Rhythm guitarist Dave Pritchard, bass guitarist Greg Masters and drummer Roger Spencer were the core of a band initally known as Billy King and the Nightriders, then later known as Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and briefly as just The Nightriders.
In 1966 they advertised for a new guitarist/vocalist, Jeff Lynne applied and joined the band. After releasing one single they changed their name to Idle Race. Under Jeff Lynne's leadership they released two albums that sold poorly, despite support from John Peel and Kenny Everett.
In 1970, Jeff Lynne decided to join The Move so he and Roy Wood could work on what would eventually become Electric Light Orchestra
The remaining members of The Idle Race recruited 2 new members and released one further album. After Greg Masters left the group they became The Steve Gibbons Band.
And The Rain
The Idle Race Lyrics
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And wonders that you never even dreamed
Light reflecting shades of my childhood younger days
And rainbows sometimes never having rained
Times that went so fast, good times that couldn't last
Like lightning, never striking twice
Years that weren't so bad, the days that weren't so bright
I climb the twisting path of fate
And I look down on the village far below
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
Why I'm crying I will never know
The misty image forms of a time not now recalled
A wave then ripples on a broken shore
Past present future too, come flashing into view
Like thunder claps that cannot be ignored
And the wind blows through the corridors of years
And my hair is white, many winter snows
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
Why I'm crying, I will never know
I climb the twisting path of fate
And I look down on the village far below
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
Why I'm crying I will never know
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
Why I'm crying, I will never know
The Idle Race's "And The Rain" is a poignant and introspective song which encapsulates the bittersweet feelings of reminiscing about the past. The opening lines, "Crystal coloured glass containing pictures of my past / And wonders that you never even dreamed" evoke the act of reflecting on memories and experiences which are deeply personal and yet-unshared with others. The song then takes us through a nostalgic journey, as the lyrics paint a picture of childhood and youth, with "Light reflecting shades of my childhood younger days / And rainbows sometimes never having rained".
The pace then slows down as the lyrics reflect on the ephemeral nature of time and the transience of experiences, as "good times that couldn't last / Like lightning, never striking twice" are contrasted with the "Years that weren't so bad, the days that weren't so bright / Like clouds that formed and broke up over night". Towards the end of the song, the singer seems to have aged and gained perspective, as "the wind blows through the corridors of years / And my hair is white, many winter snows" and yet the emotions are as raw as they were decades ago, "And the rain comes and mingles with my tears / Why I'm crying, I will never know".
Overall, "And The Rain" is a masterful work of understated introspection and poignancy, one which captures the universal and timeless experience of looking back at one's life and realizing how fleeting and precious it all was.
Line by Line Meaning
Crystal coloured glass containing pictures of my past
I have memories of my past that are so vivid, it's like they are contained in crystal-clear glass.
And wonders that you never even dreamed
These memories are fantastic and incredible, beyond anything you could ever imagine.
Light reflecting shades of my childhood younger days
I see glimpses of my youth as they were, with light reflecting the different phases of my life.
And rainbows sometimes never having rained
There are sometimes things that never actually happened, but they feel so real and vivid nonetheless - like rainbows that seem to appear without any rain.
Times that went so fast, good times that couldn't last
Some of the precious times in my life seemed to fly by, and some of the best moments were too fleeting to hang on to.
Like lightning, never striking twice
Some moments in life are so rare and special that they are simply impossible to recreate, like lightning that never strikes the same place twice.
Years that weren't so bad, the days that weren't so bright
Not all of my years and days were necessarily bad or dark, but they still didn't match up to the brightest times.
Like clouds that formed and broke up over night
Just like clouds that can suddenly form and disappear overnight, some moments in life can be fleeting and ephemeral.
I climb the twisting path of fate
I am trying to navigate the uncertain twists and turns of life, and figure out where my path will lead.
And I look down on the village far below
As I climb higher up the path of fate, I gain some perspective on the world below me - seeing it from a new angle and perhaps understanding it in a different way.
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
As I contemplate my life and my past, my emotions rise to the surface - and the rain falls around me, as if it too is trying to express something.
Why I'm crying I will never know
Even though I feel deeply emotional and touched at this moment, I might not fully understand why.
The misty image forms of a time not now recalled
As I continue my reflection, I start to see memories that are even more distant and hazy - things I don't think about often and might not be able to fully recall.
A wave then ripples on a broken shore
As I consider these memories and the passage of time, I am struck by how fleeting and changing everything can be - like a wave on a beach, never the same twice and constantly in motion.
Past present future too, come flashing into view
All of a sudden, I am seeing not just my past, but also the present moment and potential future - all of them flashing by in quick succession.
Like thunder claps that cannot be ignored
These sudden insights and visions are powerful and impossible to overlook, like the clap of thunder that demands attention in a storm.
And the wind blows through the corridors of years
The passage of time feels palpable and real, like a wind blowing through a series of corridors or rooms - each one representing a different period in my life.
And my hair is white, many winter snows
As I move forward in time, I am growing older - my hair turning white and my skin showing the wear and tear of many winters and years.
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
The emotions I feel are still intense and mixed, as if the rain is an outward expression of my inner turmoil and sadness.
Why I'm crying, I will never know
Even if I can intellectualize why I might be feeling so emotional, there could still be a deeper layer of resonance or meaning that I cannot fully express or understand.
I climb the twisting path of fate
Despite everything I've been through and all the insights I've gained, I am still moving forward and trying to navigate my path with as much grace and poise as I can muster.
And I look down on the village far below
As I journey onward, I realize that I have a better perspective and understanding of the world around me - much like someone looking down from a mountaintop onto a distant village.
And the rain comes and mingles with my tears
Even though I might feel stronger and more confident now, there is still a deep vulnerability and emotionalism to my journey - as if the tears and rain are both expressions of the same complex set of feelings.
Why I'm crying I will never know
No matter how much I understand or experience, there will always be feelings and emotions that remain a mystery or cannot be fully expressed.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.