Fool In The Rain

Album: In Through The Out Door (1979)
Charted: 21
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a guy who is supposed to meet a woman on a certain corner. When the woman doesn't show up, he thinks he's been stood up. It turns out he was just standing on the WRONG corner, and is now a "fool in the rain." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Joe - Long Island, NY
  • Jimmy Page got the idea for the Samba beat from watching the World Cup soccer tournament in 1978. Argentina was the host country, and he heard a lot of Samba rhythms while watching.
  • This was the last Led Zeppelin song to chart in the US. The group didn't release many singles, but they pegged this one for popular appeal. Zeppelin retired with six Top 40 hits in America.
  • This song was never performed live because the group didn't think the sound came off well. The piano was quite necessary in the song, but with John Paul Jones on piano there could be no bass, and the bass is very important in this one. There is also a twelve-string line at one point in the song and the guitar solo that has to be pulled off. The middle section was another issue.
  • Jimmy Page used regular distortion on this song, as well as an obscure effect called a called a blue box, which is a fuzz/octave pedal. This fuzzes (or distorts) the guitar, then drops it down two whole octaves. James Taylor's bassist has used this effect. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    John - Boca Raton, FL, for above 2
  • Mexican rockers Mana recorded this for the Spanish language market edition of the tribute album Encomium. . >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sergio - San Diego, CA

Comments: 88

  • Dibene from LaIn love with the style of this song, quite easily my fave bc of how he starts the song by belting out the lyrics as he describes her eyes and smile, along with the unique musical journey! All the sounds and then the drum solo. Impossible to resist.
  • Jeff from NyThis song is CLEARLY about heroin addiction. The guys in the band knew that well. "my body is starting to quiver, and the palms of my hands getting wet" etc. Read the lyrics again. "Shakin so much really yearning, why dont you show up and make it alright". He is dope sick. He is not waiting for his girlfriend folks. Waiting for the dope man. Sorry to disappoint.
  • Celya723 from San Pedro, CaAre those vibes I seem to hear being played in this song? Adding luster to Bonzo's Purdie Shuffle? Asking for a friend, we can't seem to find the album credits to this decades long question.
  • Plage E Rest from NycLike all Zep songs "borrowed" from somewhere else... check out "silouette" from diamonds and hermans hermits ( both covers) and you'll hear Page's concept
  • Donald from Marysville OhQuestion a Zeppelin song? Their song title usually does not match the lyrics. However if you didn’t like the Led you better go to bed.
  • Kickflip from NycNever trust the musical or otherwise opinion of anyone who doesn't like Fool In the Rain
  • Bobby S from New YorkNate from New York Jimmy Page was bad into heroin by this time so most of the album was written by Robert Plant and J.PJ
  • Steve Carras from Whittier,cal.,usaIf I recall correctly, wasn't this a Van Morrison song? LOL!
  • Ken from Pensacola Beach, FlThe bridge in this one has that meaty guitar solo to it, the like of which I have not heard before or since. Probably nothing extraordinarily technical, just deeply original. Love it.
  • Thomas from Roswell, NmLove this one.
  • Pjyenn from Indonesia, Indonesiacatchy song since it was made in the early 80's i can hear almost slight 80's nuance in this song..so much different than early 70's Led Zep song! love it!
  • Jason from Aurora, CoYou can go to you tube and type in "isolated drums led zeppelin" for this song. Pretty cool!
  • Sr.jardel from Guaiba/rs, Brazil@Aline, Brasilia is right... Samba is nothing to do with Argentina,since the main Argentine musical tradition focus is "Tango".
    And @Mike, Skokie ,I think you mean "batucada" ,and not batacuda,LOL...
  • Joe from Grants Pass, OrWho blew the friggin' whistle ??
  • Nate from New York, NyThis song always makes me laugh. Personally, Led Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands. But how could you write a deep, meaningful song like Stairway to Heaven and then write an idiot who forgot what block he's on? Awesome song, but come on Jimmy! Be a little deeper. But- eh, who needs it! If this song was deeper, it would pass Chuck Norris on the awesomeness list, so it doesn't need it. I love the piano part and Plant's vocals the best.
  • Brian from Boston, MaGreat song.I noticed in the songfacts at the top of the page said that Jimmy page wrote this when he was inspired from what he heard at the world cup soccer of 78.Can you imagine what he would have wrote if it was the world cup of 2010 when all anyone caould hear was those goddammed horns?
  • John from Beltsville, MdWhen the samba part ends, Bonzo hits that killer roll, then Page comes in with that wacky solo...IMO one of the greatest moments in RnR history.
  • Rob from Wilmington, DeThis awesome drum beat is called the Purdie Shuffle, named after it's creator Bernard "Pretty" Purdie.
  • Aline from Brasilia, --Actually, samba is a Brazilian rhythm. Jimmy Page has been visiting my country since the middle 70s and he loves our people and our rhythm. He is the Founding Patron of the NGO "Action For Brazil's Children Trust" (website: www.abctrust.gov.uk).
  • Brad from Lexington, KyIt's a good song, but I wouldn't say it's one of Zep's best. Although it is easily one of the best, if not the best song from In Through the Out Door, which is why it was released as a single.

