Who wants to be right as rain?
It's better when something is wrong
You get excitement in your bones
And everything you do's a game
When night comes and you're on your own
You can say I chose to be alone
Who wants to be right as rain?
It's harder when you're on top

'Cause when hard work don't pay off
And I'm tired there ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned
So wipe that dirty smile off
We won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now I've had enough of love (of love)

Who wants to be riding high
When you'll just crumble back on down?
You give up everything you are
And even then you don't get far
They make believe that everything
Is exactly what it seems
But at least when you're at your worst
You know how to feel things

See when hard work don't pay off
And I'm tired there ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned
So wipe that dirty smile off
We won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now I've had enough of love

Go ahead and steal my heart
To make me cry again
'Cause it will never hurt
As much as it did then
We were both right
And no one had blame
But now I give up
On this endless game

'Cause who wants to be right as rain?
It's better when something is wrong
I get excitement in my bones
Even though everything's a strain
When night comes and I'm on my own
You should know I chose to be alone
Who wants to be right as rain?
It's harder when you're on top

'Cause when hard work don't pay off
And I'm tired there ain't no room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned
So wipe that dirty smile off
We won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now I've had enough of

No room in my bed
As far as I'm concerned
So wipe that dirty smile off
We won't be making up
I've cried my heart out
And now I've had enough of love, whoa

Yeah, enough
Whoa, whoa-oh
Whoa, dee-dow


Lyrics submitted by GirlsInWhiteDresses, edited by piercemonk

Right as Rain Lyrics as written by Leon Marcus Michels Nicholas Anthony Movshon

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Exploration Group LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Right as Rain song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

12 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    My Interpretation

    i think this song is about love and how it always turns out wrong, no matter how hard you try, and how people tend to play with each other's feelings. pretty similar idea to the one in "rolling in the deep" but i think this is a really good song too.

    babyimadreamerrron May 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think 'go ahead and still my heart' should be 'go ahead and steal my heart', it makes more sense.

    The song's meaning is kind of obvious i guess. She's had enough of him, he's hurt her way too many times. I wish I could sing this song and mean it too.

    onetwofoldon March 25, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think this has slight sarcasm about it. she wishes she could be right as rain, and have love, and someone in her bed. But because she cant or doesn't have any of that, she's making out as if thats the way she wants it anyway.

    i like the beat in this one :)

    podobabyon March 25, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    She's saying she's had enough of love, because no matter how happy it makes you, you always seem to come crashing down again, so is it really worth it?

    missmeon August 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the meaning is pretty obvious, she's experienced her share of heartbreaks and she's trying to convince herself that she's better off alone. Most of us have been there at some point, which is why I absolutely love this song! Adele has been so easy to relate to =)

    livefreeon September 01, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    On the last chorus I think it should be "So wipe that dirty smile off, will you." Anyway I think this song means that she's had enough. Simple as that.

    piecexoon May 24, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I get a different meaning from this song. I don't think its about one specific relationship or incident. I think its about relationships in general. When you do all you can to make things right and you are the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend and then you get burned. "Who wants to be right as rain?"

    You get your heart stolen and you cry and everything is sad. Shes been there and done that.

    She goes on to say its more exciting when your wrong...true. When your doing something wrong it feels good and its exciting like cheating or whatever. Its like a game. Also, when you aren't the perfect boyfriend or girlfriend and then the relationship ends at least you can say you "chose to be alone" because of the decisions you've made.

    So like she says it will never hurt as much as it did before when they were both right.

    I hope that made sense.

    pytiffany210on September 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Funny, I didn't think of sarcasm until I read the lyrics, but I do agree with podobaby now that I've read them.

    I did used to think this song came from someone that thrives on drama or gossip, and finds when things are going well that they are just bored.

    Obadiahkenobion July 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I didn't really know what this song meant, but I loved the beat when I first heard it.. Especially the chorus. I love her voice 'cause her accent really blends in with her music.

    chanelraquelon March 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love the meaning of this song and especially that the song its self is in an upbeat instead of it being slow and sad and that shes upset that every relationship ends badly shes just like its not the end of the world and in the end is it even worth it ? thats how i interpret the meaning of the song

    gapjeans123on August 29, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.