Five Songs for Rainy Days
Written by Tiffiny // February 18, 2011 // Features // 2 Comments
It rains pretty much every afternoon during a period of the Denver summer. These are some of my favorite moments and inspired me to make an entire rain day playlist, which has long since been lost with an old iPod. In the middle of the cold, snowy winter I can’t help but daydream about better weather. Here are a few of my favorite songs inspired by storms.
1. U2 – Electrical Storm
This is one of my favorite U2 songs, and we all know how much I love the U2s. The imagery and accompaniment of this track provide an unforgettable picture of a thunder storm breaking over the ocean.
“You’re in my mind all of the time
I know that’s not enough
If the sky can crack there must be someway back
For love and only love”
U2 – Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix)
2. Rainslicker – Josh Ritter
Few of my playlists are complete without a bit of Josh Ritter. I am including this track because it’s perfect: lush and lilting, it captures rain-soaked imagery perfectly.
“You had your red rainslicker on
your face was turned up into rain as you watched me”
3. Sometimes
Another from my “Favorite Songs of All Time” list, this Jamestrack is an obvious choice. I’ve heard it introduced as, “a song about a boy who wants to be struck by lightning”. The story races through images of a monsoon of a storm that makes my heart beat faster.
“There’s a storm outside, and the gap between crack and thunder
Crack and thunder, is closing in, is closing in
The rain floods gutters, and makes a great sound on the concrete
On a flat roof, there’s a boy leaning against the wall of rain
Aerial held high, calling “Come on thunder, come on thunder’”
James – Sometimes (Lester Piggott)
4. Why Does It Always Rain On Me? – Travis
The best known song in Travis‘s catalog, “Why Does It Always Rain On Me?” was written about a trip to Israel plagued by rain. The tune is inescapable and every time I listen, I find myself singing it all day.
“Why does it always rain on me?
Even when the sun is shining
I can’t avoid the lightning”
Travis – Why Does It Always Rain On Me_
5. The Lightning Strike – Snow Patrol
“The Lightning Strike” is Snow Patrol‘s epic sixteen minutes and sixteen seconds, told in three parts, storm story. There’s a good dozen moments I want to quote here. Hopefully you’ll just listen, as every second is essential- from the first cloud to the aftermath.
“It got cold and then dark so suddenly and rained
It rained so hard the two of us were the only thing
That we could see for miles and miles”
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2 Comments on "Five Songs for Rainy Days"
This is a wonderful collection of songs. Here in Oregon, we too get rain… a lot of rain. I find myself listening to certain tracks during those rainy days, more than others. THANKS for sharing yours
I love the rain and, though we don’t get as much as the Seattle side of the state, we get our fair share. I also love songs about rain (including Gary Allen’s song “Songs About Rain.” I love listening to rainy songs while I listen to the real thing fall outside. This is a great list!!