  • Robert from Alsounds like jimmys playing the worlds biggest guitar in the solo
  • Derek from Mulvane, Ksone of my favorite zep song got to ask what is the jungle noise
  • Albert from Odessa, Txone of the best zep songs ever. tremendous beat, wonderful changes on the samba/latin parts. love it , really shows there range of musical talent. very pleasing to the mind. song never bores me.
  • Daniel from Guguletho, South AfricaI really do like pie indeed, much more than led zeppelin hahahhaahah, i pump a flamingo 9in yo ass..heheflugigugi shwam
  • Mike from Skokie, IlBy the way, the samba - batacuda South American break was a tribute to England's ongoing success in the 1978 World Cup, I think it took place in South America.
  • Bill from Topeka, KsNice Drums Very Soild
  • Melanie from Seattle, WaMark, thats really funny about the whistle! lol. This song makes me happy, it has the most amazing beat, the drumming in this song kicks ass. I love how Zeppelin could do so many different styles of music and make all of it AWESOME. :)
  • David from Wilson, NyThe piano solo on this track is actually done by Benny from Abba, when it was recorded in Polar Studios, Abba's recording studio in Sweden. You can hear Plant clearly say "Hey Benny" as the piano solo starts.
  • Bill from Topeka, KsThis song kicks ass
  • Jimmy from Birmingham, Mii had no idea this was a zeppelin song...i thought the radio announcer had misspoke. i checked it out...and i was amazed...this song ROCKS!
  • Ron from Raleigh, NcI was a teenager and just starting to want to date girls when this song came out. This song resonant with me because I've been the fool on the corner, in the rain waiting for hours for my date to show up. And rather than believing I was stood up, I chose to believe, instead, I was on the wrong block. It made it some much more easier to the girl for another date.
  • Johnny from Los Angeles, CaManá's version is very well made, and sounds a lot like the original... Just in case some of you haven't heard it yet.
  • Sunshine from Houston, TxO.A.R. and Robert Randolph covered this song. It's pretty good.
  • Sunshine from Houston, TxI loooooooove this song. It's so beautiful. The drumming, the guitar solo, and the island feel of it just flows.... Oh, and Jamaicans actually request this song more than 'Jamaica'.
  • Wal from Yonkers, Ny One of it not my favorite Zep tune of them all. Kind of strange that Bonham seems to have moatly sleep walked (drmmed) through the rest of this album, but this song might have been Bonham at his best. He's amazing on this.

  • Mark from Worcester, MiHeard John Paul Jones talk about making this song and one quote I remember: "somebody had given me this cool Jamaican whistle which I just had to use" JPJ never gets credit for anything. Drumming is awesome but I'm with (Kent Lyle, Palo Alto, CA) in that Bonham does not sound inspired really on any other song on this album. Also (Annie, Dallas, TX) Plant forgot the words, as usual, when he sang with Veder so it may have been AWESOME, but can't say it was PERFECT ;)
  • Paul from Muskegon, MsJimmy Page used his 1960 Fender Stratocaster on this song. The only other song he used that guitar for in the studio was "In the Evening".
  • Melissa from Fairborn, OhThis is one of my favorite Led Zeppelin song from In Through The Outdoor album because it rocks.
  • Ash from Charleston, WvJoel in Kenilworth, NJ: I believe the song you're thinking of is "Misunderstanding," which is actually by Genesis.
  • Nick from Dewitt, MiThis song begins with the description of how much he feels for this woman, how she has taken over his being, and then progresses into how hurt and vulnerable he is because of her. This is how the 'rain in the corner' metaphor comes about. He is waiting for the 'storm to blow over' because it has clouded his love and his life, so he stands 'in the rain on the corner' grappling with these issues. He is, however, aware of the fact that his waiting for this woman to come around and feelings may just be in vain - but he just doesn't care. This is indicated by references throughout the entire song, and is solidified by the syllogism at the end: "And I'll run in the rain till I'm breathless, and when I'm breathless I'll run till I drop...Thoughts of a FOOL's kinda CARELESS, I'm just a FOOL waiting on the wrong block..." Hense the name, Fool In The Rain. The waiting on the block is a metaphor. All in all, an incredibly deep, sort of dark love song lyrically - complimented by a upbeat melody that totally consumes the atmosphere. A Masterpiece.
  • Joel from Kenilworth, NjI got to see Led Zeppelin 11 times. Having a brother 4 years older then me, helped me to see many different bands in the early 1970's. It is a great list. However this song which I like always reminded me of the Phil Collins song. It is a song about the exact same thing. Like they decided to write a song about the same topic and see which one sounds better. And of course I can't remember the name of the Phil Collins song. Please put song up if anyone remembers what I mean.
  • Luke from Kokomo, InEven though it is from my least favorite album, it is definately one of Led Zeppelin's best songs and my favorite John Bonham beat. It is also very different from any of Led Zeppelin's other songs.
  • Ashley from Corner Brook , Canadamy Fav. led Zeppelin song by far.When first hearing the song for the first time I was shocked to learn that it was in fact a Led Zep song. The beat is up lifting and the guitar/drum is also amazing. Saddens me greatly to know that this song was never performed :(
  • Ben from Cincinnati, Ohprobaly my favorite zeppelin song. i dont think he is literally standing the wrong spot i think is a metaphor
  • John from Chicago, United Statesokay this song has a kick a** guitar/drum solo
    props to page and bonham,this is what music is.
  • Nathan from From The Country Of, CanadaIm sitting in class bored as hell and i turn to my buddy and tell him just that he takes off his earphones hands them to me and says here listen to this then, i see the disc and its says LZ's greatest hits. i didnt know much of Zeplin at the time so i give'r a go, didnt have much to lose, so im listening to great songs like kashmir stairway to heaven and the immigrant song but than i come across fool in the rain and listen to it about 5 times and it got me through that class, for the rest of the semester.
  • James from Toronto, Canadaaha. Best song on in through the out door
  • Trisha from Okc, OkOne of their best... yet again every song by Led Zeppelin is a masterpiece. no one can top them...EVER!
  • Ben from Cincinnati, Ohone of my favorite zeppelin songs.
  • Annie from Dallas, TxThis song was played by Pearl Jam and sung by Eddie Vedder and Robert Plant on 10/5/05 at the House of Blues in Chicago for a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser. PERFECTLY DONE!!
  • John from Monvtille, NjI love the guitar that comes in while Robert is repeating "Light of the love that I found". Everyone is just perfect on this track. Bonham's drumming is absolutely incredible.
  • Matt from Brandon, CanadaThis is a really weird song but i still love it... the part with the drums sounds like a hawaiian type of music which is weird but still a very good song!
  • Jeanette from Irvine, Cai love this song. a great zep song.
  • Moocakes from San Gabriel, Cait depresses me for some reason. still good though 'course. first led zeppelin song i actually like/d.
  • Joe from Bethlahem, PaIt sounds like it could be one of Plant's early solo songs. It's an awesome song.
  • Ryan from Brentwood, CaThis song always seemed to sound so much different from all Zeps other songs. Its like another band wrote it
  • David Corino from Hawley, PaI just love the the guitar and bass, how its just in synk with eachother. I took a quiz (which Zep song are you) and i got Fool in the Rain, go figure! Probley the most underrated zep song of all time. Take my awsome polls: http://www.misterpoll.com/728242186.html
    http://www.misterpoll.com/4161124639.html
  • John from Brooklyn, NyPerhaps, the line "I'm just a fool waiting on the wrong block" doesn't literally mean he's on the wrong block, rather it means he is figuratively on the wrong block and that he should move on with the relationship (ie. end it) and wait on another block for a new person. Further, the "storm that I thought would blow over" could mean a fight in a relationship that he thought wouldn't be a big deal. The storm (fight) "clouds the light of the love that I found," meaning the fight has over powered the love that was found.
  • Mike from Harrison, Nyzeppelin is my favorite band of all time and this is my favorite song...........i dont know what it is, but i do know that this is some of my favorite drumming in any song ever.
  • Matthew from Downers Grove, IlI hope you mean weird in a good way, this song is amazing
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScYeah. I don't think the guitar solo is the best either, but it's fefinitely a great one! Plant has some great vocals on this song, and the drumming is great too! It's definitely a great song done by a great band!
  • Juan from Miami, FlFool in the rain is like a fool song, or maybe I am missing something, I usually don't go to carnivals and haven't gone to brazil; samba pa ti and for me. It's a weird song.
  • Kaleo from Los Angeles, CaBad-ass solo by Page. He made it sound Flamenco-like; real stacatto and abrupt, accentuated by the octave pedal, just expoding all over the place. Just goes to show you that Page can pretty much play nutz impressions of any musical style of his choosing. Same goes for Bonham's drums.
  • Jimmy from Rugby, EnglandI think the vocals on this track are among the best that Plant ever did with Zep. Listen to his work on The Ocean, then to this. Contrasteriffic.
  • Ashley from Bloomington, IlI love this song. I agree with Brian, it is probably the most under-rated song of all time. After i really looked at the lyrics I realized that this song is about a guy who is in love and he is supposed to meet his girl on a street corner. he waits forever and ever and then it begins to rain and thats when he thinks she really isnt going to show up. Then he looks up at the street sign and realizes that he was on the wrong street corner the whole time and she is down somewhere upset that he stood her up.
  • Allan from Calgary, CanadaJust a really fun song. I think it's about a guy waiting for the love of his life to show up. He says how much he loves her and how great she is, but wonders why on earth she is making him wait. Then, when he finally decides to leave and give up, he realizes he's at the wrong place. A fun song overall.
  • Maddie from Knoxville, Tn Its funny to listen to one of their really gritty,hard rock songs like 'Whole Lotta Love' or 'Heartbreaker' and then listen to this one.....its such a contrast.
  • Maddie from Knoxville, TnSome of my favorite lyrics, but its a bit poppy sounding. If they did a different sound it'd be alot better but the lyrics are incredible.
  • Richard from Louisville, KyNo other drummer could do what Bonzo did on this song. And he did it with the most basic of all drum kits. Simply amazing.
  • Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaPublic opinion on Page's guitar solo is very mixed. Some say it's brilliant, others say it's among the worst guitar solos they have ever heard.
  • Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaJohn Bonham does a polyrhythmic beat during the chorus that is surprisingly complicated. It's one of his most sophisticated accomplishments, all the more incredible when you consider that the rest of his drumming on this album is often sub-par.
  • Charlie from Thomaston, Ctgreat song, a real classic, unfortunatly just about all my comments get deleted so don't expect this one to stay (though i don't know why they'd clip this one! though they always do on this song!)
  • Mike from Richmond, VaThis is a great song. It shows just how diverse they can be. Whether you like this genre or not, you have to admit that this band could do any type of music with finesse.
  • Bob from Mt. Laurel, NjI love Zeppelin, but this song's a little too poppy for me.
  • Kabrams from Dallas, Txthe whole world cup thing probably also gave jimmy page the idea for the whistles
  • Tom from K-town, Njthis is a good guitar solo, but not as good as other Page solos. And its def. not the greatest solo ever. cough cough freebird cough cough
  • Ben from New York, NyA terribly intricate song with so many different pieces, but as a whole it just "flows" like really no other Led Zap song I've heard. Zeppelin were incredible innovators, they brought a Latin-American flavor to rock and roll like no onw had done before.

