[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
The Beatles — Rain
Album: 1
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1853








Released: 1969
Length: 2:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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
(When the sun shines down)
And sip their lemonade
(When the sun shines down)
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
(When the rain comes down)
Everything's the same
(When the rain comes down)
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
(When it rains and shines)
It's just a state of mind
(When it rains and shines)
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?

Sdeah reiht edih dna nur yeht
Semoc niar eht fi
(Rain)
Niar
(Rain)
Senihs nus
Comments (271)add comment

They were SO good.

So which is better - John's "Rain" or Paul's "Paperback Writer" ?

I don't recall which was the "A" side.
 RabbitEars wrote:

This is actually from 1966. Some significant firsts... 

"Rain" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released on 30 May 1966 as the B-side of their "Paperback Writer" single. Both songs were recorded during the sessions for Revolver, although neither appear on that album.

The song's recording contains a slowed-down rhythm track, a droning bass line and backwards vocals. Its release marked the first time that reversed sounds appeared in a pop song, although the Beatles used the same technique on the Revolver track "Tomorrow Never Knows", recorded days earlier.[4] Ringo Starr considered "Rain" his best recorded drum performance.[5] Three promotional films were created for the song that are considered among the early precursors of music videos.



 Grebbel wrote:

I gave it a 1, because they asked for it. 



Music's not really your thing I guess. 

"...the sun shines. Raaain. If the rain comes, they run and hide their heads"

I gave it a 1, because they asked for it. 
What were these lads thinking.. 
What a poor imitation of "The Duke's of the Stratosphere".   
 garyalex wrote:

Ringo's drumming on this is exceptional.  The time signature is unusual but Ringo nails it.



Ringo has commented that the slightly unusual sound and timing of his drumming stems from the fact that he would use a drum kit that's set up for a right-handed person, but he is left-handed -- so there's just the slightest delay for certain things.  It doesn't sound late or wrong, but it is perceptible at some level by nearly everyone, whether they are aware of it or not.
The Beatles were the best Rock and Roll band ever. That is all. 
Ringo's drumming on this is exceptional.  The time signature is unusual but Ringo nails it.
 orthomd wrote:

I love the Beatles but it is hysterical that a shitty song like this gets an 8 rating just bc it’s the Beatles



And that's the thing about 'taste' - totally subjective.
That bass has a life of its own.  Man, that's fine. 
Wonderful Song!!! 
Definitely a great song to hear after a week of wildfires filling our beautiful city with smoke. Thanks Bill! 
Ahhhhhhhhh
This is actually from 1966. Some significant firsts... 

"Rain" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released on 30 May 1966 as the B-side of their "Paperback Writer" single. Both songs were recorded during the sessions for Revolver, although neither appear on that album.

The song's recording contains a slowed-down rhythm track, a droning bass line and backwards vocals. Its release marked the first time that reversed sounds appeared in a pop song, although the Beatles used the same technique on the Revolver track "Tomorrow Never Knows", recorded days earlier.[4] Ringo Starr considered "Rain" his best recorded drum performance.[5] Three promotional films were created for the song that are considered among the early precursors of music videos.
Ugh. Me, too. But it beats the alternative.
antennadad wrote:

And now, after a comment like that, I am officially old. Crap.

Love Paul's bass riffs the best, but all of them achieved a nexus on Rain!  10.  
 

Just watched a new movie called Yesterday about an acoustic guitar player that wakes up to find the world had no recollection of the Beatles (but he does) and he plays their songs and everyone thinks he's a genius. Not Oscar worthy but interesting concept and worth a watch.
 markybx wrote:
Wow, I never heard this one before.
I think I can hear some of what influenced Oasis in here.
 
And now, after a comment like that, I am officially old. Crap.

Love Paul's bass riffs the best, but all of them achieved a nexus on Rain!  10.  
 orthomd wrote:
I love the Beatles but it is hysterical that a shitty song like this gets an 8 rating just bc it’s the Beatles
 
Are you on cheap hallucinogens? If you think this is shitty then you best re-schedule that lobotomy.
I love the Beatles but it is hysterical that a shitty song like this gets an 8 rating just bc it’s the Beatles
It's raining in NYC. The perfect rainy late October almost evening beer (not lemonade) sipping soundtrack. 
Another Beatles song that I will hit the next button on
One of the greatest songs ever done by the Beatles for its combination of forward thinking sounds, for its place in time and for its evocative lyrics.
My favorite Beatles song...  
Ringo at his best, Paul's amazing bass line, premium guitaring, great vocal harmony,  innovative and 
lyrically powerful with a profound message. 
Perfection
Certainly when the acid first kicked in for them which was much earlier than '69. :)
1969 release?? i thought this was more like 1966. Certainly recorded then. There's a video even and looks like 1966.
Later, in 1980, Lennon claimed:

