The first collaboration between Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me,” serves as the lead single for Lady Gaga’s forthcoming album Chromatica. The song’s lyrics focus on residual distress from previous relationship relationships as well as unhealed wounds.
Introduction
The second track from Chromatica is “Rain On Me.” It also commemorates Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s first collaboration. According to our understanding of the lyrics, the song is about persevering despite adversity and finding comfort and fulfilment in the knowledge that negative things don’t last forever. It’s all about looking on and not focusing on the mistakes in order to pursue wonderful opportunities.
Rain On Me Lyrics
Let’s have a look at the lyrics of the song before we dive into the meaning of it.
[Verse 1]
I didn’t ask for a free ride
I only asked you to show me a real good time
I never asked for the rainfall
At least I showed up, you showed me nothing at all
[Pre Chorus]
It’s coming down on me
Water like misery
It’s coming down on me
I’m ready, rain on me
[Chorus]
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
Rain on me, rain, rain
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
RAIN. ON. ME.
[Post Chorus]
Rain on me
Rain on me
[Verse 2]
Living in a world where no one’s innocent
Oh, but at least we try
Gotta live my truth, not keep it bottled in
So I don’t lose my mind
Baby, yeah
[Pre Chorus]
I can feel it on my skin
It’s coming down on me
Teardrops on my face
Water like misery
Let it wash away my sins
It’s coming down on me
Let it wash away
[Chorus]
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
Rain on me, rain, rain
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
RAIN. ON. ME.
[Post Chorus]
Rain on me
Rain on me
Oh yeah, yeah
Rain on me, ooh yeah
Rain on me
Rain on me
[Bridge]
Hands up to the sky
I’ll be your galaxy, I’m about to fly
Rain on me, tsunami
Hands up to the sky
I’ll be your galaxy, I’m about to fly
RAIN. ON. ME.
[Chorus]
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
Rain on me, rain, rain
I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
RAIN. ON. ME.
[Outro]
I hear the thunder coming down, won’t you rain on me?
Rain on me
I hear the thunder coming down, won’t you rain on me?
RAIN. ON. ME.
Rain On Me Lyrics Meaning
Let’s dissect the meaning behind the lyrics of the song “Rain On Me” by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande section-wise.
[Verse 1]
I didn't ask for a free ride
I only asked you to show me a real good time
I never asked for the rainfall
At least I showed up, you showed me nothing at all
In the first verse of “Rain On Me,” Lady Gaga expresses her desires from her relationship. These lyrics imply that she does not expect to be handled as though she is a free rider with no responsibilities. She has her own goals and aspirations. The artist has never enlisted the help of strangers to help her out. Instead, she wants them to know that what she wants is social comfort and happy memories. However, her dreams of others are still shattered, and she ends up with nothing.
[Pre Chorus, Chorus, Post Chorus]
It's coming down on me Water like misery It's coming down on me I'm ready, rain on me
I'd rather be dry, but at least I'm alive Rain on me, rain, rain Rain on me, rain, rain I'd rather be dry, but at least I'm alive Rain on me, rain, rain RAIN. ON. ME.
Rain on me
Rain on me
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande describe suffering as the rhetorical water that slides further into the repeatable bits of “Rain On Me.” It’s raining outside, and the singers are getting drenched. This is an analogy to say that the singers are soaked in sorrow or tears from time to time, even though they don’t want it. Gaga hopes to freshen up so she can stop moaning and stride through her pain. Nonetheless, she insists that if she doesn’t get drunk and cry, her sorrow will consume her.
[Verse 2]
Living in a world where no one's innocent
Oh, but at least we try
Gotta live my truth, not keep it bottled in
So I don't lose my mind
Baby, yeah
Ariana Grande reveals the world we live in in the second verse of her song “Rain On Me.” She recognises that no one is really who they seem to be. Instead despite their outward beauty, people still have a mysterious side that remains a mystery. Ariana Grande would rather let her emotions out than keep them bottled up inside her. She needs to savour every second of her life outside of the fictitious reality that surrounds us.
[Bridge, Chorus, Outro]
Hands up to the sky
I'll be your galaxy, I'm about to fly
Rain on me, tsunami
Hands up to the sky
I'll be your galaxy, I'm about to fly
RAIN. ON. ME.
I'd rather be dry, but at least I'm alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
Rain on me, rain, rain
I'd rather be dry, but at least I'm alive
Rain on me, rain, rain
RAIN. ON. ME.
I hear the thunder coming down, won't you rain on me?
Rain on me
I hear the thunder coming down, won't you rain on me?
RAIN. ON. ME.
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande expect their life trauma to transform into something amazing in the bridge and outro parts of “Rain On Me.” The rain that starts as pain has been transformed into something better in their depiction. The singers are devoting their entire lives to transforming the negative aspects of their lives into positive ones. Behind the pain and battles is a pledge to energy and pleasure. The outro’s “thunder” is supposed to bring about a drastic shift in their lives.
Conclusion
Lyrically, the song is very powerful and heavy. However, the instrumentals used in the album fail to communicate to the listeners the emotional pain conveyed in the lyrics.
Some Fun Facts About The Song
1. Rain On Me is the second single from Lady Gaga’s album Chromatica. On the song, she and Ariana Grande collaborated for the first time. The single was premiered on the 22nd of May 2020.
2. Lady Gaga explained her work with Ariana Grande on this song in an interviews with Zane Lowe on the 21st of May 2020, I said to her, ‘OK, now everything that you care about while you sing, I want you to forget it and just sing. And, by the way, while you’re doing that, I’m going to dance in front of you.’ And she was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God, I can’t, I can’t. I don’t know. Oh my God. OK, OK.’ And then I did it and she sang, and she started to do things with her voice that was different. And it was the joy of two artists going, ‘I see you.’
3. On this song’s meaning, Lady Gaga stated, ‘This is about an analogy of tears being the rain. And you know what it’s also a metaphor for, is the amount of drinking that I was doing to numb myself. I’d rather be dry. I’d rather not be drinking, but I haven’t died yet. I’m still alive. Rain on me. Okay, I’m going to keep on drinking. This song has many layers.’
4. Ariana Grande shared the following about this collaboration on Apple Music, ‘It feels so fun to be part of something so upbeat and straight pop again because I do feel like it’s been a minute since I’ve done something that poppy, really. […] You make your music and you do your thing, and then when an artist like Lady Gaga, who has such magnificent point of view, and such an articulate message to send, you kind of are completely giving yourself over to her.’
5. The music video was directed by Robert Rodriguez and features both Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande dancing in the rain.
About The Artist
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande-Butera is an American singer and actress. Born in Boca Raton, Florida, Grande began her career at age 15 in the 2008 Broadway musical 13. She rose to fame for her role as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series Victorious (2010–2013) and Sam & Cat (2013–2014). She subsequently signed with Republic Records in 2011 after the label’s executives discovered YouTube videos of her covering songs. Her 1950s doo-wop-influenced pop and R&B debut album, Yours Truly (2013), topped the US Billboard 200 chart, while its lead single, “The Way”, charted in the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100. Upon release, critics compared Grande to Mariah Carey for her wide vocal range and whistle register.
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariana_Grande
