I'll Take The Rain

R.E.M.

The rain came down
The rain came down
The rain came down on me
The wind blew strong
The summer song
Fades to memory

I knew you when
I loved you then
The summer's young and helpless
You laid me bare
You marked me there
The promises we made

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain

The nighttime creases
Summer schemes
And stretches out to stay
The sun shines down
You came around
You love easy days
But now the sun
The winter's come
I wanted just to say
That if I hold
I'd hope you'd fold
Open up inside, inside of me

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain

This winter song
I'll sing along
I've searched its still refrain
I'll walk alone
I've given this, take wing
Celebrate the rain

I used to think
As birds take wing
They sing through life so why can't we?
You cling to this
You claim the best
If this is what you're offering
I'll take the rain
I'll take the rain


Lyrics submitted by Nevers0ul

I'll Take the Rain Lyrics as written by Michael Mills Peter Buck

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I'll Take The Rain song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

20 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General CommentGiven the choice between a painful relationship and the rain to wash all the pain away but leave him cold and alone, the narrator is choosing the latter.

    We cling to this, and claim the best
    If this is what you're offering
    I'll take the rain, I'll take the rain.
    PencilNeckedGeekon June 17, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentOkay, I think this is about someone who metaphorically takes refuge from the rain in a relationship with a girl, but the relationship is so painful that he would rather leave her and 'take the rain'.
    plank201on May 21, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI wonder if this is a play on words in some way - "take the reigns", as in taking control of the situation. I can't make that make sense though, but just a thought.
    hilarainbowon June 30, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI am thinking somewhere over the rainbow, Stipe's style.
    clancyleekon August 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song means everything. It could describe the rain above all and nothing more but in the same time shows the way that the person from it passes through life. Presents all his ways to living and how he considers the rain. For me, this is a special song, is the most beautiful song i've ever heard and thank you for giving it to me. This song is a truly description of every feeling inside the soul. The whole melody is infiltrated with sad, longing feelings. "loved you then", that summer. And the summer song, has taken all the summer with it, and they're both fading into memories. This song is a memory of all the feelings that laid inside of persons. Always, the memories remain, the feelings passes by, but if you really want to keep the feelings, to feel the same thing your whole life is truly possible, because this song helps you keeping all of the sentiments.
    MoldyFred08on January 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Commentnice song
    Good As Goldon June 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentepic. one of the best songs off the newest album, i just love how emotional it is. i guess we've all been in positions where we have had to turn away from something that seemed important. anyways, that's what i think...
    xpankfrisston June 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMy second favourite song. It's so sad, and, like all R.E.M. songs, captures the essence of the subject (being free from painful love) so well. I have a relationship with a girl that is exactly like this song dictates, and all she offers me is pain. I would love to metaphorically take the rain.
    Daysleepingon June 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI just love the song, but i'm not sure about the meaning. It might be about holding on to a hopless relationship, trying to work things out. But I can never be sure about what REM mean in their songs, it could be sonthing only they would understand, or simply meaningless?
    whitecrowon March 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love the video to this. It makes me cry
    Iscarioton July 22, 2006   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!

Back to top