I got home from the studio and I was stoned out of my mind on marijuana and, as I usually do, I listened to what I'd recorded that day. Somehow I got it on backwards and I sat there, transfixed, with the earphones on, with a big hash joint. I ran in the next day and said, 'I know what to do with it, I know ... Listen to this!' So I made them all play it backwards. The fade is me actually singing backwards with the guitars going backwards. [Singing backwards] Sharethsmnowthsmeaness ... [Laughter] That one was the gift of God, of Jah, actually, the god of marijuana, right? So Jah gave me that one.[20]

Source:  Rain (Beatles song)
Yeah! about time too, eh Bill!  mj- Nevada City.
Must have been 11 when I first heard this.

Nice drumming.
the very first record I ever bought....
 I can shoooooow you   alexpohlenz wrote:
And de Beatles, again, and again, and again!!!

 


 rpdevotee wrote:
Absolutely love this song!
This was probably the first song of the new avant-garde era in Beatles music when they transitioned out of pop and cover songs into their own unique style.  Innovative and creative, Rain showcases the band's true talent beyond any other good band of the time—lyrically, musically.  Very complex.  First use of backward music (at the end).  Paul's bass line is really incredible and Ringo's drums are really great, not to mention the awesome vocal harmony that they had already mastered together.

 
And it debuted on Ed Sullivan, as many of their songs did.
Sounds just splendid in my work headphones. I wish playing this louder would/could send some rain to the parched forests of British Columbia. We could use some RAIN now. Until then, we dance!
This record never leaves my jukebox.
Not only did the track feature the "famous" backward-lyrics, the backgroud sound is also very interesting. During the recording of the song’s backing track the tape speed was increased. John wanted “Rain” to have an exaggerated slow and heavy sound. So by having the tape run faster during recording and then played back at normal speed, the desired effect of a plodding and lethargic rhythm was achieved.
Awesome song.  One of their first to use the backwards masking lyrics.  I don't remember if it was this song in particular but I remember John talking about coming home one night and putting the studio tape on backwards by mistake.  "I'm sitting there with a big hash joint going what the hell is this?"
Their best. Still sounds fresh. A gem from John. Paul's bass playing on this ain't bad either. Great effort all around.
Absolutely love this song!
This was probably the first song of the new avant-garde era in Beatles music when they transitioned out of pop and cover songs into their own unique style.  Innovative and creative, Rain showcases the band's true talent beyond any other good band of the time—lyrically, musically.  Very complex.  First use of backward music (at the end).  Paul's bass line is really incredible and Ringo's drums are really great, not to mention the awesome vocal harmony that they had already mastered together.
 boontonite wrote:
One of Ringo's finest moments!

 
Another was the drum solo in Love Me Do.   {#Laughing}
Never was much of a Beatles fan, but always liked this one. Echoes of a ... psychedelic youth ...
Ne m" a jamais quitté depuis 1970
You can really tell if the balance on your speakers is off with this one.
 markybx wrote:
Wow, I never heard this one before.
I think I can hear some of what influenced Oasis in here.

 
Ha ha.....youngsters {#Rolleyes}
Wow, I never heard this one before.
I think I can hear some of what influenced Oasis in here.
One of Ringo's finest moments!
 Dna nur yeht
 Gods decry.
Man what a song that stands the test of time.  50 years old and still rocks the house.
{#Music} 
 Graham_Milner wrote:

i don't think it was on  of the original Beatles albums so is one of the best but lesser known songs.
it was released as the 'flip side' of the vinyl 45 single Paperback Writer 

 
In the U.S. it was on the "Hey Jude" album, which was more-or-less a compilation of singles and B-sides which were not on any previous studio albums.
As a dopey kid in the 60's I found the song lyrics in the Chicago Tribune and memorized them. Why?! Cause I could!
I gave it a 10 because 11 wasn't available
And de Beatles, again, and again, and again!!!
Saw Robyn Hitchcock do this live many years ago and I started laughing uncontrollably when he sang the backwards parts.
 kojiroh wrote:
Why haven't I ever heard this one before!?

 
i don't think it was on  of the original Beatles albums so is one of the best but lesser known songs.
it was released as the 'flip side' of the vinyl 45 single Paperback Writer 
 moodfood wrote:
love Sir Paul's truly awesome and trail blazing bass lines.. {#Cheers}

 
You said it. He is a masterful musician and his work on this track is outstanding.

