Beatlesongs.wiki
SongsPast MastersRain
Past Masters album cover

“It's just a state of mind”

Lennon's meditation on weather as a state of mind, set to a sluggish, narcotic groove. The Beatles' first use of backward vocals - discovered by Lennon at home - opened the door to the studio experimentation that defined Revolver and Sgt. Pepper.
VinylCD

affiliate link - supports this wiki

Year1966
AlbumPast Masters
Track22
Duration3:02
Songwriter(s)LennonCredited as Lennon-McCartney
Lead VocalJohn
RecordedApril 14 & 16, 1966
ReleasedMay 30, 1966 (Single)March 7, 1988 (Past Masters)
Song familyTwin songsTwin of Paperback Writer: same 1966 sessions, shared chords and sound.

● tap a tag for its page and notes

Text171 tags

Motif

PhilosophicalSocial commentaryMeditationSpiritualDeathNatureLightSelf reflectionWeatherRainSunshineQuestion

Influence

Eastern philosophy influenceDrugs influence

Title

One-word title

Vocabulary

Neutral toneCasual language

Narrative

First personThird personConversationalObservationalSecond personImperative

Lyrical device

Anaphora

Rhyme type

Half rhymePerfect rhymeExtrametrical rhyme

Song form

Verse-chorusAABA form

Sections

Standard verses (2-4)Standard choruses (1-3)Has outroHas intro

Section links

Outro based on verseIntro based on verseOutro based on chorus

Repetition

Recurring lineConsecutive lineConsecutive verses
Word cloud

Recurring words

deadmindrainsameshineshinesshowslipstatesuntheiras wellbe deadcan youhear meif theinto theit's justme thatmind whenof mindshow youthat whenthe rainthe samethe shadethe sunthey runthey slipwhen itwhen theyou showyou thati don't mindmight as wellwhen the suni can show you

Cover-shared words

comeseverything'sfinehearhideitmeruntheywellyoui cani don'tjust ame hearrun and hide

Lyric shape

[ADJ] when[ADV] be[VERB] their[WORD] whenas [ADV]their [NOUN]their [WORD][NOUN] [VERB] down[VERB] [VERB] down[VERB] me that[VERB] of [VERB][VERB] their [NOUN][VERB] their [WORD][VERB] you thatcan [VERB] youcan you [VERB]if the [NOUN]it [VERB] tomight as [ADV]when it [VERB]when the [NOUN]a [NOUN] of [VERB]and [VERB] their [NOUN]can [VERB] you [VERB]can you [VERB] mei can [VERB] youit [VERB] to [VERB]the [NOUN] [VERB] downthey [VERB] and [VERB]when the [NOUN] [VERB]you [VERB] me [VERB]you [VERB] me thati can [VERB] you [VERB]to [VERB] when the [NOUN]

Cover-shared shape

[VERB] and[VERB] down[VERB] into[VERB] me[VERB] of[VERB] they[VERB] to[VERB] when[VERB] you[WORD] thea [NOUN]and [VERB]be [ADJ]can [VERB]don't [VERB]it [VERB]me [VERB]of [VERB]the [ADJ]the [NOUN]the [WORD]they [VERB]to [VERB]you [VERB][VERB] and [VERB][VERB] me [VERB][VERB] they [VERB][VERB] to [VERB][VERB] you [VERB][WORD] the [ADJ]a [NOUN] ofi can [VERB]i don't [VERB]just a [NOUN]me [VERB] methe [NOUN] [VERB]the [WORD] [NOUN]you [VERB] meyou [VERB] you[VERB] me [VERB] me[VERB] you [VERB] you

Rhyme scheme

AABBABCCUnique rhyme scheme

Line length

Unique line length

Distinctive word

dnaedihehtenihsnusheadslemonadeniarnurrainsriehtsdaehsemocsipstartsweather'syeht
You might also like:Nas – Teaches Hip-Hop StorytellingRevolution in the Head

affiliate link - supports this wiki

Music96 tags

Arrangement

Lead vocalsBacking vocalsElectric guitarLead guitarRhythm guitarBass guitarDrumsPercussionTambourine

Instrument group

GuitarsPercussion

Bass work

Melodic bassHigh bass notes

Drum work

Heavy drumsProminent drum fills

Music genre

PsychedelicRockPop

Influence

Psychedelia influenceIndian music influence

Vocal work

CounterpointVocal harmoniesThree-part harmony

Melody

Call and response

Tempo

Slow

Key

G major

Time signature

4/4

Song form

Verse-chorusAABABAAABA form

Sections

Standard verses (2-4)Standard choruses (1-3)Has outroHas intro

Section links

Outro based on verseIntro based on verseOutro based on chorus

Repetition

Consecutive verses

Section transition

I to I

Harmony

DronePerfect cadencePlagal cadenceParallel harmonyThree-chord trickPedal point

Composition

All major chordsTonic openingTonic endingMinimal harmonyChorus in IVerse in ITonic verseTonic chorus

Mode

Ionian

Chord type

majoradd9

Scale degree

IIVVIVadd9

Chord degree

I–IVIV–VV–IIV–II–IV–VIV–V–IV–I–IVV–I–IV–IV–I–IV–I–IV–IV–I–IV–I–IVIV–V–I–IV–IIV–V–I–IV–I–IV–I

Chord shape

C → FC → DC → GC → F → GC → D → GC → F → B♭C → F → B♭ → FC → F → B♭ → F → B♭ → FC → F → B♭ → F → B♭C → D → G → C → GC → D → G → C → G → C → GC → Fadd9

Chord literal

G → CC → DD → GC → GG → C → DC → D → GD → G → CD → G → C → GC → D → G → C → GG → Cadd9D → G → C → G → C
You might also like:Harmony & Voice LeadingThe Beatles: Complete Scores

affiliate link - supports this wiki

Sources & references

Tags on this page are original analysis, transcribed and cross-checked against the fine work of others: Alan W. Pollack's “Notes on…” series, the Beatles Complete Scores (Hal Leonard), Mark Lewisohn's session histories, Ian MacDonald's Revolution in the Head, Dave Rybaczewski's Beatles Music History and Andy Babiuk's Beatles Gear for the instruments and studio equipment, and others besides - then verified by ear against the recordings. Full bibliography: Sources & thanks.

Updated

Feedback

Got a tag idea for Rain? Or think we've got it all wrong - no, no, no? Don't let it be.