Written primarily by John Lennon, "Rain" has been called The Beatles' finest B-side, especially notable for its heavy sonic presence and backwards vocals, both of which were a hint of things to come on Revolver, released two months later.
A promotional film was made for the song "Rain", starring the Beatles. This video, along with other Beatles videos at the time, sparked George Harrison to say during the Beatles Anthology, "So I suppose, in a way, we invented MTV."
Rain
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes
When the sun shines
They slip into the shade
When the sun shines
When the sun shines
Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine
I can show you
That when it starts to rain
Everything's the same
I can show you
I can show you
Rain, I don't mind
Shine, the weather's fine
Can you hear me
That when it rains and shines
It's just a state of mind
Can you hear me
Can you hear me
The lyrics to "Rain" by The Beatles are a commentary on human nature's tendency to seek comfort and avoid discomfort at all costs. The first verse suggests that when it starts raining, people run and hide their heads, as though rain is a dangerous threat to their survival. The second verse describes how people seek out shade and lemonade on sunny days rather than brave the heat. However, the chorus provides the central thesis of the song: "Rain, I don't mind / Shine, the weather's fine." The singer is willing to embrace both rain and shine because they are just different aspects of the same state of being. In fact, the singer claims to be able to prove that "when it starts to rain / everything's the same."
Ultimately, the song can be read as a call to embrace discomfort and impermanence. Rain and shine, like all things in life, are ephemeral states that will inevitably change. The singer urges the listener to recognize that there is no inherent value in seeking out one state over the other, since they are fundamentally interchangeable. By doing so, the listener can reach a state of mind where external conditions no longer have the power to control their happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
If the rain comes
When it starts raining, people tend to shelter themselves from the rain by hiding their heads, as if they are dead.
They run and hide their heads
When it starts raining, people tend to avoid the rain by running and hiding themselves.
They might as well be dead
People who try to avoid the rain by hiding their heads might as well be dead, as they are not living their lives fully.
If the rain comes
If it starts raining again, people will continue to behave in the same manner.
When the sun shines
On sunny days, people take advantage of the shade and enjoy their lemonade.
They slip into the shade
People move towards the shade when the sun is shining brightly.
And sip their lemonade
People relax and enjoy their beverages, taking advantage of the good weather.
Rain, I don't mind
The singer doesn't mind the rain and sees it as no problem.
Shine, the weather's fine
The singer enjoys shiny days and considers them great weather.
I can show you
The singer can demonstrate to others that when it rains, everything remains the same.
That when it starts to rain
The singer is referring to when the rain begins to fall.
Everything's the same
The singer is saying that people should not act differently when it starts raining and that life goes on as usual.
Can you hear me
The singer is asking the audience to pay close attention to the following statement.
That when it rains and shines
The singer is noting that weather can be a combination of rain and sunshine at the same time.
It's just a state of mind
The singer believes that people's perception of the weather is merely a reflection of their mental state.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Sentric Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alejolopera
Ringo sounded as if he had 4 or 5 floor- toms and snares ....great performance
@davidzasloff8797
I recall an interview he gave in which he was asked which Beatles track was his best work, and he said this one. He told us that he knows his own style well, but that this number was almost unrecognizable to him, and that he didn't think he'd be able to reproduce it. He's been called the king of feel - here's good example of that.
@jimcavanaugh8838
Yes .... How he got so much out of that kit is amazing.. And the tie is so Cool
@danielboyd4079
Sorry. I’ll have to go back and listen a second time bc I was mesmerized by Paul’s bass playing the first time through
@raanangeberer1903
Pete never could have pulled this off.
@CS-mo7xp
Ringo's input to the band's sound is often overlooked... I sometimes refer to him as 'the 4th Beatle'.
@bigshed51
A life spent listening to the Beatles is not a life wasted.
@phrahm
Christopher L agreed
@alecaceres9922
Christopher L you speak fax
@sissysarts3600
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