Album: So (1986)

Charted: 46

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• Red rain is coming down
  Red rain
  Red rain is pouring down
  Pouring down all over me
  
  I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream
  I cannot make a single sound as you scream
  It can't be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch
  We touch, this place is so quiet, sensing that storm
  
  Red rain is coming down
  Red rain
  Red rain is pouring down
  Pouring down all over me
  
  Well I've seen them buried in a sheltered place in this town
  They tell you that this rain can sting, and look down
  There is no blood around, see no sign of pain
  Hay ay ay no pain
  Seeing no red at all, see no rain
  
  Red rain is coming down
  Red rain
  Red rain is pouring down
  Pouring down all over me
  
  Red rain
  Ohhhh
  Putting the pressure on much harder now
  To return again and again
  Just let the red rain splash you
  Let the rain fall on your skin
  I come to you defenses down
  With the trust of a child
  
  Red rain is coming down
  Red rain
  Red rain is pouring down
  Pouring down all over me
  
  And I can't watch any more
  No more denial
  It's so hard to lay down in all of this
  
  Red rain coming down
  Red rain
  Red rain is pouring down
  I'm bathing in
  Red rain coming down
  Red rain is falling down
  Red rain is coming down all over me
  I'm begging you
  
  Red rain coming down
  Red rain coming down
  Red rain coming down
  Red rain coming down
  
  Over me in the red red sea
  Over me
  Over me
  Red rain Writer/s: PETER GABRIEL
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 26

• AnonymousAlso used in the show "Silo" from Apple TV
• Stellar from CaliQuite desperation is the human way.
• Chris from New YorkI heard red rain was a reference to the Chernobyl
  Explosion sending radiation to the upper sky
  And it spreads across the globe as radiated rain
  It happened the same year this song came out
• Julieann from QuebecRedReign it must have been horrific
  GodSpeed GodBless
• Jasper from North AmericaContinuing the tangent conversation about Stream Dreams' work: since no one provided the recordings themselves, I tracked the vinyl down myself and ripped it. Shouldn't be hard to find by looking it up online now, unless it gets taken down. I would say that the similarity between their Red Red Rain and Peter Gabriel's is overstated, and doesn't extend beyond the name and time of release (1985). Others may compare the music themselves, but the lyrics are not the same: it's not like Peter Gabriel recorded Red Rain as a cover of Stream Dreams' track.
  
  I enjoy both works very much, and I'm personally very glad that this led me to Stream Dreams' work, but William's claims are not entirely true.
• Deborah from TnPeter Gabriel writes literally, emotionally, and spiritually. I take it to mean regret and sadness, then redemption. "Just let the red rain splash you, let the rain fall on your skin, I come to you defenses down with the trust of a child." In other words, just let go of the pain and let the red rain (Christ's blood) wash you clean, inside and out. Don't let the disappointment of life fester in your soul. Dive right into the red rain and see the truth.
• Tracy Mccreary from Twin Falls, IdahoMy thought is, that its just a song that someone conjured up, it just so happens that, its sounds wonderful.... I don't think it means a f###in thing.
• David from CaliforniaLona any chance you could record it and upload it somewhere?
• Lona from Totnes, United KingdomWaiting for that Reverbnation account, William.
• Lona from Totnes, United KingdomI also believe this story. I own Stream Dreams's album Red Red Rain. It was given to me by Aaron Killingdale, in fact, in 1987. He was my music teacher by then. Red Red Rain deserves to be known!
• Sean from Philadelphia, MdTo William. I believe your story. I even remember hearing of it a long time ago. It's an amazing song and dream and story.
• William from Baton Rouge, LaI realize that no one will believe me when I attempt to document this fact.
  I sent Peter Gabriel my album entitled Red Red Rain in the spring of 1983.
  The group was called Stream Dreams and the title cut had the exact same
  melody and chord progression AND words as his Red Rain. The ironic thing
  is that Gabriel was my musical hero so I never pursued any avenues of trying
  to get any monetary compensation, reasoning he must have listened to the song
  and got it in his head and dreamed the dream he probably actually had, the tune
  and the lyrical idea somehow subconsciously guiding his dream. My red rain came
  from crying so hard you'd cry blood, so that part is different but again the chord
  progression (same key even) the melody at the chorus AND the lyrics are identical.
  Just thought I'd clear that up for everyone. :)
  Upon the 20 year anniversary of the album release I will be making a Reverbnation
  account that is dedicated to the Stream Dreams album.
  It was recorded in Athens, Georgia in the spring of 1983.
• Mage from Pittsburgh , PaAfter speaking with friends from Italy it is not an uncommon experience to have actual 'Red Rain'. The winds from Africa blow the colored sand particles north, and upon rain it brings those particles down with the rain and it is colored red! Perhaps that may be the most simplistic explanation.
• Vince from La, CaAlex. The lyrics you speak of are "putting the pressure on much harder now"
  
