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.
Under the sun
There's nothing to hide
Under the moon
A stranger waits inside
People disappear
The music fades away
Splashing through the rain
I'll dream with them one day
It's raining, raining
On the streets of New York City
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
I may have wasted all those years
They're not worth their time in tears
I may have spent too long in darkness
In the warmth of my fears
Take a look at yourself
Not at anyone else
And tell me what you see
I know the air is cold
I know the streets are cruel
But I'll enjoy the ride today
It's raining, raining
On the streets of New York City
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
Raining deep in heaven
I may have wasted all those years
They're not worth their time in tears
I may have spent too long in darkness
In the warmth of my fears
And as I walk through all my myths
Rising and sinking like the waves
With my thoughts wrapped around me
Through a trial of tears
Hidden by disguise
Stumbling in a world
Feeling uninspired
He gets into his car
Not within his eyes to see
Open up, open up
Not much better than the man you hate
Still awake
I continue to move along
Cultivating my own nonsense
Welcome to the wasteland
Where you'll find ashes
Nothing but ashes
Still awake
Bringing change
Bringing movement, bringing life
A silent prayer
Thrown away
Disappearing in the air
Rising
Sinking
Raining deep inside me
Nowhere to turn
I look for a way back home
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
There's nothing to hide
Under the moon
A stranger waits inside
People disappear
The music fades away
Splashing through the rain
I'll dream with them one day
It's raining, raining
On the streets of New York City
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
I may have wasted all those years
They're not worth their time in tears
I may have spent too long in darkness
In the warmth of my fears
Take a look at yourself
Not at anyone else
And tell me what you see
I know the air is cold
I know the streets are cruel
But I'll enjoy the ride today
It's raining, raining
On the streets of New York City
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
Raining deep in heaven
I may have wasted all those years
They're not worth their time in tears
I may have spent too long in darkness
In the warmth of my fears
And as I walk through all my myths
Rising and sinking like the waves
With my thoughts wrapped around me
Through a trial of tears
Hidden by disguise
Stumbling in a world
Feeling uninspired
He gets into his car
Not within his eyes to see
Open up, open up
Not much better than the man you hate
Still awake
I continue to move along
Cultivating my own nonsense
Welcome to the wasteland
Where you'll find ashes
Nothing but ashes
Still awake
Bringing change
Bringing movement, bringing life
A silent prayer
Thrown away
Disappearing in the air
Rising
Sinking
Raining deep inside me
Nowhere to turn
I look for a way back home
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
It's raining, raining
Raining deep in heaven
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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Amazing
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This one was written by John Myung (his songs are always damn near impossible to crack...), and I know he used to live in Chicago, and later moved to NY. It could be a personal experience, though I've never heard anything about him having to go back or nearly having to go back... I still think it's a reflection on some kind of serious family financial problem they had when he was younger, or something.
"People disappear The music fades away Splashing through the rain I'll dream with them one day"
He went to high school with John Petrucci and Kevin Moore. Maybe "I'll dream with them one day" is a reference to DT.
Why not more comments? This song is great
Right, this song is awesome, really like it
Hey, the bass line of this song is exceptionally good...
You bastard :) I dont know if ill ever get to see them live in concert being that i live in Australia :/ props to this song!!... gives me shivers every time i hear it... especially part 3.. such a beautifully haunting piece of music
A great song. "I'ts raining, raining..." this part always gives me the creeps (in a good way), but there is just something about the whole song... maybe it's the melodies, maybe it's the lyrics.. can't say
These gyus are just so good at conveying emotions through their songs, there is something special in almost every of their songs.
Everyone has made good observations about the song's lyrics. Did anyone notice some of the band's influences creeping into the song? The intro sounds like Dream Theater's tribute (or rip-off depending on your point of view) to "Xanadu" by Rush. The instrumental section in the middle of the song is very reminiscent of the instrumental solo section of "Losing It" by Rush. And perhaps the most obvious influence is in "The Wasteland." The beginning of that section almost verbatim copies the melody and chords of verses of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles.
The chords of the initial verses of "The Wasteland" are from Aqualung, by Jethro Tull.
To my mind it's these lines in which the "meaning" of the song concentrates the most vividly.
"As I walk through all my myths Rising and sinking like the waves With my thoughts wrapped around me Through a trial of tears"
It's about having become jaded and uninspired, facing an inner trial which judges that one has "wasted all those years", it's about doubting who you really are. That also goes together with:
"Under the sun, there is nothing to hide Under the moon, a stranger waits inside"
When the sun is high you have nothing to hide, all is clear and your path is ahead of you, but then comes a time when you notice the sun is gone and the moon is up there, and doubt arises, you ask "who am I?" and thus "a stranger waits inside". The rain that's mentioned throughout is a deliberately created setting for thoughts like these. Rain is like tears in a way.
@kristaps_k Really like that interpretation. If I may add, I have always thought that much of the lyrics are about a journey through oneself, an inner search; the subject is really, really depressed, something terrible happened to him in the past that left him utterly uninspired, without any glimpse of hope. The chorus “…it’s raining, raining…” it’s, what I interpret as a metaphor about his loss, his misfortune. Anyway, I love how the song ends, I have always felt that the instrumental closing section gives your a tiny ray of light, there’s hope! Even after this person goes to the extreme of sensing that Heaven won’t offer deliverance and his expectations will be clearly unmatched. Somehow, there is a sense of relief.<br /> A classic song, a much interesting an underrated album!<br /> <br /> Credit goes to Daily Doug, for his inspiring and in depth review of this particular song!
Seems to me like this song is about a person who ran away from home to NYC, thinking it's heaven, realising it's not, and after failing to make it, looking for a way home.
It's one of DT's best, IMO.
this song is one of my favorites I saw dream theater yesterda in mexico and I saw them 2 years ag on the Yes tour, and they played this song, I was so excited when I heard the first notes, man.. one of the best lyrics by myung