Early Morning Rain

Gordon Lightfoot

About Early Morning Rain

"Early Morning Rain," sometimes styled as "Early Mornin' Rain," is a song written, composed, and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song appears on his 1966 debut album Lightfoot! and, in a re-recorded version, on the 1975 compilation Gord's Gold. Lightfoot wrote and composed the song in 1964, but its genesis took root during his 1960 sojourn in Westlake, Los Angeles. Throughout this time, Lightfoot sometimes became homesick and would go out to the Los Angeles International Airport on rainy days to watch the approaching aircraft. The imagery of the flights taking off into the overcast sky was still with him when, in 1964, he was caring for his 5-month-old baby son and he thought, "I'll put him over here in his crib, and I'll write myself a tune." "Early Morning Rain" was the result. The lyrics suggest someone down on his luck, standing at an airport fence and observing the thunderous takeoff of a Boeing 707 jetliner. The general narrative of the song can be taken as a jet-age musical allegory to a hobo of yesteryear lurking around a railroad yard attempting to surreptitiously board and ride a freight train to get home. Lightfoot reflects that being able to capture this narrative was due to his steady improvement as a songwriter. 


Year:
1993
3:06
103 
#1

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In the early mornin' rain
With a dollar in my hand
With an aching in my heart
And my pockets full of sand
I'm a long ways from home
And I missed my loved one so
In the early mornin' rain
With no place to go

Out on runway number nine
Big seven o seven set to go
Well I'm stuck here on the grass
Where the pavement never grows
Where the liquor tasted good
And all the women all were fast
There, there she goes my friend
She's rolling down at last

Hear the mighty engines roar
See the silver wing on high
She's away and westward bound
For above the clouds she'll fly
Where the mornin' rain don't fall
And the sun always shines
She'll be flying over my home
In about three hours time

This ol' airport's got me down
It's no damn good to me
And I'm stuck here on the ground
As cold and drunk as I can be
Can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I best be on my way
In the early mornin' rain
Can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I best be on my way
In the early mornin' rain

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Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. CC OOnt (born November 17, 1938) is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s. He has been referred to as Canada's greatest songwriter and internationally as a folk-rock legend. more »

21 fans

Written by: Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Song Creation
Gordon Lightfoot first recorded "Early Morning Rain" in 1964.
Song Inspiration
The song was reportedly inspired by Lightfoot's experience at the Los Angeles International Airport.
Song Genre
"Early Morning Rain" is classified as a mixture of Folk and Country music.
Covered by other Artists
The song was popularly covered by various artists such as Elvis Presley, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Ian & Sylvia.
Song Theme
The lyrics of "Early Morning Rain" evoke a feeling of isolation and yearning for home.
Record Labels
Gordon Lightfoot's song "Early Morning Rain" was released under labels like United Artists Records.
Musical Composition
The song is known for its resonant melody and evocative lyrics.
Professional Accolades
"Early Morning Rain" was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.
Album Appearance
The song appears on Lightfoot's debut album "Lightfoot!" in 1966, which established him as an emerging talent in the music scene.
Critical Reception
Critics praised the song for its heartfelt storytelling and melodic composition.
Influence on Popular Culture
Over the years, "Early Morning Rain" has been recognized as a classic in the folk and country genre.
Award Nominations
In 1971, Elvis Presley's cover of the song was nominated for a Grammy award in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance category.
Chart Performance
Peter, Paul, and Mary's cover reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1965.
Live Performance
Gordon Lightfoot continues to include "Early Morning Rain" in his live performances, attesting to the song's enduring popularity.
Noteworthy Lyrics
The line "you can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train" is one of the most famous from "Early Morning Rain", often quoted in discussions about the song.

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