4 Songs with Rain in the Title feat. Travis, Guns N’ Roses, The Weather Girls & Whitesnake. Rain is a favorite theme for many songwriters, regardless of the genre. But it seems like it is especially a beloved word for pop and rock musicians. For them, rain might represent actual rain, sadness, romance, broken heart, an excess of something, complication and more.
Travis: Why does it always rain on me?
Scottish pop/rock band Travis released their 2nd album The Man Who in 1999. “Why does it always rain on me?” is the 7th track on the album, which reached number 1 in the UK.
The rain symbolizes bad luck as it keeps “raining” on the singer, even when it is sunny.
Lyrics Excerpt: Why does it always rain on me?
Sunny days
Where have you gone?
I get the strangest feeling you belong
Why does it always rain on me?
Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?
Why does it always rain on me?
Even when the sun is shining
I can’t avoid the lightning
Oh, where did the blue skies go?
And why is it raining so?
Guns N’ Roses: November Rain
Written by Guns N’ Roses front man Axl Rose, November Rain is one of the famous (and at 8 minutes, 57 seconds, their longest) by this American hard rock band. November Rain is from the band’s third album Use Your Illusion 1 (released in 1991), which has sold over 5,500,000 copies in the US alone. Formed in 1985, today there is still a Guns N’ Roses — still led by Axl Rose. However some of the signature members are out, including the band’s lead guitarist Slash.
Lyrics Excerpt: November Rain
When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin’ when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
The Weather Girls: It’s Raining Men
It’s Raining Men was recorded in 1982 by The Weather Girls although the song was written in 1979. This disco/pop number was actually rejected by a variety of singers before being adopted by The Weather Girls.
The single became a worldwide hit and sold millions of copies. It was also covered many times, including by ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. The song was featured in her second solo album Scream If You Wanna Go Faster, released in 2001.
Geri’s version of the song was also used in the movie Bridget Jones’s Diary, a romantic comedy (from 2001) starring Renee Zellweger. The men “raining” in the movie are Mark Darcy (played by Colin Firth) and Daniel Cleaver (played by Hugh Grant).
The song was also used in the comedy Vampires Suck, a movie from 2010 that spoofs the first three Twilight movies (Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse). In one of the scenes, the shapeshifter boys are supposed to scare a villain vampire. But at first they start singing, with their shirts off, It’s Raining Men — creating a very funny scene.
On a fun note, this very female-friendly song was written by 2 men: Paul Jabara & Paul Shaffer.
Lyrics Excerpt: It’s Raining Men
It’s Raining Men! Hallelujah! – It’s Raining Men! Amen!
I’m gonna go out to run and let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet!
It’s Raining Men! Hallelujah!
It’s Raining Men! Every Specimen!
Tall, blonde, dark and lean
Rough and tough and strong and meanGod bless Mother Nature, she’s a single woman too
She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do
She taught every angel to rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman could find her perfect guy
It’s Raining Men! Hallelujah!
Whitesnake: Crying in the Rain
Crying in the Rain was written by Whitesnake leading singer David Coverdale. It was featured in the album Saint& Sinners, the band’s fifth album released in 1982. It was rumored that David wrote the song inspired by his divorce from his first wife. The two had gotten married in 1974 and have one daughter together. Coverdale’s been married to his third wife Cindy Baker since 1997. He also has a child with Cindy and apparently, third time is the charm.
The lyrics of Crying in the Rain might seem depressive (it was written about a divorce after all), but the song features some energetic guitar riffs, especially when David Coverdale starts to “cry” .
Lyrics Excerpt: Crying in the Rain
I keep on dreaming dreams of tomorrow
Feel I’m wasting my time
Lighting candles in the wind,
Always taking my chances
On the promise of the future
But, a heart full of sorrow
Paints a lonely tapestryThe sun is shining
But, it’s raining in my heartNo one understands the heartache,
No one feels the pain,
‘Cos no one ever sees the tears
When you’re crying in the rain. . .
