Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, Birmin… Read Full Bio ↴Stephen Lawrence ("Steve") Winwood (born May 12, 1948 in Great Barr, Birmingham, England) is a British singer, songwriter, and musician who, in addition to his solo career, was a member of the bands the The Spencer Davis Group, recording the hit "Gimme Some Lovin'", Traffic, and Blind Faith. Winwood's commercial success waned during the mid and late 70's. He had a major hit with While You See A Chance in 1980. He had a career renaissance beginning in 1986 with the hit album Back in the High Life which produced hits such as Higher Love and The Finer Things.

Winwood released a new album "Nine Lives" on April 29, 2008, and started a tour with Tom Petty and others in May 2008.

Rainmaker
Steve Winwood Lyrics

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Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand
Rainmaker, rainmaker
Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall

Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray, the ground is so hard
It's been cracked by the sun

Rainmaker, you know my work's never done

Overall Meaning

In this song, Steve Winwood uses the metaphor of a rainmaker to express his desire for change and renewal. The rainmaker is a mythical figure who is said to have the power to bring rain and end drought. In the first verse, Winwood sings that the touch of the rainmaker's hand can turn the sky gray, signaling the potential for rain. With this touch, he calls upon the rainmaker to bring life-giving rain to his crops.

In the second verse, Winwood describes the arid landscape, cracked by the sun and in desperate need of water. He refers to his own work, which is never done, suggesting that he is a farmer or laborer and that his livelihood depends on the rainmaker's ability to bring rain. This speaks to the existential uncertainty of life and the powerlessness of man in the face of natural forces.

Overall, the lyrics of Rainmaker capture the longing for renewal and the hope for change that is central to the human experience. It speaks to the desire to exert some control over our environment and to the belief that there is always the potential for growth and renewal.

Line by Line Meaning

Rainmaker, rainmaker
You, the one who makes the rain fall from the sky

The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand
Your mere presence has the power to change the weather

Rainmaker, rainmaker
You, the one who can make things grow and prosper

Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall
With your help, I can achieve abundance and success in my endeavors

Rainmaker, rainmaker
You, the one who brings relief and nourishment to the parched earth

The sky is gray, the ground is so hard
The world around me is in dire need of your transformative touch

It's been cracked by the sun
The intense heat and drought have caused damage to the land

Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
I am constantly striving to create and improve, and I need your assistance to succeed

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEVE WINWOOD, JIM CAPALDI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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