Lyric discussion by wdfarmer 

Cover art for Pencil Rain lyrics by They Might Be Giants

"Pencil rain" is not artillery. It's death by pencil-pushers, by mismanagement from desks far away from the battlefield. Pretty clear. "Awaiting the first lead" = lead pencil. "Number two" = No. 2 Pencil. "Splintering wood" = pencils again.