FR
I am not particularly fond of rain, but I agree that allowing the weather outside (about which we cannot do much if not nothing at all) to affect our inner sunshine is not very constructive and I 'd rather follow Gene Kelly's example and go singing and jumping in puddles (preferably equipped with my rain gear and boots). For, after all, “when it rains or shines, it's just a state of mind”.
Furthermore, I never decide on the topics of my posts. They come to me. On my recent birthday (which I incidentally share with the late John Lennon), I had this lesser-known Beatles song looping inside my head while the weather kept toggling between rain and shine every fifteen minute as if somehow mirroring my mood and the events of that chequered day. Therefore I had to share it with you.
Rain
If the rain comes,
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
And sip their lemonade.
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?
About this song
Released in 1966 as a B-side of the "Paperback Writer" single, "Rain" was recorded during the session of the Beatles's brilliant Revolver album on which it's not featured.
John Lennon's lyrics were inspired by The Beatles's Australian tour in June 1964 where their arrival in Sydney was marked by rain and foul weather. “I've never seen rain as hard as that, except in Tahiti”, John Lennon would say.
"Rain" is “about people moaning about the weather all the time”. According to writer Steve Turner, it is the first song alluding to spiritual development, to the ability to transcend events, plenty of which will be found in subsequent albums and band statements. "Rain" would also convey a message emphasising the importance of the state of mind you're in.
I, for one,mostly see Lennon's cynical side and off-beat humour starting to come through in his lyrics during this period. And also, maybe, a poke at McCartney's "Good Day Sunshine" that, unlike "Rain", ended up on Revolver.
© La Pensine Mutine. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited.
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