I have never liked this song


 ShaunJ wrote:
Too funny {#Biggrin}
 

Thank you, ShaunJ... hope life is grand for you right this minute...

everybody in my alien space craft loves this Lennon song... we be dancing cross-eyed buck ass naked and jiggling organs like Willy Shakes...



 
love Sir Paul's truly awesome and trail blazing bass lines.. {#Cheers}
One of the really good ones.  I play this in class whenever it's raining ... corny, I know. 
Crisp sound of Rickenbacker guitar and Ringo's drums catch my ears every time!! {#Music}
 vanmas wrote:
Nice album cover... and also my rating... 1.

 
.... you forgot to add a zero - 10
I never get tired of this.
One of the best Beatles songs ever...
First use of backwards recording, amazing bass line and harmony.
This was the launch point into future Beatles experimental music  
Nice album cover... and also my rating... 1.
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... 

 
Too funny {#Biggrin}

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll... 
 big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:


This poem uses elemental imagery to describe how "it's just a state of mind" that really matters— the attitude with which you see things that you cannot affect, like the weather, is what really counts for your good state of mind...  and the music rocks...  this may be my number one favorite song of all time...  it is a contender for sure...

"Rain" was first released in June, 1966, as the B-side of "Paperback Writer", which is another contender for my all-time fave... I think that is the best 45 ever released...
 

Love this song...
 
It's rained all day today and the woods here are soggy!     {#Hungry}
Why haven't I ever heard this one before!?
 kcar wrote:

Well...not quite live on Sullivan, if you're referring to this . Those songs were definitely pre-recorded. Pretty fun, though. Didn't know that Paul had chipped his tooth...

 
Yes, by then they were not doing very many live performances, and the Sullivan Show had fewer and fewer rock acts performing 'live' by that time.  The Beatles simply submitted the films to the network.
This is my favourite Beatles song as well.

Transports me straight back to the 70's listening to my brother's record collection {#Yes} 
This is my favourite Beatles single track - flipside of 'Paperback Writer' if my memory is correct from buying the single as a teenager when it was first released. Paul's great base playing and Ringo's great drumming.
All Paul's base are belong to us?
I don't know what it is about this song... I loved it the minute it came out. Maybe it's Paul's Base. or John's Vocals... It just has always been my #1 Beatle song from the begining... Thanks for playing...
They were not the only band experimenting with the recording studio in 1966 but.......they were the only one that was already the most popular band on the planet when they started doing so.  They opened up the doors to so many.
 romeotuma wrote:


This poem uses elemental imagery to describe how "it's just a state of mind" that really matters— the attitude with which you see things that you cannot affect, like the weather, is what really counts for your good state of mind...  and the music rocks...  this may be my number one favorite song of all time...  it is a contender for sure...

"Rain" was first released in June, 1966, as the B-side of "Paperback Writer", which is another contender for my all-time fave... I think that is the best 45 ever released...

 

I concur.  This is my favorite Beatles song, and one of my favorite songs of all.
 crnkan wrote:

Paul and Ringo are great on this song!

 
Yes, one of Ringo's best bits here.
 rpdevotee wrote:
This was the first use of backwards music by the Beatles and began the trend of unconventional music.  They performed this song on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Amazing!
 
 
Well...not quite live on Sullivan, if you're referring to this . Those songs were definitely pre-recorded. Pretty fun, though. Didn't know that Paul had chipped his tooth...

I guess I'm in a minority here.  This is not one of my faves of theirs.  I still like it.  Just not as much as many here.
 They were and are without equal...... all the more amazing as a humble b side to Paperback Writer.
 xtalman wrote:
We finally got some this weekend!!!!!!!{#Dancingbanana}
 
how many is that ?

This was the first use of backwards music by the Beatles and began the trend of unconventional music.  They performed this song on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Amazing!
 
We finally got some this weekend!!!!!!!{#Dancingbanana}

My favorite Beatles tune.