    Oh yeah, Bonzo's drumming is at it's peak in this song. No one could have ever replaced him.
  • John from West Covina, Cao yea and it's absolutley on my top ten too.
  • John from West Covina, CaI think it's definitly a great solo but not the greatest i don't know what the greatest guitar solo ever is. Do you.
  • Harry from Seaville, NjIf you think this is best guitar solo ever, you don't have any idea what music is
  • Dennis from Toledo, Ohmxtabs.net for some chords, they're played on the high strings.

    this and nobody's fault but mine were also, interestingly, two firsts for me... but in my case they were the first two i ever heard played at my school.
  • Brian from Mayfield Heights, Ohthis and "nobody's fault but mine" were the first two zep songs i ever heard...so they have a special place in my heart
  • Adrian from Wilmington, DeProbably the best song on "In Through the Out Door" and I don't even know why. The melody and style really isn't Zeppelin (I'm actually saying they have a specific style??!!), but it works so well. Robert's vocals flow very nicely and the Spanish-oriented mid-section is like getting lost in a wondrous daydream before Bonzo brings us back with a roll and we're hit with one of the best guitar solos ever!
  • Adam from St. Paris, Ohcan anyone tell me the chords to this song?
  • Dc from Hilo, HiThe late Toto drummer Jeff Pocaro had said John Bonham's drumming in this song inspired the same style he used in Toto's hit "Roseanna".
  • Kevin from Gulf, Msehh- not enough blues for this ol stump
  • Brian from Paoli, InEasily one of Zeppelins best. An extremely complicated song, the rythym and beat is like no other, and it changes so much. A wonderful octave guitar solo. Flaw-less vocals by Plant, and amazing drumming especially when it speeds up to like a Samba beat by Bonzo.

    Probably the most under-rated song of all time.
  • Patrick from Durham, NcIn my top 10 list of Zep songs, well worth a listen
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired Men

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Penny Ford of Snap!

Penny Ford of Snap!Songwriter Interviews

The original voice of Snap! this story is filled with angry drag queens, video impersonators and Chaka Khan.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.