Rainy Night House Lyrics
It was a rainy night
We took a taxi to your mother's home
She went to Florida
And left you with your father's gun alone
Upon her small white bed
I fell into a dream
You sat up all the night and watched me
To see who in the world I might be
[Verse 2]
I am from the Sunday school
I sing soprano in the upstairs choir
(Aaahhh)
(Aaahhh)
You are a holy man
On the FM radio
I sat up all the night and watched thee
To see who in the world you might be
[Verse 3]
You called me beautiful
You called your mother, she was very tanned
So you packed your tent and went
To live out in the Arizona sand
You are a refugee
From a wealthy family
You gave up all the golden factories
To see who in the world you might be
About
After her relationship with Leonard Cohen as lovers fizzled out, Mitchell penned the incredible song ‘Rainy Night House’ as a farewell to their short but sweet relationship.
Joni confirmed that the track was about her relationship with coming to an end, stating: “Yeah. I went one time to his home, and I fell asleep in his old room, and he sat up and watched me sleep. He sat up all night, and he watched me see who in the world I could be.”
She continued: “There’s some poetic liberty with those two lines; actually it’s ‘you sat up all night and watched me to see who in the world…’ I turned it around. Leonard was in a lot of pain. Hungry ghosts is what it’s called in Buddhism. I am even lower. Five steps down.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 2.For Free
- 3.Conversation
- 5.Willy
- 7.Rainy Night House
- 8.The Priest
- 9.Blue Boy
- 10.Big Yellow Taxi
- 11.Woodstock
- 12.The Circle Game