Melanie Safka – Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" Ringtone to Cell

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room
We bled inside each other's wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

So raise candles high 'cause if you don't
We could stay black against the night
Oh raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown

We were so close there was no room
We bled inside each other's wounds
We all had caught the same disease
And we all sang the songs of peace
Some came to sing, some came to pray
Some came to keep the dark away
So raise candles high 'cause if you don't
We could stay black against the sky
Oh oh raise them higher again
And if you do we could stay dry against the rain

Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown
Lay down lay down lay it all down
Let your white birds smile
At the ones who stand and frown...

Send "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 05:22


Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) song meanings
Add your thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:A Vietnam War protest song, right? I really don't think it's AIDS.
    Flag stayfluffyon December 01, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I get chills when she really belts it out
    Flag poz52000on October 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Even so, some songs could only have been written during the gap between Woodstock and Kent State - which (tragically) disabused everyone of the notion that there could be such a thing as "non violent protest"
    Flag imrazoron July 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Memory:The inspiration for the song was what she saw when she performed at Woodstock: it rained, and afterward people lit candles. The imagery is vivid throughout--and I can certainly understand how the images of sharing blood and catching the same disease would, these days, make one think of AIDS, though given the song's time and the context, I think the "disease" is the desire or the motivation to work for peace.

    I can't think of this song without the spoken intro that was the B-side of the single; the FM stations I listened to at the time never played the song by itself.

    "Little sisters of the sun
    Lit candles in the rain
    Fed the world on oats and raisins
    Candles in the rain
    Lit the fire to the soul
    That never knew its friend
    To be there is to remember
    Candles in the rain
    So lay it down, lay it down,
    Lay it down again
    Meher Baba lives again
    Candles in the rain
    Men can live as brothers
    Candles in the rain"
    Flag jejones3141on September 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Also, this song is from 1970 and AIDS wasn't heard of much at all, if at all, before the '80s.
    Flag Whatsifsowhatsiton August 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:what a weird thing to say cateyes0o my Dad saw this Live way back when and he said there was a huge projection screen of a tank comming over a hill towards the audience it is a non-violence anti war protest.
    Flag barbie10on February 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm thinking aids.
    Flag cateyes0oon January 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:white birds- doves=peace
    the ones who stand and frown- those in favor of the war/military action

    if you're bleeding inside eachothers wounds, you're pretty close

    the same disease= longing for peace

    if you raise the candles high enough, people will see you- not just your silhouette

    the rain- tears?

    people came for different reasons, but they all came to do the same thing with other people in an effort to be noticed and make a difference
    Flag aMaidensPrayeron May 24, 2004   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain