Rainy Day, Dream Away

Album: Electric Ladyland (1968)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jimi Hendrix signed on to play the two-day Miami Pop Festival held May 18-19, 1968. The second day of the concert was rained out, leaving Hendrix to while away some time. It was this experience that first inspired the musician to write "Rainy Day, Dream Away," which was eventually included on the Electric Ladyland album.

Comments: 1

  • Curd from Heidelberg, Germany"Rainy day, dream away" is only the first half of the recording. The second one is "still raining, still dreaming". On the vinyl you'll find the first one as the start on side 3, and the second one as the start on side 4. When you have a digital recorder, you can put back together the two parts at ca. 3:10 (instrumental break), and you'll see, that someone cut the whole number into 2 parts, that once were one. I still don't know why they did that, and why they separated it in a manner, so there's no sequential listening order possible...?

    I wonder if the separation between the 2 parts belonging together "Rainy day, dream away" (nr.1 on side 3) and "still raining, still dreaming" (nr.1 on side 4) was only done by some executive behind some desk, who can't play music, but still wanted to get his share of royalties for his "arranging contribution".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.