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Rain is responsible for most of the fresh water on Earth. Along with keeping us hydrated and alive, this natural element is closely linked with our thoughts and emotions. Forged with metaphor and full of meaning, rain has inspired lots of great music over the years. Because rain is universal, it’s simple enough to express a wide range of complex emotions. From sadness and isolation to hope and renewal, water falling from the sky means so much when it’s made into art.
In this article, we’ll review 25 of the best and most meaningful rain songs of all time. Songs about weather don’t get any better than this:
25 Rain Songs
Songs about rain come in a wide array of styles, from piano ballads to pop hits and hard rock anthems. The following 25 rain songs all have something unique to offer:
Benny Blanco is an American producer and songwriter with huge credits to his name. For almost 20 years, he’s contributed to singles and albums with over 500 million in sales. From Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber to Britney Spears and Kanye West, Benny Blanco has worked with some of the biggest names in modern music. Blanco also releases music under his own name, collaborating with pop and hip-hop greats on some astonishing solo records.
If you’ve ever wondered “what songs has Benny Blanco produced?” — you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll list 20 of his biggest records and showcase his unique place in modern music culture.
1. Singin’ in the Rain — Gene Kelly
“Singin’ in the Rain” is a famous song linked with the history of cinema, especially the transition period between silent films and “talkies.” It’s mostly associated with the 1952 American musical of the same name, where Gene Kelly sang and danced in blissful ignorance at the clouds above.
2. November Rain — Guns N’ Roses
The iconic Guns N’ Roses sang about many things over their career, from sex to drugs and rock ‘n roll. Sometimes they surprised us all, however, as they did in 1992 with the release of “November Rain.” This piano ballad was the third single from their third studio album, the ambitious Use Your
3. Purple Rain — Prince
The great “Purple One” released tons of great music over his long and successful career. His 1984 gospel rock anthem “Purple Rain” is one of his best, sounding just as good today as it did when it was released. “Purple Rain” is the title track from Prince’s sixth studio album, and it also featured heavily in the Purple Rain film.
4. Here Comes the Rain Again — The Eurythmics
Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart recorded some of the best music of the ’80s. “Here Comes the Rain Again” is the perfect example of their uncompromising yet sweet pop sound, released in 1983 on their third studio album, Touch. This song is a real mood, with melancholy chords and lavish string arrangements blending perfectly with dark lyrics.
5. The Rain Song — Led Zeppelin
Back in 1973, the mighty Led Zeppelin were leading the rock charge with gusto. “The Rain Song” is the perfect embodiment of the band’s heavy momentum, from their fifth album, Houses of the Holy. This is one of the best emotional songs of all time, with its famous orchestral arrangement topped by a fabulous vocal performance from Robert Plant.
6. I Wish It Would Rain — The Temptations
This 1967 song by The Temptations is a soft and mournful number delivered with soul. Like many of the tracks on this list, rain represents the emotion that falls down and sweeps you away. “I Wish It Would Rain” is about a heartbroken man whose woman had just left him. It’s an easy beat blues rocker, and one of the most famous tracks released on the iconic Motown label.
7. Rain — The Beatles
Over their extensive career, The Beatles wrote about everything under the sun. “Rain” was one of their earliest and least recognized tunes, coming out in 1966 as the B-side of their “Paperback Writer” single. According to John Lennon himself, who wrote the song despite a Lennon-McCartney double credit, it’s simply “about people moaning about the weather all the time.”
8. Rain on Me — Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande
“Rain on Me” saw American singers Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande team up to great effect. The song was released in 2020, on Gaga’s sixth studio album Chromatica. This energetic dance-pop track merges upbeat house with nu-school disco, with everything filtered through electronic beats and funk guitars. The rain theme is used to explore the relentless nature of emotional hardship and resilience.
9. Have You Ever Seen the Rain — Creedence Clearwater Revival
This track by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the best rain songs ever created. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” comes from the group’s 1970 album Pendulum, which expands the band’s palette with keyboards and saxophones. This track is about the decline of counter-cultural idealism of the 1960s, which shows just how deep the rain metaphor can go.
10. Only Happy When It Rains — Garbage
Back in the mid-90s, American alt-rock band Garbage were absolutely everywhere. Their track “Only Happy When It Rains” comes from their self-titled debut album, and it was a huge breakout track for the band. Lyrically, “Only Happy When It Rains” is about wanting love but not trusting life to deliver. According to singer Shirley Mason, “It’s a song for people that know what it is like to live on the dark side of life.”
11. Red Rain — Peter Gabriel
“Red Rain” was released by Peter Gabriel in 1986 on his fifth studio album, So. This great track references a recurring dream where Gabriel was swimming in his backyard pool. He was drinking cold red wine, and bottles in the shape of people were falling from a cliff. The track title was inspired by a particular part of the dream, when a stream of wine would seep out of the people every time they hit the ground.
12. The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) — Missy Elliott
This great track by Missy Elliott was her solo debut back in 1997. It comes from the album Supa Dupa Fly, and it made people around the world sit up and pay attention. In one interesting side note, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” was beamed to the planet Venus by NASA’s Deep Space Network, becoming the first-ever hip-hop song to transmit to space!