  The song is about Peter swimming in an ocean of blue and Red bottles. As he would fight to stay afloat, the blue bottles would try and hold him down. The Red were a symbol of love. As the blue held him down the red would overcome and push him towards the surface. Those are his words in a brief explanation. The dream as explained by Peter is very vivid. It's a song about the hope and need for love to get you through any times of trial and despair.
• Alex from Atlanta, GaI believe that Peter Gabriel was relating Red Rain to war or the Holocaust. The line "they're burning the flesh along much harder now, to return again and again." may refer to the Germans burning the Jews in the ovens and to keep doing it again and again.
• Oldpink from New Castle, InFantastic imagery and the percussion definitely stands out.
  My favorite Gabriel song.
• Jp from Bangor, MeThe song followed on the height of nuclear paranoia that infected the early 80s. It's likely about the fact that a nuclear weapon vaporizes people. Interestingly enough the politics of the 80s, though despised at the times, actually lead to the end of the Cold War and a tremendous racheting down of the threat of a nuclear war. Stewart Copeland did, indeed, play the hi hat cymbals on the song. His style is unique.
• Hunta from St. Louis, Moi actually read on wikipedia that peter wanted to make a movie based on this song about an african village that is plagued by a mysterious "red rain" aka acid rain ("that burns the ground" as according to the song) from nearby industrial factories. I really don't think it's about baptism, but rather something like i just mentioned.
• Nick from Alcester, EnglandUh... Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan :)
  
  But it does make me think of the redemptive qualities of his sacrifice.
• Larry from Dallas, TxThe song reminds me of the sight of someone who steps on a land mine.
• Nate from Worcester, MaUm...could it possibly be from the point of view of an egyptian soldier who had the misfortune of following the pharoah after Moses and the Jews before the Exodus? As in, "The Red Sea starts to rain down upon the soldiers"?
• Chris from St. Louis, MoThe liner notes for the recently re-released and completely remastered version of "So" on CD indicates the song Red Rain references Acid Rain and Peter Gabriel's environmentalist interests. I had not heard that before. Fans of Gabriel should consider the SO remastered CD and his new Greatest Hits, HIT or new DVD Still Growing Up 2005. Eager to see if Peter and Phil Collins reunite Genesis in 2006 as is widely rumored.
• Brian from Meriden, CtI think Red Rain is an excellent example of the extremely creative Gabriel's mastery of imagery. Whatever the ultimate meaning, through his image-rich lyricism and sweet, equally rich, emotive vocal style and musical accompaniment the listener is transformed emotionally. A work of art.
• Dan from Ashburn, VaRed rain...red water...any red fluid must be a reference to blood; add that to the lyrics "as you scream," "seen them buried, "I can't watch any more." But then "it's so hard to lay down in all of this" and "no blood...no sign of pain." Fear of death, and then the peaceful acceptance of one's death, accepting Death as an innocent, trusting child. In the beginning he's standing at the water's edge, but by the end he is immersed in the red sea. Are you ready to accept death as natural as a red rain pouring all over you?
• Sonja from Chicago, IlI think this song also speaks to the Babtism of Jesus in the Red Sea and the purfying effects of rain and water.
• Jesse from Mesa, AzStewart Copeland of The Police is credited as playing the hi-hat cymbals on this song.

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