Early Morning Rain by Gordon Lightfoot

Album: Lightfoot! (1965)

License This Song

Songfacts®:

The first Gordon Lightfoot composition to become well known, this song was written by the Canadian singer-songwriter in 1964. The tune describes a down-on-luck man far from home, observing the takeoff of a Boeing 707 plane. According to some sources, it was inspired by Lightfoot seeing off a friend at the Los Angeles airport.
One of Gordon Lightfoot's most covered songs, "Early Morning Rain" was first featured on Judy Collins' Fifth Album before its release by the Canadian singer-songwriter. Not much later it was recorded both by Ian & Sylvia as the title track of their 1965 album and by Peter, Paul & Mary for their See What Tomorrow Brings set. Other notable covers include ones by Bob Dylan on his 1970 Self Portrait LP, Elvis Presley, whose version can be heard on his 1972 Elvis Now disc and Paul Weller, whose interpretation reached #40 in the UK in 2005.

Peter, Paul & Mary's version reached #91 on the US pop charts, the only time the song has reached the Hot 100.
Elvis Presley also performed the song during the USA airing of his 1973 Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite TV show. Lightfoot recalled during a 2014 Reddit AMA that it was the favorite cover of any of tunes. "I got a lot of attention on that song," he recalled. "I tried to meet him once, but Elvis had left the building. I never got to meet him, I never did, I almost got to meet him but I never got to meet the guy."
Gordon Lightfoot told Mojo magazine regarding Bob Dylan's cover: "I was totally blown away that he would record one of my songs in the first place. It helped my career - I'd not had a hit single myself at that point. His cover was a linchpin in that whole process because it made people in the industry aware that I was producing good songs."

Comments: 5

Ronald J. Rico from New YorkI don't think these lyrics are quite correct -- they certainly are not the same as the ones I used when I started singing the song in the '60s. This is how I learned it listening to it on the radio and on friends' vinyl:

In the early mornin' rain with a dollar in my hand,
With an achin' in my heart, and my pockets full of sand.
I'm a long way from my home, and I miss my loved ones so.
In the early mornin' rain with no place to go.

Out on runway number nine, big 707 set to go,
But I'm stuck here on the ground where the cold winds blow.
Well the liquor tasted good and the time it went so fast --
There she goes my friend -- there she's rollin' now at last.

Hear the mighty engines roar, see the silver bird on high.
She's away and westward bound, far above the clouds she'll fly,
Where the mornin' rain don't fall and the sun always shines --
She'll be flyin' o'er my home in about three hours time.

Well this old airport's got me down -- it ain't no earthly good to me
'Cause I'm stuck here on the ground, as cold and drunk as I can be.
You know, you can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train --
So I'd best be on my way in the early mornin' rain.

As you'd expect, I'm older than that 707 was when it flew away from Mr. Lightfoot, so I have probably erred in my recitation of the lyric. I think, however, that this version is closer -- a lot closer -- to the original than is the one above.

As we'd say back then, "Happy trails!" Of course, when we said "happy trails," it didn't have the same meaning as when Roy and Dale sang it (fewer hoot owls and more purple owlsley, if you catch my drift, if you dig my vibes, if you ogle my oscillations).
Lennie Leñg from NzHitched around the US back in the late 70s
Can relate to these songs round much
Allan from St. Agatha Ontario Gordon Lightfoot has incredible longevity and is a true Canadian icon.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaI'm surprised too, of Elvis recording the song, because Col Tom made a policy of not letting him record anything that was not signed over to Elvis and Col Tom so they would get the royalty rights. My fav version of this song is by The Kingston Trio, with the line up of Roger, George and Bob
Luke from WinnipegMany, many great songs from this man. The Canadian Bob Dylan.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Handle With CareThe Traveling Wilburys

"Handle With Care" started as a George Harrison song with guest appearances by Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, but it went so well the five of them decided to form a group - The Traveling Wilburys - and record an entire album.

Psycho KillerTalking Heads

The French part in Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer" explains that the killer is going after a girl, like Norman Bates in the movie Psycho.

Ur So GayKaty Perry

Katy Perry says her 2008 song "Ur So Gay" is about "guys who wear the guyliner, steal your jeans, and that whole almost hipster emo scene."

LightsEllie Goulding

Ellie Goulding's hit song "Lights" is about her fear of the dark, which forces the singer to sleep with the lights on.

Born on the BayouCreedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty was not born on the bayou - he's from Berkeley, California. He got the idea for the song when CCR was on tour in Louisiana.

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)Katy Perry

When "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" climbed to #1 on the Hot 100, Katy Perry became the first woman to send five songs from one album to the top of the charts. The four previous chart-toppers from her Teenage Dream set were "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Firework" and "E.T."