Album: The Temptations Wish It Would Rain (1967)

Charted: 45 4

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• Hmm hmm
  
  Sunshine, blue skies, please go away
  A girl has found another and gone away
  With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom
  So day after day I stay locked up in my room
  I know to you, it might sound strange
  But I wish it would rain, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
  
  'Cause so badly I wanna go outside (such a lovely day)
  But everyone knows that a man ain't supposed to cry
  Listen, I gotta cry 'cause crying eases the pain, oh yeah
  People this hurt I feel inside
  Words could never explain,
  I just wish it would rain, oh let it rain, rain, rain, rain, ooo baby
  
  Let it rain, oh yeah, let it rain
  
  Day in day out my tear-stained face
  Pressed against the window pane
  My eyes search the skies desperately for rain
  'Cause rain drops will hide my tear drops
  And no one will ever know that I'm crying
  Crying when I go outside
  To the world outside my tears
  I refuse to explain, ooo I wish it would rain, ooh, baby
  
  Let it rain, let it rain
  I need rain to disguise the tears in my eyes
  Oh, let it rain
  Oh yeah, yeah, listen
  I'm a man and I got my pride
  'Til it rains I'm gonna stay inside, let it rain Writer/s: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitefield, Rodger Sr. Penzabene
  Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

• Mike from New JerseyThis song has been haunting me since last Thursday. I took my mom to see Ain't Too Proud - The Temptations Musical on Broadway. The performers sing this song at the death of MLK in the show. I suddenly remembered how my father had this album and loved this song. He dealt with depression all his life. He was my rock and guide. He's no longer here and really had an emotional moment when they sang this song. It's just such a sad song. The Temps may have been know as a pop group known for Ain't too proud to beg and Shout, but many of their lyrics were beyond their time. If you haven't seen the show and can, don't hesitate. It's a history of the group, Motown and racism. Plus, the song arrangements are phenomenal and the performers are astounding; they really recreate that sound perfectly.
• Les from UkSong writer Rodger Penzabene had just found out his wife was cheating on him with another man. Unable to deal with the pain as he expressed in the lyrics of this song and in another of his songs, "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)".
  Penzabene committed suicide a week after the single's release in 1967
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 27th 1968, Gladys Knight and the Pips appeared in concert in Gary, Indiana...
  At the time the quartet's covered version of "I Wish It Would Rain"* was in its first of four weeks at #41 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and this was also its peak position on the chart...
  It would reach #15 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
  Opening the concert was a local family group, the Jackson 5, and Ms. Knight was so impressed with the brothers that she recommends them to Motown Records head, Berry Gordy, Jr.
  * Earlier in 1968 on February 11th the Temptations' original version of the song peaked at #4 {for 3 weeks} on the Top 100...
  {See the next post below}.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 7th 1968, "I Wish It Would Rain" by the Temptations entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on February 11th it peaked at #4 (for 3 weeks) and spent 14 weeks on the Top 100...
  And on the very day it peaked on the Top 100 it reached #1 (for 3 weeks) on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
  Personally, if I had to name my favorite Temp record, I just couldn't do it; because this one , "My Girl", and "Just My Imagination" are three 'SUPER' songs and no way could I decide...
  Sadly, composer Roger Penzabene passed away on December 31st, 1967; just a week before "I Wish It Would Rain" entered the Top 100.
• Tony from Vienna, WvMy wife and I have seen the Temptations reivew several times. Each time I enjoy the music as I close my eyes and remember the day when the songs were new.... and how I miss those days. The Temptations were a group that had as many negative issues as it had positive ones. However, in the whirl of bad and good, they came together and put out the best music that Motown or anyone else had or ever has. I think about the way it was, and wish it was again. God bless all of those who gave us the music..... Living and dead.
• Betty from Dayton, OhThis has got to be one of those songs ANYONE can relate to! Anyone that has felt heartache would understand....

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