The sound is special indeed because the tapes were actually played a bit faster than normal while recording. Played at normal speeds this is what made this special 'sloopy' sound, it's what you hear with the bass and drums. So even the bass was being played faster (and higher)

 AphidA wrote:
play this, i'm only sleeping, tomorrow never knows, and all the other psychedelic beatles tunes on an endless loop and it'd make a fairly decent radio station.
 
I assume you are engaging in hyperbole.  As great as this, and those other songs are - hearing them once a day is more than enough.

Love the "lead'' bass guitar!

 peter_james_bond wrote:
Found it!

11 Button
 
Oh, man, thanks!  11 it is!

Hey, this bands pretty good.
Watch the 1964 live concert footage at Apple site. Amazing
Perfection
 shutter wrote:
Where's the damn 11 button!!!!???
 
Found it!

11 Button
 

rates up there with my favorites of always...I can show youuu {#Umbrella}{#Daisy}
unbephuckinlievable
Where's the damn 11 button!!!!???
 romeotuma wrote:
Well-said, whole-heartedly AGREE!

This is one of my all-time most favorite songs...  I mean it...  in the top 10 songs of infinity to me...  we miss you, John...  the weather's fine...

 


Paul and Ringo are great on this song!


I think Harrison shines in this one!{#Bananajam}
Hey, is this Oasis?
Romeotuma says it all.......{#Arrowd}
Love this!
Gonna have to build an ark if any more rain comes down here!

 pinklife wrote:

Not to mention "It's A Beautiful Day"...although I think listening to "Girl With No Eyes" on acid would be way too freaky.

 
NO DOO DOO!!!  OR BOMBAY CALLING!!!! B U T  RAIN IS STILL NOT ON THIS CD

{#Moon}GREAT SONG.....NOT ON THIS CD....DUH!!!!!{#Nyah}............BILL????  WTW...HOW DID YA LET THAT BOO BOO SLIP BY??{#Stupid}

Really memorable bass
 highwindows wrote:
Possibly Ringo's finest "hour"!!


  
Ringo was once quoted in Musician that he had no idea how he came up with his part on "Rain," and was pretty sure he could never do it again. Takes some kind of guts to admit that, eh?

play this, i'm only sleeping, tomorrow never knows, and all the other psychedelic beatles tunes on an endless loop and it'd make a fairly decent radio station.
 toterola wrote:

Uhhhhhhh... don't get me wrong. I love me some Beatles. Even the soft stuff. But The Beatles definitely did not start the "Psychedelic Era".

That distinction would lie with two earlier partakers of the "sacrament", The Holy Modal Rounders and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators. But, just like Elvis in the '50s, The Beatles took a good idea and improved on it. As did The Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Moby Grape, Country Joe, and a few others.  Good times! {#Meditate}
 
Not to mention "It's A Beautiful Day"...although I think listening to "Girl With No Eyes" on acid would be way too freaky.

 dinsdale50 wrote:
This song is just an example of the genius that The Beatles showed they were way beyond anyone else in 1966. The base and the drums were excellent, and the backword lyrics at the end of the song made the psychedelic era begin
 
Uhhhhhhh... don't get me wrong. I love me some Beatles. Even the soft stuff. But The Beatles definitely did not start the "Psychedelic Era".

That distinction would lie with two earlier partakers of the "sacrament", The Holy Modal Rounders and The Thirteenth Floor Elevators. But, just like Elvis in the '50s, The Beatles took a good idea and improved on it. As did The Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Quicksilver, Moby Grape, Country Joe, and a few others.  Good times! {#Meditate}
l like your beatles..
they sound like oasis...
Here's Ringo rubbing it in again, twice in one day, reminding all of us naysayers how wrong we were about his talent as a drummer. {#Lol}
This song is just an example of the genius that The Beatles showed they were way beyond anyone else in 1966. The base and the drums were excellent, and the backword lyrics at the end of the song made the psychedelic era begin
{#Cool}
 DoctorHooey wrote:
I know the drums are the big news in this tune but I always LOVED the bass part.
 
Agree—perhaps the most astonishing performance ever by a rhythm section. As a—pretty bad—bass player, I can tell, when you heard this one the first time, sorta like John Entwhistle's on "My Generation," you simply stopped and listened. Ringo's playing speaks for itself.

 buddy wrote:

See my previous post just below. It was a B-side single to Paperback Writer in 1966.
 

Yes, 1966 (!). try and picture this coming out of your tinny FM. Yeah it was "out there"
I know the drums are the big news in this tune but I always LOVED the bass part.

This is great! It's raining here in Mississippi.