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Rain King Lyrics
Artist: Counting Crows
Album: August And Everything After
When I think of heaven (Deliver me in a black-winged bird)
I think of flying down into a sea of pens and feathers
and all other instruments of faith and sex and God
In the belly of a black-winged bird
Don't try to feed me
I've been here before and I deserve a little more
I belong in the service of the Queen I belong anywhere but in between
She's been crying I've been thinking And I am the Rain King
Mama, why am I so alone?
I can't go outside
I'm scared I might not make it home
I'm alive but I'm sinking in
If there's anyone at home at your place
Why don't you invite me in
Don't try to bleed me
I've been there before and I deserve a little more
I belong in the service of the Queen
I belong anywhere but in between
She's been lying
I've been sinking
And I am the Rain King
Hey, I only want the same as anyone
Henderson is waiting for the sun
Oh, it seems night endlessly begins and ends
After all the dreaming I come home again...
When I think of heaven (Deliver me in a black-winged bird)
I think of dying Lay me down in a field of flame and heather
Render up my body into the burning heart of God in the belly of a black-winged bird
Don't try to bleed me
I've been here before and I deserve a little more
I belong in the service of the Queen
I belong anywhere but in between
She's been dying
I been drinking and I am the Rain King.
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Comments/Interpretations
"Deliver me in a black winged bird" shouldn't be in brackets...
Yes they should, they are also sung by backup singers.
no it's not, it's sung by adam
what a freakin wierd song..
yeah, it's strange, but it makes a little more sense if you've ever read Henderson the Rain King by Saul Bellow. that book inspired this song
It's a great song.
I didn't realise it was a book. I always thought it was about Raven.
I think the black winged bird thing is also a reference to Greek mythology. To the Greeks, Zeus's, Great-Grandfather (the god of all gods) was a black winged bird named Nyx.
This is on e of the crows best works The lyrics really do nothing for the music which carries this song
ITS A LOVE SONG
The song is about transcending in to a new level of consciousness identity. The first line shows that when he (the character) thinks about dying he wants to be delivered to a "holly" ground not by a white bird or a vessel easily recognized as pure, but he DOES have the desire to go to a more better, "perfect" place only problem is his life hasn't been picture perfect hence the black winged bird that will have to deliver him to heaven...
but thats just one person's opinion. But this is a GREAT song and the CROWs are one of the best bands EVER!!!
The "brackets" referenced above are Adam's - that's the way the lyrics are written in the album liner.
I don't know about all the "new level of consciousness", etc.! As mentioned, the song was inspired by the Saul Bellow book, "Henderson the Rain King". It definitely makes more sense if you've read the book.
Bottom line, probably my favourite Crows song...
It is truly a great song. I love the insight of the song as well as the critics.
I am definetly going to read Herzog. It seemingly is congruent to my life. I strongly anticipate that I will author a book along such truth. This is truly a great song for the Crowes.
What an awsome song thanx for posting the lyrics and the info about the henderson rain king book!
this song means a lot to me. it is amazingly written, like every other Counting Crows song.
No matter what the song means or represents, it is by far my FAVORITE Counting Crows song to date! I can't help but dance and sing along everytime I hear it!!!
i'm in the middle of reading "henderson the rain king" it's a fantastic book. glad this song led me to it. cracking song too. one of the best of counting crows...but there are many so i cant choose =]
its a love song, any one who has ever been through a rough time without any explanation will understand the sentiments of this song.
the song is based off the book Henderson the Rain King. It's def not a love song, but a philosophical discourse, like the book. SO well written!