13. I Wish It Would Rain — Phil Collins
“I Wish It Would Rain Down” is a song from Phil Collins’ fourth studio album, …But Seriously. Released in 1989, this track was a huge commercial success for the English musician. “I Wish It Would Rain Down” features a large gospel choir, and Eric Clapton plays guitar over lyrics of guilt, regret, and hope of being cleansed.
14. Umbrella — Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
The fabulous Rihanna was absolutely everywhere in the noughties, and “Umbrella” was one of her biggest tracks. Featuring hip-hop royalty Jay-Z, this song was the lead single from her 2007 studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. “Umbrella” is pure pop with hints of hip-hop and R&B, and it features one of the most memorable hooks of all time. The fabulous Rhi Rhi is also famous for writing songs about forbidden love.
15. Set Fire to the Rain — Adele
“Set Fire to the Rain” comes from Adele’s second studio album, the marvelous 21 from 2011. This power pop ballad is delivered in true Adele style, with high notes, emotive lyrics, and swelling string arrangements. Lyrically, “setting fire to rain” describes the internal conflict and futility that comes from trying to make something work. Adele specializes in songs for rainy days, and this is one of her best.
16. Rain — Madonna
The Queen of Pop was at her creative heights in 1992, when she released the Sex coffee table book and Erotica studio album. One of the highlight tracks, “Rain,” is an optimistic pop ballad with new-age influences, R&B production, and trip-hop beats. Rain is used as a metaphor to describe tears and heartbreak, and the rhythms are designed to reflect raindrops on a roof.
17. Summer Rain — Belinda Carlisle
“Summer Rain” by Belinda Carlisle is remembered as a classic ’80s pop song, but it was actually released in 1990. The former Go-Go’s member sang this power ballad with gusto and grace as an ode to love and its many complications. This song is the tale of a man who goes away to war and leaves his wife as her tears fall and she dances “in the summer rain.”
18. Rainy Days and Mondays — The Carpenters
This famous song comes from The Carpenters’ self-titled third album, which was released in 1971. “Rainy Days and Mondays” features a sparse arrangement to showcase Karen Carpenter’s vocal talents. This song has a melancholic yet comforting mood, and it evokes feelings of loneliness and longing for love. Bad weather songs don’t get more iconic than this.
19. Who’ll Stop the Rain — Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote a few emotional songs about rain over the years, including the memorable “Who’ll Stop The Rain.” This track comes from the band’s 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory, and it’s one of the record’s three double-sided singles. The three verses of this track highlight the distant past, recent past, and present, and “rain” is used as a metaphor to represent anxiety through the ages.
20. Fool in the Rain — Led Zeppelin
“Fool in the Rain” comes from Led Zeppelin’s 1979 studio album, In Through the Out Door. The structure of this track was inspired by samba beats, which the band discovered during the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. This song is about a man waiting for a woman, but he’s been stood up and feels like a “fool in the rain.”
21. Blame It on the Rain — Milli Vanilli
The infamous Milli Vanilli weren’t around for long, but they certainly left a mark on the pop music world. “Blame It On The Rain” was one of their biggest hits, released in 1989 on their North American debut album, Girl You Know It’s True. During the delivery, the song’s protagonist blames the rain and other natural elements instead of dealing with romantic regret.
22. Why Does it Always Rain on Me? — Travis
In the post-Britpop era of 1999, “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?” by Travis resonated with listeners from all corners of the globe. This track was written on holiday in Israel, when the band went looking for winter sunshine but came away dejected. If you’re making a winter songs playlist, this track should definitely be included.
23. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall — Bob Dylan
The iconic Bob Dylan often used natural elements as metaphors for significant events. “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall” is one of his most well-known songs, coming from his second studio album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. This song is a response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, based on the question-and-answer refrain pattern of the traditional British ballad “Lord Randall.”
24. It’s Raining Again — Supertramp
The magnificent Supertramp released “It’s Raining Again” in 1982 as a memorable soft rock anthem full of great lyrics and novel hooks. Like many examples on this list, this song portrays an intimate link between rain, tears, and emotions. The end of the track incorporates the nursery rhyme “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,” which also provided inspiration for the title.
25. Let It Rain — Eric Clapton
“Let It Rain” was released by British musician Eric Clapton in 1970. This track is known for its striking guitar riff, along with its clever wordplay between “rain” and “reign.” This track also has some fantastic instrumental sections, including an infectious rhythm and memorable melody. “Let It Rain” is an ode to the majesty of love and the power it has over us all.
Why Rain Songs Resonate
Rain is pure, free, and cleansing, but it’s also capable of causing destruction and loss. The always-flowing and never-restrained nature of rain is perfect for the medium of song, as it symbolizes everything from sadness and melancholy to longing and hope. While different music genres and songs interpret this metaphor differently, the universal nature of rain is the key to its emotional pull. People go inside and listen to songs about rain on sad and reflective days, and they also listen to these tracks to feel connected with the world outside.
Final Thoughts
Water is one of the foundational elements of life. It comprises roughly 60% of our bodies, and it literally falls from the sky to keep us alive. Along with being essential for life, the “universal solvent” is often used as a musical metaphor to represent various emotions. Next time you’re feeling happy, sad, or just a little bit moody, you should make a rainy day playlist using some of these fantastic tracks.
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