The importance of rain on Earth can hardly be overstated. Throughout history, humans have depended on rain to replenish aquifers, fill rivers, and also to help grow crops. Some of the most majestic landscapes would look entirely different without rain. Since it’s so important, it’s no surprise that many songs about rain have been written over the years.
From songs about lonely nights pining over heartbreak to tunes about driving in the rain, many artists have been influenced by rain and have used it as a metaphor in their music. So whether you are feeling down, are stuck inside watching the rain, or just wish it were raining, you’ll surely enjoy the diverse selection of songs below.
Table of Contents
1. Have You Ever Seen the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
| Genre | Country Rock, Blues Rock |
| Year Released | 1971 |
| Album | Pendulum |
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” was written by Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty and was the last album produced with all original members of the band. John’s brother, Tom Fogerty, decided to leave the band after CCR released Pendulum because he felt his brother was being too domineering when it came to writing songs. This song is John Fogerty’s response to the band finally achieving all of the success they worked so hard for and had just recently started to enjoy, only for conflicts within the band to ultimately spell the end for the group at the height of their popularity. The song was certified 3x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
2. Save It for a Rainy Day by Kenny Chesney
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | The Big Revival |
“Save It for a Rainy Day” is the last single from Kenney Chesney’s album The Big Revival. The song is about a man processing the end of a relationship. He is feeling lonely and could mope and pine for his ex-lover, but he instead decides to spend the day doing things that make him happy, promising to save all of his sad emotions for a rainy day. The song topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart, peaked at number four on the Hot Country Songs chart, and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
3. Let It Rain by Eric Clapton
| Genre | Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Eric Clapton |
One of the more uplifting songs about rain, “Let It Rain” by Eric Clapton, was released on his debut album, Eric Clapton. Clapton’s first solo album peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. The song was originally written with different lyrics and was called “She Rides.” The producer of the album, Delaney Bramlett, is said to have had a big influence on Clapton’s sound at the time. Even still, Eric was allegedly unhappy with Delaney’s mix of the song and felt it didn’t sound like a Clapton album. Eric took the master recording tapes to the studio Criteria and had them remixed. Bobby Whitlock, who played organ on the song, recounts that Stephen Stills played the groovy bass line when it was re-recorded.
4. It Will Rain by Bruno Mars
| Genre | Pop, Pop-Soul |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
“It Will Rain” was released as the lead single on The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 soundtrack. Bruno Mars wrote the song after seeing an early cut of the movie. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart and has been certified 5x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The music video has over 750 million views on YouTube and has been streamed 488 million times on Spotify as of October 2022. The song is about a relationship that is strained but not irreparably broken. It functions as a hypothetical as to how Bruno would feel if his love were to leave him. If you’re looking for songs with rain in the lyrics, this is one I definitely recommend adding to your playlist.
5. A Year Without Rain by Selena Gomez and The Scene
| Genre | Dance-Pop, Synth-Pop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | A Year Without Rain |
“A Year Without Rain” was released as the second single and is the title track on the 2010 album by Selena Gomez and The Scene. Gomez reportedly decided to title the album off of this track because it was the first song recorded for the record, and she wanted to base all the other songs on it. The song climbed to the top of Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and has been certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. “A Year Without Rain” is a dance ballad with a dash of techno and reggae, featuring sensitive lyrics. Gomez sings, “a day without you is like a year without rain.” Selena Gomez also has some great songs about the ocean that we love.
6. Rain King by Counting Crows
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1993 |
| Album | August and Everything After |
“Rain King” was released as the third single behind “Mr. Jones” and “Round Here” on the 7x Multi-Platinum debut album, August and Everything After by the Counting Crows. The song’s title and lyrics were inspired by the 1959 classic fiction novel Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow. Lead singer Adam Duritz sings about the book’s main character, Eugene Henderson, who is rich and successful but feels unhappy because of his spiritual void. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 album chart. As of October 2022, “Rain King” has been streamed over 24 million times on Spotify.
7. Buckets of Rain by Bob Dylan
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Blood on the Tracks |
“Buckets of Rain” was released on Bob Dylan’s 2x Multi-Platinum album Blood on the Tracks. A year after the song was originally released, Dylan accompanied Bette Midler and sang harmony on the track when she recorded “Buckets of Rain” for her own 1976 album, Songs for the New Depression. Despite the song being a fan favorite, Dylan has only played it live once, when he opened his set at the November 1990 Fox Theater concert in Detroit, Michigan. Musically, “Buckets of Rain” sounds like it was influenced by the song “Bottle of Wine” by Tom Paxton, which was recorded and released by the band The Fireballs in 1967.
