundings, a feeling of melancholy and despair seeps in.

From somewhere deep within
The source of the darkness is not external but internal, originating from deep-seated emotions and thoughts.

It shelters like an ark
The night provides a comforting shelter, like an ark, for those who seek refuge from the storm of their lives.

That always takes you in
The night is a constant refuge, ever-willing to embrace you despite your faults and failings.

The barmaid walks on over
The presence of a caring barmaid signifies a kind of home away from home, where one can find temporary solace even in the company of strangers.

And pours another round
The act of pouring another drink shows a kindness and understanding of the situation, and the barmaid's empathy creates a sense of community in the bar.

For a lost soul at the corner
The person at the corner is lost in life, and seeks relief through a temporary escape in alcohol.

Who prays he's never found
The lost soul fears being found or rediscovered, as it could potentially mean facing the reality and responsibility of their actions.

And the mind goes numb
The effect of alcohol is to numb the mind, allowing a fleeting moment of mental rest.

Until it's feeling no pain
The numbness progresses into a state of not being able to feel physical or emotional pain.

And the soul cries out
Despite the physical anesthetic effect of alcohol, the soul continues to ache and yearn for something more, leading to a desire for something as simple and pure as a handful of rain.

Wash your women
The advice to 'wash your women in your whiskey' suggests using alcohol as a quick fix for domestic troubles or emotional turmoil.

In your whiskey
Alcohol can act as a way to dilute the worries and anxieties of life.

When your future's
If your future seems bleak or uncertain, alcohol becomes an all too tempting escape, a desperate attempt to forget the present troubles and concerns.

In the past
The use of alcohol for temporary relief is not new, it is simply an age-old coping mechanism.

And your staring
The act of staring shows an intense yearning or longing for something more, something larger and more meaningful.

Up at heaven
The hopes and desires are directed heavenward, a need for divine intervention or guidance.

From the bottom
Yet, the hopes seem to come from a place of abject desperation, from the very depths of one's being.

Of a glass
The hopes and desires are tied to the glass, once again reinforcing the idea of alcohol as a temporary panacea.

And you need some insulation
At times, we all need insulation from the harsh cold realities of life.

From the years you've
The insulation is needed against the decades that have passed, and the pain they have brought.

Had and lost
The phrase 'had and lost' speaks to the ephemeral nature of life, and the pain of loss that accompanies it.

And you feel the perspiration
This phrase captures the sweaty and anxious feeling that accompanies exhaustion and panic.

As you're adding up the cost
As one begins to take stock of the many losses and sacrifices incurred in life, the cost paid to achieve one's goals, one feels both anxious and drained.

And the night rolls on
The passage of time is ultimately indomitable, as the night continues unhindered by human concerns.

Like a slow moving train
The metaphor of a slow-moving train further reinforces the idea of time's inexorable march, and the human struggle against its tide.

There's a land beyond the living
The idea of an afterlife, a spiritual realm beyond the physical world, is a recurring theme in many cultures.

There's a land beyond the dead
The afterlife, in traditional belief systems, offers hope of a second chance or reward for the trials of life.

If it's true that God's forgiving
The question of whether God (or a higher power) is forgiving and merciful is one that resonates with many people, especially those seeking redemption.

Of the lives that we had led
The idea that one's actions in this world will be judged and weighed by a higher force is one that carries great weight and significance, and the hope of mercy is a salvation of sorts.

In the distance there's a thunder
The rumble of thunder is a powerful but distant sound, representing the powerful forces beyond human control.

And the air is thick and warm
The thick, warm air suggests an impending storm, and the growing sense of tension that comes with it.

And the patrons watch with wonder
The gathering of patrons huddled together, watching the storm in wonder and awe, embodies the collective human experience of confronting the unknown.

The approaching of the storm
The storm, with its lightning, thunder, and rain, represents a kind of cleansing, a renewal of both the natural world and the human spirit.

There's an old man in the corner
The old man in the corner represents the stories of the past, the wisdom of the ages, and the experience of decades of living.

And he's smoking all the time
The smoke from the old man's cigarette is a metaphor for the wisdom and experience that he is imparting to those around him.

An the smoke is drifting upward and it's
The upward movement of the smoke suggests an escape of sorts, a release from the rigors of everyday life.

Twisting in my
The smoke is twisting, a representation of the confounding and perplexing nature of life itself.

Twisting in my
The repetition of 'twisting in my' stresses the all-encompassing nature of life's mysteries, encompassing everything from the physical to the spiritual.

Mind
The mind, with all its complexities and contradictions, is inextricably linked to the mysteries and enigmas of life.

The whiskey's getting deeper
The deeper the whiskey gets, the more lost one becomes in a kind of sea of one's own making.

And I use it like a moat
The metaphor of using whiskey like a moat suggests a kind of castle-like fortress built of self-delusion and denial, designed to hold out the world and the problems it presents.

There's a blues man in the distance and he's
The blues man is a metaphor for the universal feeling of loneliness and isolation that is ultimately inescapable.

Lost inside his
The notion of the blues man being lost in his music further emphasizes the idea of escape through art, and the use of music as a way to deal with one's demons.

Note
The repeated note is emblematic of the human struggle against the backdrop of repetitive and persistent pain.

Like a slow moving train
The metaphor of the slow-moving train returns, reinforcing the sense of time's ineluctable forward motion, but also the hope and potential for a destination to be reached.

And the soul cries out
The soul's cry echoes throughout the song, a painful and plaintive plea for relief, meaning, and purpose.

For an handful of rain
The simple, yet elusive, image of a handful of rain symbolizes the hope and promise of renewal, rebirth, and cleansing that is ultimately needed to heal the broken human spirit.