Tis is by far the best song Adam ever did. It is about dying and starting over with the oes we love and the ones we loved and screwed up with. it is about second chances in the wake of death and the beginning of life. Anyone who wants to discuss furher may email me at don.leboeuf@yahoo.com only true counting crows fans who will understand.....D
This is by far the best song Adam ever did. It is about dying and starting over with the oes we love and the ones we loved and screwed up with. it is about second chances in the wake of death and the beginning of life. Anyone who wants to discuss furher may email me at don.leboeuf@yahoo.com only true counting crows fans who will understand.....D
awww cmon...its a song about living & loving..."love you & give you some awseome shit" but if you aint gonna return it then...hmmmmmmm ..."dont try to feed me...i been here before &deserve a little more..i belong in the service of the queen ...." its more about living & loving & "been there" aint going there again unless you freakin putting the "little more" into it xxxx
I agree with Don y Shauna. But it's also about the decisions we have to make in order to archive what we want. It's like he is in the middle of two warring factions... "I belong in the service of the queen, i belong anywhere but in between", like he still feels like he owe something to someone and can't move on with he's life...
Story of loss to me. I think the progression of these lines tells the heart of the story. like any great song it means many things to many people and we are all correct which is what makes them such a great band.
“She's been crying I've been thinking, And I am the Rain King
She's been lying I've been sinking, And I am the Rain King
She's been dying I've been drinking, And I am the Rain King"
If anyone heard them on Howard Stern on 2008 they do a great partial version of Rain King with Thunder Road and Adam explained his normal conscious state and how it is different from most and it explained the amazing images in their songs. Adam said that he feels like the world to him is just one big hallucination. He said it's like being on acid all the time. After hearing him say that I listened to their music with that in mind and they all seemed to make more sense to me.
Not sure what it's about, but it is one of the best songs I've ever heard!!! the live version kicks ass!!!!
i agree live version is absolutely breath taking. love this song,and truly i have never read the rain king but this song means a lot to me
I see a realationship that has deteriorated. And an inablilty to make his lover happy all he can acquire is tears or "rain".
The acoustic version is better.
everytime im down i listen to this song and yell to the world I AM THE RAIN KING!
The words "I belong in the service of the queen" makes me think of why I'm working, making money, consciously becoming a better man everyday ... It's all in the service of my future queen, and I haven't even met her yet :)
It's the story of my life. Stuck between a crumbling marriage that I should leave but can't, and a new girl that I want to go to but won't. So I'm just hurting them both.
I am the Rain King.
Like all art music can be interpreted differently by each and every person who listens. Stop arguing about what the song is about because whatever you think it is about that's what it is about
Yes, I agree with Emily...I am sure it can take on many profound and mundane meanings to different people. I just have to say that I just listened to this song again after years with totally new eyes and ears as, like
Frodo, I am in the middle of a crumbling marriage and a crazy new lover that I may never get to be with- making them both miserable (rain king)and trying to not just lose it and go numb (slip away) in the midst of it all and as I have been for years in my marriage (why am I so alone?) but rise to life's full potential and pursue a full life by embracing love and honesty and integrity (the service of the queen). Intense song for me... it made me write here and I never do this kind of shit..
glad i read this...found the book cheap on amazon and bought it. cant wait for it to come! i never knew thats what inspired the song! cant wait to tell my sister who may be an even bigger fan than me! (yeah right...well, she DOES have 7 crows tattooed on her side...)
No way, those guys are fags!
His song is just FANTASTIC! My favorite Crows´song!
Salve Adam!
Everyone deserve a little more :) OMG I'm so in love.... but I'm confuse don't know if I'm in love with my boyfriend or the music his dedicated to me well I love u both.
I love this song so many years
such a beautiful song, adam really displays great emotion on this, its obviously very personal no matter what its about, my favorite cc song
What is interesting about this song and other philosophical songs is they take on the meaning you need them to at the point in your life you hear them.
When I was a depressed teenager and trying to figure out what I wanted from life this song was clearly about those things.
My wife recently had an affair and I heard it on the radio today and it was so clearly about that.
This is the kind of song writing that made Dylan and enduring genus. And this album was one of the best ever recorded.
Beautiful Lyrics <3
Its about his sister Maria, that died of cancer...its about whatever you can relate to in your own life..or death....