8. Fool in the Rain by Led Zeppelin
| Genre | Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1979 |
| Album | In Through the Out Door |
“Fool in the Rain” was released as the last single on Led Zeppelin’s 1979 album In Through the Out Door before the band formally disbanded the following year. Musically, the song is one of Zeppelin’s happier-sounding songs. It even features an upbeat, Latin- inspired samba break in the song’s bridge. The band members were supposedly motivated to layer their own samba beats on the track after hearing the sound played prominently on broadcasts during the 1978 FIFA World Cup, which took place in Argentina.
9. She’s My Kind of Rain by Tim McGraw
| Genre | Country Pop, Adult Contemporary |
| Year Released | Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors |
| Album | 2003 |
“She’s My Kind of Rain” is a country ballad recorded by Tim McGraw and was released as the third single from his 2002 album Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors. The song made it all the way up to number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. “She’s My Kind of Rain” also received a nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards.
10. Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
| Genre | Power Pop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | 21 |
“Set Fire to the Rain” is a power-pop ballad that was released as the third single off of Adele’s certified 14x Multi-Platinum album, 21. There is no official video for the song, as Adele was recovering from vocal surgery when it was released as a single in November 2011. In lieu of a music video, she released an incredible performance of her singing the song on the album, Live at the Royal Albert Hall. The live version of “Set Fire to the Rain” from the Royal Albert Hall won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 55th Grammy Awards. The song became Adele’s third consecutive number one single from the same album.
11. Let It Rain by David Nail (Featuring Sarah Buxton)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | The Sound of a Million Dreams |
“Let It Rain” is a song co-written by David Nail and Jonathan Singleton and was released as the lead single off of David Nail’s 2011 album, The Sound of a Million Dreams. It would go on to become Nail’s first number one single, topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Co-writer Jonathan Singleton has mentioned that the song was partially inspired by the romantic comedy film, The Last Kiss.
12. Rain Is A Good Thing by Luke Bryan
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Doin’ My Thing |
“Rain Is A Good Thing” was released as the second single on Luke Bryan’s 2009 album, Doin’ My Thing. It became Bryan’s first number one single when it topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Luke Bryan’s co-writer of the song, Dallas Davidson, has spoken about how the idea for the song came from a saying the two used to say if they were tired of the rain. “Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey” is what they would remind themselves of as a way to see the silver lining behind rain clouds.
13. Thunder in the Rain by Kane Brown
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Kane Brown |
Released as the first single on Kane Brown’s 2016 self-titled album, “Thunder in the Rain” peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The song is about the passion two lovers feel whenever they are together. Kane sings about them being “a perfect storm” and says the two go together like thunder and rain. As of October 2022, the music video has over 25 million views on YouTube and nearly 48 million streams on Spotify.
14. Rain Over Me by Pitbull (Featuring Marc Anthony)
| Genre | Dance-Pop, Pop-Rap |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Planet Pit |
“Rain Over Me” is a dance-pop song recorded by Pitbull and Marc Anthony. The song topped the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and has been certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. It was written by Pitbull and RedOne, who is best known for his collaboration with Lady Gaga on her songs “Poker Face” and “Just Dance.” As of October 2022, the music video has been viewed an astonishing 1.1 billion times on YouTube and has over 175 million streams on Spotify.
15. When It Rains It Pours by Luke Combs
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | This One’s For You |
“When It Rains It Pours” is a song co-written and recorded by Luke Combs for his 2017 album, This One’s For You. The song is about Luke Combs’ girlfriend, that left him because she was fed up with him partying too much with his friends. Unlike many breakup songs that focus mainly on the sad emotions after a relationship ends, Combs sings about all of the good luck that came his way after she left him. The song topped both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts and has been certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
16. Rain On Me by Lady Gaga (featuring Ariana Grande)
| Genre | House, Dance-Pop, Electropop |
| Year Released | 2020 |
| Album | Chromatica |
“Rain On Me” was released on Lady Gaga’s 2020 album, Chromatica. The song is a catchy, dance-pop tune that features Gaga and Ariana Grande. The song was a number one hit in several countries and topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts. It has been certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The music video has been viewed nearly 375 million times on YouTube and streamed 857 million times on Spotify as of October 2022.
