Rain has become a constant subject in great songs of all genres -- Prince's "Purple Rain," Gene Kelly's "Singin' In the Rain," "Here Comes The Rain Again" with Eurythmics," Guns N' Roses' "November Rain," "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain," Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song" and "Fool In The Rain", Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall," Rihanna's "Umbrella," Eric Clapton's "Let It Rain," The Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain," and "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls. You get the point. Some people are only happy when it rains and some use it as a time to unwind with a good cry. Regardless, there are endless options to choose from including country music.
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From Willie to Ronnie Milsap, raindrops have made their way into country music in many ways. Some of our favorite country songs use the rhythm of the rain to convey a break-up or be a symbol for a romantic partner.
Come rain or come shine, here are our picks for the top 20 best songs about rain to add to your country playlist.
1. "Bring on the Rain," Jo Dee Messina
Written by Billy Montana and Helen Darling, "Bring on the Rain" was the fourth single from Jo Dee Messina's album Burn. The track celebrates determination and perseverance with the lyric "tomorrow's another day and I'm thirsty anyway, so bring on the rain." Featuring background vocals from Tim McGraw, the song went to No. 1 in 2002.
2. "Kentucky Rain," Elvis Presley
Two country stars played an integral role in this hit from the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Release in 1970, Presley's "Kentucky Rain" was written by country star Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard and featured Ronnie Milsap on piano.
3. "Songs About Rain," Gary Allan
Gary Allan took rain songs a step further with this 2003 single. The track name drops classic songs, from "Rainy Night in Georgia" to "Kentucky Rain," and follows a man tormented by the memory of lost love and the radio's relentless parade of sad songs about rain.
4. "I Love a Rainy Night," Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Rabbitt's classic ode to thunderstorms topped the charts in 1981 and remains one of his most beloved hits.
5. "Raining on Sunday," Keith Urban
Written by Radney Foster and Darrel Brown, "Raining on Sunday" finds Keith Urban using a rainy Sunday as an opportunity to spend time with his other half. Urban recorded the song for his 2002 album Golden Road.
6. "Rain is a Good Thing," Luke Bryan
Written by Luke Bryan and Dallas Davidson, "Rain is a Good Thing" celebrates all the good that comes from rainy days. The song was Bryan's first No. 1 hit.
7. "Like the Rain," Clint Black
"Like the Rain," written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas, uses rain--metaphorically and literally--to symbolize how love can make even rainy days beautiful.
8. "She's My Kind of Rain," Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw uses rain as a symbol in this celebration of finding "the one." "She's My Kind of Rain," written by Tommy Lee James and Robin Lerner, went to No. 2 on the country charts in 2003 and received a Grammy nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
9. "Smoky Mountain Rain," Ronnie Milsap
Ronnie Milsap's classic "Smoky Mountain Rain" is not only a crossover classic, but it's also the state song of Tennessee. The song, written by Dennis Morgan and Kyle Fleming, was a No. 1 hit in 1981.
10. "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," Keith Whitley
Keith Whitley's "I'm No Stranger to the Rain," written by Sonny Curtis and Ron Hellard, is a song about perseverance and weathering the storms of life.
11. "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)," Gary Allan
One of the only sure things in life is that you will eventually experience heartbreak and disappointment. But as Gary Allan sings in "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)," the hard times will eventually pass. The song, written by Allan, Hillary Lindsey, and Matt Warren, is an anthem for anyone who needs a reminder to just keep going.
12. "The Thunder Rolls," Garth Brooks
One of the biggest hits of the '90s, Garth Brooks' "The Thunder Rolls" captured the pain of infidelity. The song, which was originally pitched to Tanya Tucker, hit No. 1 on the country charts in 1991.
13. "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," Willie Nelson
Though it's forever synonymous with Willie Nelson, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" was written by Fred Rose and recorded by Roy Acuff, Hank Williams and Charley Pride before Nelson included his beloved version on his seminal 1975 album Red Headed Stranger.
14. "Georgia Rain," Trisha Yearwood
Featured on her 2005 album Jasper County, Trisha Yearwood's "Georgia Rain" follows a woman reminiscing about her first love.
15. "When It Rains It Pours," Luke Combs
Luke Combs' clever twist on the phrase "when it rains it pours" earned the singer his second No. 1 hit.
16. "Steady as the Rain," Dolly Parton
From her 1999 bluegrass album, The Grass Is Blue, "Steady as the Rain" compares the narrator's brokenhearted tears to a steady, driving rain.
17. "Let it Rain," David Nail
Written by David Nail and Jonathon Singleton, "Let it Rain" centers on a man who's been unfaithful accepting that admitting what he's done will cause a dark cloud over his relationship.
18. "When It Rains," Eli Young Band
Eli Young Band's 2007 single "When It Rains" is a song for when the weather matches your dreary mood.
19. "Rainy Night in Georgia," Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty teamed up with R&B legend Sam Moore for this cover of a song written by Tony Joe White and made famous by Brook Benton.
20. "Save it for a Rainy Day," Kenny Chesney
Written by Andrew Dorff, Brad Tursi, and Matthew Ramsey, Kenny Chesney's "Save it For a Rainy Day" advises against dwelling on past and present heartbreaks while the sun is out.
Love these country rain songs? Check out our other lists of the best country songs from artists like Terri Clark, Charlie Daniels, Dierks Bentley, Mel Tillis and more.
This story was previously published on Aug. 12, 2020.
