Buckets of Rain
Encyclopedia
"Buckets of Rain" is a song written by Bob Dylan
, released in 1975 on his critically acclaimed album Blood on the Tracks
.
In the officially released studio recording, "Buckets of Rain" is played in the key of E major
. Instrumentally there are only two: acoustic guitar and bass guitar
. The guitar is not in standard tuning
; rather, it is in "Open E" tuning.
Lyrically, "Buckets of Rain" is relatively simple, with five short verses addressing a lover. Oliver Trager describes the song thus:
Lyrics are bright yet heartbroken:
Like your smile and your fingertips
Like the way that you move your hips.
I like the cool way you look at me.
Everything about you is bringing me misery.
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
, released in 1975 on his critically acclaimed album Blood on the Tracks
Blood on the Tracks
Blood on the Tracks is Bob Dylan's 15th studio album, released by Columbia Records in January 1975. The album marked Dylan's return to Columbia after a two-album stint with Asylum Records....
.
In the officially released studio recording, "Buckets of Rain" is played in the key of E major
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
. Instrumentally there are only two: acoustic guitar and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. The guitar is not in standard tuning
Guitar tuning
Guitar tunings almost always refers to the pitch of the open string, though some tunings may only realistically be attained by the use of a capo on an unmodified instrument....
; rather, it is in "Open E" tuning.
Lyrically, "Buckets of Rain" is relatively simple, with five short verses addressing a lover. Oliver Trager describes the song thus:
- Closing an otherwise desperate album with a light reappraisal of commitment, "Buckets of Rain" is a final, SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
-like tip of the hat sung with the playfulness of an old Piedmont songster. Though Dylan seems to liken the relationship he describes here with the ferocity of a deluge, he plaintively sings to his love, describing in light, sensual brushstrokes why he still finds her special. (88)
Lyrics are bright yet heartbroken:
Like your smile and your fingertips
Like the way that you move your hips.
I like the cool way you look at me.
Everything about you is bringing me misery.
Covers
"Buckets of Rain" has been covered by many musicians, including:- Bette MidlerBette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
: Songs for the New DepressionSongs for the New DepressionSongs for the New Depression is the third studio album by American female vocalist Bette Midler, released in early 1976 on the Atlantic Records label. The album which saw Midler making her debut as a composer Songs for the New Depression is the third studio album by American female vocalist Bette...
(1976), in a duet with Bob Dylan. - Happy TraumHappy TraumHappy Traum is an American folk musician who started playing music in the Fifties. Happy is most famously known as one half of Happy and Artie Traum, a duo he began with his brother...
: American Stranger (1978), Bucket of Songs (1983) - Wendy BucklewWendy BucklewWendy Bucklew is an American folk singer/songwriter who became well-known as part of the Atlanta folk scene, which she joined in 1988. She recently moved back to California...
: The Times They Are A-Changin (1992), After You (2002) - Jimmy LaFaveJimmy LaFaveJimmy LaFave is an American singer-songwriter and folk musician born in Wills Point, Texas, a small farming community located near Dallas. At a young age, LaFave's family moved to the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, Texas where he attended junior high and high school. By the early teens LaFave was...
: Road Novel (1998) - Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
: Portraits of Bob Dylan (1999) - Mary Lee's CorvetteMary Lee's CorvetteMary Lee's Corvette is a New York-based band led by Michigan-born singer-songwriter Mary Lee Kortes. They have recorded five albums, notably 2002's song-for-song cover of Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, recorded live in New York....
: Blood on the Tracks (2002) - various artists (performed by Bette MidlerBette MidlerBette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
): Doin' Dylan 2 (2002) - various artists (performed by Wendy Bucklew): May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Volume 3 (2003)
- Neko CaseNeko CaseNeko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
: Live from Austin, TX (Neko Case album)Live from Austin, TX (Neko Case album)Live from Austin, TX is a live album recorded by Neko Case on August 9, 2003 on the Austin City Limits Television series. The performance first aired on PBS on November 8, 2003, was released on DVD in 2006, and appeared on Compact disc on January 9, 2007...
(2003) - Beth Orton and M. Ward: "Confidentially Speaking" live recording @ "Largo" Los Angeles, CA; September 30, 2003.
- RedbirdRedbird-People:*Red Bird , Ho-Chunk chief*Redbird Smith , Cherokee traditionalist-Places in the United States:*Redbird, Oklahoma...
: Redbird (2005) - various artists (performed by Neko CaseNeko CaseNeko Case is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
): Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs (2005) - Chris MartinChris MartinChristopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
at the Union Chapel, London, November 27, 2006. (Martin then dedicated it to Lily AllenLily AllenLily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
.) - Eric BibbEric BibbEric Bibb is an American acoustic blues singer-songwriter. He is based in London and launched his career in Europe. Today he lives in Finland.-Biography:...
: Diamond Days (2006) - John RenbournJohn RenbournJohn Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
: So Early in the Spring (2006) - Sarah Softich: Duluth Does Dylan Revisited (2006)
- Martin SimpsonMartin SimpsonMartin Simpson is an English folk singer, guitarist and songwriter. His music reflects a wide variety of influences and styles, rooted in the British Isles, America and beyond.-Biography:...
at the Union Chapel, London, November 13, 2007. - The Wood BrothersThe Wood BrothersThe Wood Brothers are musician siblings Chris and Oliver Wood from Boulder, Colorado. Chris is a founding member of Medeski Martin & Wood, and Oliver played second guitar with Tinsley Ellis before forming King Johnson....
: Loaded (2008) - Danny SchmidtDanny SchmidtDanny Schmidt is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas where he was born and raised and now lives with fellow musician and singer-songwriter Carrie Elkin.-Biography:...
: Man of Many Moons (2011) - David GrayDavid Gray (musician)David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
: During many live concerts.