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17. Whiskey and Rain by Michael Ray
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2020 |
| Album | Higher Education EP |
“Whiskey and Rain” was co-written by Jesse Frasure and Josh Thompson. It was released as the lead single for Michael Ray’s 2020 EP Higher Education. The esteemable songwriting duo teamed up to write “Whiskey and Rain,” which topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. The song is about someone drowning their sorrows with alcohol while dealing with the pain of losing their lover. Michael Ray told Everything Nash that the song was inspired by the traditional country songs that he grew up listening to, like those by country singer Gary Allan. It definitely has a 90s country song vibe to it and features a catchy hook that may inspire you to hit repeat a time or two.
18. Songs About Rain by Gary Allan
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | See If I Care |
“Songs About Rain” was co-written by Liz Rose and Pat McLaughlin and recorded by Gary Allan for his 2003 album, See If I Care. Rose has worked extensively with Taylor Swift, and McLaughlin is best known for his work with John Prine. The song is about a man pining over his ex-lover after learning that she had recently married her new lover. He is thinking about what could have been, and while listening to the radio, he notices they are only playing sad songs and especially songs about rain, which match his mood. Another interesting fact is that this song has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
19. Stop the Rain by Ed Sheeran
| Genre | Pop, Folk Pop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | = |
“Stop the Rain” was written by Ed Sheeran as a commentary on the legal rainstorm that had fallen on him as accusations of plagiarism have been charged against him for some of his biggest hit songs. Despite knowing he is in the right, Sheeran must nonetheless defend himself and face the rain or rather critics and accusers that seemingly will not stop. The song was released on Ed Sheeran’s 2021 album, =, which became a number one hit in dozens of countries around the world, including on Billboard’s Global 200.
20. Rainy Night in Georgia by Brook Benton
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1969 |
| Album | Brook Benton Today |
“Rainy Night in Georgia” is a song written by Tony Joe White in 1967. The song became a hit in 1969 when Brook Benton released it on his 1969 album, Brook Benton Today. It’s a rather melancholy tune about being lonely, with the rain reflecting the singer’s sad mood. In 2004, it was listed on Rolling Stone’s list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song has been streamed over 16 million times on Spotify as of October 2022 and has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
21. Kentucky Rain by Elvis Presley
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Single |
“Kentucky Rain” was co-written by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard and recorded by Elvis Presley. The song is about a man searching for his lost lover in the cold Kentucky rain. Elvis’ soulful voice fills the track and lends credence to the misery the lyrics describe, all the while the rain keeps pouring down on him. “Kentucky Rain” was a top-40 hit on three different Billboard charts, number 16 on the Hot 100, number three on Easy Listening, and number 31 on the Hot Country Singles list. The song has been certified Gold by the RIAA.
22. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie by Red Hot Chili Peppers
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Funk Rock |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | I’m with You |
“The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie” was released as the first single from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 2011 album (I’m With You). The song topped both the Billboard Alternative Airplay and Hot Rock & Alternative Songs charts. According to lead singer Anthony Kiedis, the song started as just a bass line by Flea. The band originally never expected the song to be anything more than a B-side, but as fate would have it, they played it for other people and were encouraged to record and release it as a single. The song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
23. Rain Dogs by Tom Waits
| Genre | Experimental Rock |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Rain Dogs |
“Rain Dogs” is the title track of Tom Waits’ 1996 album. The song and album, in general, can be seen as a commentary about the urban dispossessed, or people without a home, in New York City. Rolling Stone has ranked the album as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, while the song has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The phrase “rain dogs” is used to describe dogs that wander away from home, only to get lost when it rains because their markers have all washed away, leaving them stranded.
24. Like the Rain by Clint Black
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Greatest Hits |
“Like the Rain” was co-written by Clint Black along with his longtime songwriting collaborator, Hayden Nicholas. It was released as the first single on Black’s 1996 Greatest Hits album. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The lyrics tell a story of a man that “never liked the rain” until he walked through it with his new lover. She has had an incredibly positive impact on the singer, as he now claims to like the rain since she has come into his life and is falling for her like the rain.
25. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain by Willie Nelson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Red Headed Stranger |
“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was originally written by Fred Rose and recorded by Roy Acuff. The song was popularized in 1975 when Willie Nelson released it on his certified 2x Multi-Platinum album, Red Headed Stranger. It also topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Nelson’s first number one hit as an artist. In 2004, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” was named by Rolling Stone as number 302 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
26. Purple River by Prince & the Revolution
| Genre | Rock, Gospel, Soul |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Purple Rain |
Prince’s most popular tune, “Purple Rain,” was the title track from the soundtrack he wrote and recorded for the film of the same name. Thanks in large part to this song, Purple Rain won Prince an Oscar for “Best Original Song Score” at the 1985 Academy Awards. The song climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs and number two on the Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. After Prince’s death in 2016, the song became popular again, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Also Read: List of Our Favorite Songs About the Moon
27. The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1973 |
| Album | Houses of the Holy |
Co-Written by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant, “The Rain Song” is arguably Led Zeppelin’s first ballad song and a great one at that. George Harrison of the Beatles allegedly planted the idea in the head of Zeppelin drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham when he mentioned to him that Led Zeppelin is great and all, but they don’t do any ballads. The result became “The Rain Song.” In a nod to Harrison, Page cleverly plays the first couple notes of the Beatles song, “Something.” “The Rain Song” was never released as a standalone single but has been a fan-favorite since being released on Led Zeppelin’s certified 11x Multi-Platinum album, Houses of the Holy.
28. Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Post-Grunge |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Garbage |
“Only Happy When It Rains” was written by the band Garbage in the basement of co-founder and guitarist for the band, Steve Marker. It was later recorded in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Smart Studios, which also produced albums by Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins. The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and is a standout track on the band’s certified 2x Multi-Platinum album it is featured on. One of the classic 90s alternative rock songs, “Only Happy When It Rains,” is Garbage’s anthem for embracing the dark, rainy days in our life, just as we would the sunny ones, appreciating them in a slightly cynical way.
29. A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan
| Genre | Folk Rock |
| Year Released | 1963 |
| Album | The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan |
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” was featured on Bob Dylan’s certified Platinum second studio album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. Dylan originally wrote the song as a poem, with symbolism that communicates absolute truths, like the role tragedy and hardship plays in the human experience. Dylan was influenced just as much by Beat poets like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg as he was by musicians like Woody Guthrie or Robert Johnson. The song perfectly illustrates why Bob Dylan is one of the greatest wordsmiths of all time and was performed by Patti Smith when Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature by the Swedish Academy.
30. No Rain by Blind Melon
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Folk Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Blind Melon |
“No Rain” by Blind Melon was released as the second single on the band’s debut self-titled album, which was certified 4x Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. As of October 2022, the music video, which was named number 22 on MTV’s 1999 Greatest Videos Ever Made countdown, has over 73 million views on YouTube. Even more impressive, the song has over 342 million streams on Spotify. The music, and particularly the guitar hook throughout the song, inspires a happy mood but is juxtaposed with melancholy lyrics. The song also topped both the Billboard Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts.
31. Rain by The Cult
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Love |
“Rain” was written and recorded by the British hard rock band The Cult on the band’s second studio album, Love. In England, the song peaked at number 17 on the UK Singles chart. In the US, the album was certified by the RIAA. As of October 2022, the music video has been viewed over 14 million times on YouTube and streamed another 29 million times on Spotify. The Cult lead singer, Ian Astbury, has mentioned that the song is about making love. This is observed in the lyrics, which contain several sexual innuendos.
32. Black Rain by Ozzy Osbourne
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | Black Rain |
“Black Rain” was released as the third single on Ozzy Osbourne’s 2007 album of the same name. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The song is a powerful critique of the United States’ involvement in military conflicts overseas, particularly in Iraq, where the US-led coalition had just deployed a troop surge when the song was written. Ozzy’s thoughts were shared by most of the world regarding the war. According to a BBC World Service poll, 73% of the global population disapproved of how the US was conducting its war on Iraq.
