Rain, rain, go away,

Come again another day!

A nursery rhyme

Is autumn the wet season where you live? If you are used to rain in the fall, this post should be timely, and if you are not, read it anyway because the songs we are going to mention are really beautiful. Most importantly, there is interesting English vocabulary they can teach, so read on.

Madonna. “Rain”

The lyrics are here.

• window pane – a piece of glass used in a window: 1) Rain… Hear it on my window pane. 2) Don’t tap on the window pane please, I’m trying to concentrate. 
• to take the time to do sth. – to spend enough time to do sth. well or carefully: 1) You take the time to tell me how you feel… 2) Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.
• sheer – the adjective used to emphasize how very great, important, or powerful a quality or feeling is: 1) By sheer force of will I will raise you from the ground. (∼ nothing but force of will will help me raise you from the ground) 2) Maya succeeded through sheer hard work.

Christina Aguilera. “I Turn to You”

The lyrics are here.

• to lose ground – to go into a position where you are less strong, advanced, or successful than sb. else: 1) When I’m lost, losing ground, when my world is going crazy, you can turn it all around. 2) In the current crisis, there is a danger that we could lose ground.
• to turn sth. around – to cause a situation to change in a positive direction: 1) You can turn it all around. 2) Turning the company around won’t be easy.
• to be down – to be sad: 1) When I’m down, you’re there pushing me to the top. 2) I’ve been feeling rather down lately.
• to be there – to be always ready to help sb. when they need help: 1) You’re always there giving me all you’ve got. 2) I always wanted to be there for you.
• to carry on – to continue moving: 1) For the will to carry on, I turn to you. 2) We carry on as if it never happened.
• to lean on sb. – to depend on sb. for support and encouragement, especially at a difficult time: 1) For someone to lean on, I can run to you. 2) If things get hard, I can lean on you.

Mariah Carey. “Through the Rain”

The lyrics are here.

• to get caught – to become unexpectedly involved in an unpleasant or annoying situation: 1) You get caught in the rain. 2) I don’t want to get caught in the rush hour again.
• distraught – so upset and worried that you cannot think clearly: 1) You’re distraught and in pain. 2) You are distraught at what is happening to our homeland.
• to make it (through) – to manage to deal with a difficult experience: 1) I can make it through the rain. 2) I’m trying to make it through middle school.
• to mend – to get better, to heal: 1) I’m strong enough to mend. 2) You’ll mend. The X-rays show that your arm will heal all right.
• safe and sound – still alive and unharmed after being in danger: 1) You will arise safe and sound. 2) They’re fine, safe and sound by her mother’s side.
• to press on: to continue doing something, especially working, in a determined way: 1) Keep pressing on steadfastly (= being certain that you are right about sth. and refusing to change your opinion in any way) 2) Mr. Scott ignored the comment and pressed on.
• to prevail – to be victorious: 1) You’ll find what you need to prevail. 2) A similar logic should prevail at the international level.
• to pull through – to succeed in doing something very difficult: 1) Should they tell you you’ll never pull trough, stand tall. (= If they tell you you’ll never pull through, stand tall.) 2) He’ll need surgery, but the paramedics believe he’ll pull through.
• to stand tall – to be proud and confident: 1) Stand tall and say, “I can make it through the rain.” 2) You stand tall on your own two feet. 

Creedence Clearwater Revival. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”

The lyrics are here.

• calm before the storm – a quiet or peaceful period before a period during which there is great activity, argument, or difficulty: 1) Someone told me long ago there’s a calm before the storm. 2) That was just the calm before the storm.
• to come down – (of rain, snow, etc.) to fall to the ground, especially in large amounts: 1) Have you ever seen the rain coming down on a sunny day? 2) In the afternoon, the rain really started to come down.

Garbage. “I’m Only Happy When It Rains”

The lyrics are here.

• to get the message – to understand sth. that is not being said directly: 1) You’ll get the message by the time I’m through. 2) I don’t want to see him anymore. Why doesn’t he get the message?
• to be through – to be finished: 1) I’m through. 2) I’m through being everyone’s puppet.
• to keep sb. company – to stay with sb. so the person is not alone: 1) You can keep me company as long as you don’t care. 2) I needed someone to keep me company back then.
• to ride high – to be feeling confident and/or filled with lively energy/excitement because of success or a pleasurable or uplifting experience: 1) I’m riding high upon a deep depression. 2) The economy will be riding high on the top of the next boom.

Geri Halliwell. “It’s Raining Men”

The lyrics are here.

• soaking wet – very wet: 1) I’m gonna let myself get absolutely soaking wet. 2) I accidentally left my car windows open, and now my seats are soaking wet.
• specimen (used humorously) – a person you are describing in a particular way: 1) It’s raining men – every specimen: tall, blonde, dark and lean (= thin in a healthy and attractive way). 2) He’s a perfect specimen for her.
• to take over sth. – to take control of sth.: 1) She took over heaven and she did what she had to do. 2) They are trying to take over the media and rewrite history.
• to lose your head – to panic and not remain calm in a difficult situation: 1) Don’t you lose your head. 2) Whatever you do, don’t lose your head.
• to rip sth. off – to tear violently or roughly (from): 1) Rip off the roof and stay in bed. 2) I’ve ripped off the page.

Other iconic rain songs: “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele, “Umbrella” by Rihanna, “Kiss the Rain” by Billie Myers, “Here Comes the Rain Again” by Eurythmics. Do you have any other song to add? 😉

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