Warren wanted a Beach Boys thing for this one, and Carl Wilson and Billy Hinsche came in, with Carl arranging the vocal parts. The other harmony vocalists (credited as the "Gentlemen Boys") were Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Zevon's longtime backers Waddy Wachtel and Jorge Calderon, and Linda Rondstadt/Stone Poneys guitarist Kenny Edwards.
Hey scientist please save us from our rainy days
Because your counterpart in the magic art is manufacturing judgment day
There's a fell wind blowing out of the east
Bringing famine drought and plague
Well now at least that's what they say
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Well I know what's wrong and I know what's right
And I know that evil exists sure as day turns into night
When a man gets down on his knees to pray you know he'll find what he is able
But chances are he'll find it either way
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Oh Lord have mercy on a humble man
Lost in the wilderness without a guiding hand
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Because your counterpart in the magic art is manufacturing judgment day
There's a fell wind blowing out of the east
Bringing famine drought and plague
Well now at least that's what they say
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Well I know what's wrong and I know what's right
And I know that evil exists sure as day turns into night
When a man gets down on his knees to pray you know he'll find what he is able
But chances are he'll find it either way
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Oh Lord have mercy on a humble man
Lost in the wilderness without a guiding hand
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Rain fell like judgment
Across my windowpane
Said it fell like judgment
But it was only rain
Lyrics submitted by BatteryLegion
Only Rain Lyrics as written by Greg Graffin Brett W. Gurewitz
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
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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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
This atheist when in a moment of weakness or crisis finds himself singing and crying to this song and the one before it "The Day The Earth Stood Stall".
BR created melodic hardcore and almost only them make it work when they go for songs like this. Another I find that hits hard inside is "Cease" amongst many others.