Be The Rain

Album: Greendale (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the closing track from Greendale, a rock opera set in the fictional California seaside town of Greendale. It offers 10 songs with interlocking storylines about how the extended Green family is torn apart by the killing of their wealthy patriarch.
  • "Be The Rain" follows "Sun Green" where the titular character becomes an environmental activist in Alaska. It finds Neil Young visiting one of his most prominent themes as he criticizes the damage governments and large corporations are doing to "Mother Earth."
  • Young, drummer Ralph Molina, and bassist Billy Talbot recorded the song at Young's Broken Arrow Ranch in Redwood City, California. Molina recalled to Uncut magazine: "'Be The Rain' is one of the rockers on the album. Neil started playing, Billy and I jumped in, and then while we were recording my snare broke. It was about halfway through, but I didn't want to stop, so I kept playing. In the studio they had to add a little snare to it."
  • Young uses two mics taped together when playing this song on stage, one for his regular singing and one for the shouted parts – "Be the rain!"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.