Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Woke up in my clothes again this morning
Don't know exactly where I am
And I should heed my doctor's warning
He does the best with me he can
He claims I suffer from delusions
Yet I'm so confident I'm sane
It can't be an optical illusion
So how can you explain
Shadows in the rain, oh
And if you see us on the corner
We're dancing in the rain
I join my friends there when I see them
Outside my window pane
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain, yeah
Shadows in the rain, yeah
Shadows in the rain, oh
Woke up in my clothes again this morning
Don't know exactly where I am
And I should heed my doctor's warning
He does the best with me he can
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain, oh (ow)
Shadows in the rain, oh (ow)
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain
The shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
Rain (rain), rain (rain)
Shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
Optical illusion, shadows in the rain
Explain, shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
How can you explain?
How can you explain?
Shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
Shadows in the rain
Don't know exactly where I am
And I should heed my doctor's warning
He does the best with me he can
He claims I suffer from delusions
Yet I'm so confident I'm sane
It can't be an optical illusion
So how can you explain
Shadows in the rain, oh
And if you see us on the corner
We're dancing in the rain
I join my friends there when I see them
Outside my window pane
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain, yeah
Shadows in the rain, yeah
Shadows in the rain, oh
Woke up in my clothes again this morning
Don't know exactly where I am
And I should heed my doctor's warning
He does the best with me he can
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain, oh (ow)
Shadows in the rain, oh (ow)
Shadows in the rain, oh
Shadows in the rain
The shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
Rain (rain), rain (rain)
Shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
Shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
Optical illusion, shadows in the rain
Explain, shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
How can you explain?
How can you explain?
Shadows in the rain
How can you explain?
Shadows in the rain
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Shadows in the Rain Lyrics as written by Gordon Sumner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
the lyrics are simple and straight forward, using well known devices from a number of literary genres.
"I tell my best friends when I see them outside my window pane"
Imaginary friends - "If you see US on the corner we're just dancing in the rain"
SO -- he's drifting between two realities. 1- Under a doctor's care for delusions. 2-dancing with his 'friends' that the doctor doesn't see.
The two realities are separate except for when he sees them as outside his window when it rains. It raises the question - which life is real or perhaps which one is crazy? He doesn't say that one is more real than the other - but it seems clear which one is more fun.