She Gathers Rain

I think the song, as with many Collective Soul songs, is a story of redemption. She feels awful, depressed, whatever, and then she has a revelation. The first half describes depression, and a person just coming out of it. She realizes that her life has changed, and that it is a natural thing. Sad, but natural. She opens up: "Her imagination Has started stretching wide" = she has plans for the future. "And her new conviction No longer will she hide" she has torn down her unhealthy walls and is starting to be honest with people now. "She's not branded When prophets speak words of fire" = Say what you will, it doesn't change me. The future can be rough, but she will get through it unscathed. But she puts out a lot of love, and needs it back, "the same love she gives, she requires." So she will continue to cleans her soul, through tears and love. Beautiful.

Great Song.

This song, it seems very likely and is how I interpret it, is about a female person who breaks free of religious dogma. She has realized the horrible truth about organized religion and wants something more in life....to think clearly and open minded about the possibilities in this world. And now that she has done that, she feels great and free about she sees the world.

First Verse: She has decided to stop mindlessly following a particular religion("she's doesn't care what the prophets say anymore"). And she is ready to face any possible negative attitudes towards this decision from people surrounding her. She won't back down.

Chorus: "she gathers rain to rinse away her guilt and pain"-----Rain is natural, no supernatural phenomena or god is needed to account for it. This is a metaphor for rational thought and she is using this rational awareness to stop any irrational guilt, etc from renouncing her faith or religion.

Verse 2: +"her imagination has started stretching wide"--she is realizing how much potential, for her, there is in this world now that she sees things clearly and in a new light. +"And her new conviction no longer will she hide"---her new conviction(or new strong belief) is that she doesn't believe in that particular religion and she is seeing natural explanations for the world. +"she's not branded when the prophets speak words of fire"----she won't be scared into believing anything.(example, so commonly being told "you are going to hell" if you dont belief, etc.) +"the same love she gives, she requires"---she realizes that you can't love something imaginary(ie, god)

I am not entirely sure, but I think this song is about wanting to wash away the past. Any other suggestions?

I think the song has to do with someone, a girl, going through a phase of dramatic change or some sort of forgiveness. I once thought that "gathering rain" was crying, but I'm not so sure... I think it is fairly clear that whoever this lady is, she has been in hiding (literal or not) for some time and is now coming back out into reality, ready for a new life.

I think the gathering rain part is about futility. She can't change the past, she can't wash away the pain.

She's religiously sheltered. This is revealed through the mention of the prophets and their scathing words. But for some reason, she has lost the faith, and while in a way it's sad, she finally feels free.

I've always seen this as a sad song. She doesn't like who she is o r what she's done, so she tries to help other people to make her feel better about herself. The "rain" is other people's troubles.

I've always seen this as a sad song. She doesn't like who she is o r what she's done, so she tries to help other people to make her feel better about herself. The "rain" is other people's troubles.

I believe these lyrics are a third person perspective of Mother Nature. I find it ironic that prophets around the world deny climate change and their congregation follows suit. Blindly destroying the world which has given all of us everything. It's just the beginning of the storms to come. She's Gathering Rain

I've always seen this as a sad song. She doesn't like who she is o r what she's done, so she tries to help other people to make her feel better about herself. The "rain" is other people's troubles.