33. Who’ll Stop the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
| Genre | Folk Rock, Blues Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Cosmo’s Factory |
The song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and, in 2004, was ranked in the top 200 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Several audio recordings of the song have amassed tens of millions of streams on YouTube and another 137 million on Spotify. CCR frontman John Fogerty claims he wrote the song after attending the infamous Woodstock 1969 concert in upstate New York. He was inspired by seeing his peers make their presence known while playing around in the mud, many of them naked, while the rain came down.
34. Blame It on the Rain by Milli Vanilli
| Genre | Dance-Pop |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | Girl You Know It’s True |
“Blame It on the Rain” is a song written by Diane Warren and recorded by Milli Vanilli. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. As of October 2022, the music video has just under 24 million views, and the song has been streamed 16 million times more on Spotify. The lyrics are about someone that regrets letting their love go in order to save their pride. They have no one to blame but themselves but insist it must have been someone or something’s fault. Thus, they blame it on the rain.
35. I Can’t Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles
| Genre | Soul |
| Year Released | 1973 |
| Album | I Can’t Stand the Rain |
“I Can’t Stand the Rain” was originally written and recorded by soul singer Ann Peebles for her 1973 album of the same name. Rolling Stone magazine named it number 197 on their “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” chart. The song was introduced to a younger generation when it was it was sampled on the debut single by Missy Elliott on her 1997 certified Platinum album, Supa Dupa Fly. John Lennon of the Beatles claimed Peeble’s hit to be the “best song ever” and allegedly saw her perform live at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in February 1974.
36. It’s Raining Men by The Weather Girls
| Genre | Post-Disco, Synth Pop, Hi-NRG |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | Success |
“It’s Raining Men” was co-written by Paula Jabara and Paul Shaffer and was recorded and released as the lead single on the 1982 album Success by The Weather Girls. The song is a groovy, post-disco dance tune with influences of R&B and Soul. It topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The music video has over 74 million views on YouTube and another 32 million streams on Spotify. In 1983, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
37. Make It Rain by Fat Joe (Featuring Lil Wayne)
| Genre | Hip-Hop, Rap |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Me, Myself & I |
“Make It Rain” was released as the lead single on Fat Joe’s 2006 album, Me, Myself and &. Lil Wayne is featured on the track, rapping the song’s chorus. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. In 2008, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group but lost to Kanye West and Common for their song “Southside.” As of October 2022, the music video has 12 million views on YouTube and 51 million streams on Spotify.
38. I Love A Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbitt
| Genre | Country Rock |
| Year Released | 1980 |
| Album | Horizon |
One of the more upbeat and optimistic songs about rain, “I Love A Rainy Night,” was co-written and recorded by Eddie Rabbitt and released as the second single off his 1980 album, Horizon. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs, Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary charts and has been certified 7x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. The lyrics describe all of the things the singer likes about rainy nights. As of October 2022, the song has over 50 million streams on Spotify.
39. Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith
| Genre | Contemporary Christian, Pop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Healing Rain |
“Healing Rain” is a contemporary Christian pop song that was released on Michael W. Smith’s 2004 album of the same name. The album became a number one single on the Billboard Christian Albums chart and was even a successful crossover hit, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The song uses rain as a metaphor for God’s mercy and healing ability to wash away our pain and troubles if we choose to believe.
40. Driving Rain by Paul McCartney
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Driving Rain |
“Driving Rain” is the title track from Paul McCartney’s 2001 album of the same name. The album was McCartney’s lowest-ever selling record in the UK but managed to peak at number 26 on the US Billboard 200, and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The lyrics were inspired by a drive McCartney took in a rented Corvette up the Pacific Coast Highway from Los Angeles to Malibu on a rainy day.
41. Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) by Gary Allan
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Set You Free |
“Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” was co-written by Gary Allan and Hillary Lindsey and released as the lead single on Allan’s 2012 album, Set You Free. Lindsey won a Grammy Award in 2006 for her work with Carrie Underwood on the song “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” In addition to “Every Storm” topping both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, the song was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.
42. Still Rainin’ by Jonny Lang
| Genre | Blues, Gospel, Rock |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Wander This Road |
“Still Rainin’” is a song written and recorded by Jonny Lang for his 1998 album, Wander This Road. Lang released the album when he was just 17 years old and saw its peak at number 28 on the Billboard 200 chart. The lyrics compare the rain to the heartache Jonny Lang is feeling after losing his lover. Despite the old adage that time heals all pain, he looks out his window, and it’s still raining. He still hurts no matter how much time has gone by. As of October 2022, the song has nearly 7 million views on YouTube and another 3 million streams on Spotify.
43. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head by B.J. Thomas
| Genre | Pop, Soft |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head |
One of the best-known songs about rain, B.J. Thomas’ hit, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” was written by award-winning songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The song was created for the Paul Newman and Robert Redford film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. B.J. Thomas’ single topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Easy Listening charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA. In 2014, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
44. Bring on the Rain by Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Burn |
“Bring on the Rain” was co-written by Billy Montana and Helen Darling and recorded by Jo Dee Messina for her 2001 album called Burn. The album became Messina’s first number one record when it topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The song was released as a single on September 10, 2001. Following the September 11 attacks, the country-pop ballad resonated with many Americans who were in need of the uplifting message in the lyrics. The song featured Tim McGraw on guest vocals and topped the Billboard Top Country Songs chart. As of October 2022, the song has been streamed over 15 million times on Spotify.
45. Rhythm of the Rain by Dan Fogelberg
| Genre | Soft Rock, Folk Rock, Country Rock |
| Year Released | 1990 |
| Album | The Wild Places |
“Rhythm of the Rain” was originally written by the Cascades and released on their 1962 album, The Wild Places. Several other artists had charting versions of the “Rhythm of the Rain,” but it was Dan Fogelberg who had the most commercial success covering the song. Fogelberg’s folk-rock-infused version peaked at number three on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart in 1990. A decade after his death at age 56, A Tribute to Dan Fogelberg was released, featuring his songs performed by several notable musicians, including Garth Brooks, Joe Walsh, Jimmy Buffett, and the Zac Brown Band.
46. November Rain by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock, Progressive Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Use Your Illusion I |
“November Rain” was written by Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses. It was released on the band’s certified 7x Multi-Platinum 1992 album, Use Your Illusion I. The song is a 9-minute epic piano rock ballad and was the longest song to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 when it peaked at number three. As of October 2022, “November Rain” has been streamed over 682 million times on Spotify. Even more impressive, the music video has been viewed nearly two billion times on YouTube.
47. Singin’ in the Rain by Gene Kelly
| Genre | Traditional Pop, Standard |
| Year Released | 1952 |
| Album | Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
“Singin’ in the Rain” by Gene Kelly was originally written by Arthur Freed, with music by Nacio Herb Brown. The song became popularized after it was introduced to The Hollywood Music Box Revue in 1929. It inspired the 1952 classic musical film, Singin’ in the Rain, featuring Gene Kelley singing the tune while dancing in the rain. The film was selected for historic preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989 by the United States Library of Congress. “Singing in the Rain” was ranked number three on the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 songs in American cinema of the 20th century.
48. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
| Genre | Soft Rock, Folk Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Sweet Baby James |
“Fire and Rain” was written by James Taylor and released on his 1970 breakthrough album, Sweet Baby James. Taylor wrote the tune at a time of deep personal strife. The lyrics reference his friend Suzanne Schnerr who committed suicide while Taylor was recording his first album in England. The second part of the song is about the singer’s battle with addiction, and finally, the last part looks back on Taylor’s early music days and his dealing with the fame and money that comes from a successful music career. “Fire and Rain” peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked number 227 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Also Read: Songs About Mountains That We Love
49. Grace Like Rain by Todd Agnew
| Genre | Contemporary Christian |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Grace Like Rain |
“Grace Like Rain” was released as the lead single from Todd Agnew’s 2003 debut studio album of the same name. The song peaked at number 12 on both the Billboard Christian Airplay and Christian Songs charts. Musically, the song was heavily influenced by the popular song “Amazing Grace.” Agnew explained the creation of “Grace Like Rain” on his website as the story of his friendship with the song’s co-writer, Chris Collins, as they were both learning ministry and figuring out how they could lead people in worship. This is another one of my favorite songs with rain in the lyrics.
50. Can You Stop the Rain by Peabo Bryson
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Can You Stop the Rain |
“Can You Stop the Rain” was co-written by John Bettis and Walter Afanasieff and recorded by soul-singer Peabo Bryson for his 1991 album of the same name. Bettis is best known for the hits he wrote for The Carpenters, while Afanasieff came to fame for producing the Titanic hit “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion. The song topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The music video has over 17 million views on YouTube.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.