Rain (1966) – The Beatles

Rain is the fifth song to feature here from The Beatles so far. I was most likely turned onto it from Max’s blog post here at PowerPop. I can relate to these lyrics as I too am left bemused why people scurry from the ‘Rain’ or ‘Sun’. I prefer to soak it up or bask it in, whichever is the weather. On another level the sound of this song is like ‘Drizzling Psychedelia‘. I really like this track although it is often overshadowed by the band’s more prominent hits. Moreover I prefer a lot of the Beatles’ latter era songs that are less recognised than their celebrated pieces.

“It was the first time that backwards voices were used on a record. We’d done the whole thing, and then afterwards we’d had a piece of tape on backwards, and Paul and I were literally crying with laughter, it was just so funny” – Ringo Starr

Rain in its unique blend of innovative studio techniques and evocative lyrics marks it as a significant piece in their discography. Released in 1966 as the B-side to Paperback Writer, Rain was written by John Lennon and is often hailed as one of the band’s earliest forays into psychedelia. It was conceived during The Beatles’ time in Australia, reflecting the band’s experiences with the country’s sporadic weather. Lennon was inspired to pen Rain after a particularly soggy day Down Under, metaphorically using rain to symbolize the public’s rigid perceptions and the ensuing sense of liberation from societal expectations.

[Verse 1: John Lennon]
If the rain comes, they run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes

[Verse 2: John Lennon, Paul McCartney & George Harrison]
When the sun shines, they slip into the shade
(When the sun shines down) And sip their lemonade
(When the sun shines down) When the sun shines
When the sun shines (Sun shines)

[Chorus: John Lennon & Paul McCartney]
Rain
I don’t mind
Shine
The weather’s fine

Rain was recorded during the sessions for Revolver at Abbey Road Studios, a period marked by The Beatles‘ increasing experimentation with studio technology. One of the most notable aspects of the recording process was the pioneering use of tape speed manipulation. The instrumental track was recorded at a faster tempo, then played back at a slower speed, giving the song its distinctive, dreamy texture.

Additionally, the song features one of the first uses of backward vocals on a pop record as Ringo discussed above. Lennon’s voice was recorded in reverse, adding a surreal quality to the track. This technique, inspired by a happy accident, would later become a hallmark of psychedelic music.

Although Rain never achieved the commercial success of some of The Beatles’ more famous hits, it remains a favorite among fans and critics for its innovative sound and introspective lyrics.

References:
1. The Beatles Bible – An in-depth look at the song’s history and recording process.
2. Rain (Beatles song) – Wikipedia

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“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand