The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Next stop, Chicago
It's such a long, long train ride
Such a long lonely ride back home
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Now I know only I can stop the rain
It's not that we gotta do what we do
It's what we know
So to me it ain't nothing but being true, but
Now I know only I can stop the rain
It doesn't have to be the way it is
You say it is
Just because for the past twenty years everyday it is (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I wanna be able to walk out my front door
Without worrying about comin' in conflict with the law, 'cause
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If I follow him, they'll follow me (uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, what)
And I'll speak life into the words that you can see, 'cause
Now I know only I can stop the rain (come on)
We get away with everyday shit (uh)
But everyday shit catches up to you
And when it does, you can't say shit
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If I don't, you will
What I won't, you still
What makes us feel like we gots to kill, when
Now I know only I can stop the rain
How many more lives must we lose?
How many more times must we choose
To trust these fools?
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
I gave it to you straight, don't mix it
Twist it up for some slick shit (what, what, uh)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I don't have to talk to it anymore
I don't have to walk to it anymore
I'm out the door (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I wanna find peace with the Lord (uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
I don't wanna find a beast with the sword
I can't afford to
Now I know only I can stop the rain
When everyday of my life is a constant fight between wrong and right (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I thank you Lord for my life
Thank you Lord for keeping it loose when things got tight
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the pain, yeah
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain, stop the rain (what)
Only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain because the rain falls on me
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain
I'm out
It's such a long, long train ride
Such a long lonely ride back home
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Now I know only I can stop the rain
It's not that we gotta do what we do
It's what we know
So to me it ain't nothing but being true, but
Now I know only I can stop the rain
It doesn't have to be the way it is
You say it is
Just because for the past twenty years everyday it is (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I wanna be able to walk out my front door
Without worrying about comin' in conflict with the law, 'cause
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If I follow him, they'll follow me (uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, what)
And I'll speak life into the words that you can see, 'cause
Now I know only I can stop the rain (come on)
We get away with everyday shit (uh)
But everyday shit catches up to you
And when it does, you can't say shit
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If I don't, you will
What I won't, you still
What makes us feel like we gots to kill, when
Now I know only I can stop the rain
How many more lives must we lose?
How many more times must we choose
To trust these fools?
Now I know only I can stop the rain
If it ain't broke, don't fix it
I gave it to you straight, don't mix it
Twist it up for some slick shit (what, what, uh)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I don't have to talk to it anymore
I don't have to walk to it anymore
I'm out the door (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I wanna find peace with the Lord (uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
I don't wanna find a beast with the sword
I can't afford to
Now I know only I can stop the rain
When everyday of my life is a constant fight between wrong and right (what)
Now I know only I can stop the rain
I thank you Lord for my life
Thank you Lord for keeping it loose when things got tight
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the pain, yeah
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain, stop the rain (what)
Only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain because the rain falls on me
Now I know only I can stop the rain
Only I can stop the rain
I'm out
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