It Will Follow the Rain

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of cyclical change and inevitable consequence, framed by striking natural imagery. The opening verse sets a scene of vastness and distance, with the "far side of a mountain swallow[ing] the sky" while the observer is "speedin' still far behind." This immediately establishes a sense of being outpaced by events or a grander design, even in a place where "lovers climb." The central tension seems to revolve around the aftermath of significant events, whether natural or personal. The image of a "locust clean[ing] its wings right after a plague" is particularly potent, suggesting a moment of eerie calm and renewal following devastation. This quiet follows a "dark cloud" that "dim[s] the sunlight," directly linking the natural world's cycles of destruction and recovery to the recurring phrase, "it will follow the rain." The craft here hinges on a series of evocative questions that build a sense of wonder and unease. The narrator repeatedly asks "Have you ever seen..." before presenting a scene that implies a hidden truth or a difficult lesson. The repetition of "it will follow the rain" acts as a constant, almost ominous refrain, suggesting that certain outcomes are as predictable as weather patterns. The final verse introduces a darker turn with children capturing "a lightnin' strike / In a jar just to watch it die," a chilling metaphor for the destructive impulse that mirrors the earlier natural disasters. This writing is effective because it uses grand, almost mythic natural events to mirror intimate human experiences of loss and change. The steady, almost resigned tone, punctuated by the inevitable "follow the rain," creates a feeling of acceptance for life's harsh realities. The lyrics suggest that even after the storm, or the plague, or the separation, a new, perhaps equally challenging, phase is always on the horizon.