It's Raining Again

The turn of the seasons from summer to autumn means different things depending on where one lives. In the Midwest, the transition is from searing hot temperatures with life-sapping high humidity to a more temperate climate. In the South, it means cooler nights and fewer violent thunderstorms. On the Pacific Northwest coast, it means rain...copious amounts of rain.

In fact, rain defines everything about this area. It explains why we don't enjoy more tourism here. Most people want to visit the beach with warm temperatures and sunny skies, not gale force winds and sheets of rain.

As I was sitting in one of my upstairs rooms this morning -- watching the latest torrent flow from the heavens -- it got me to thinking about all the various songs that have the word "Rain" in their title. The one I finally fixated on, Rain on the Scarecrow by John Mellencamp, really isn't about rain at all; it uses rain as a metaphor.

To view the entire lyrics, go here. Here's the last verse and chorus:

Well there's ninety-seven crosses planted in the courthouse yard.
Ninety-seven families who lost ninety-seven farms.
I think about my grandpa and my neighbors and my name
And some nights I feel like dyin like that scarecrow in the rain!

Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow.
This land fed a nation this land made me proud.
And son I'm just sorry they're just memories for you now.
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow.
Rain on the scarecrow blood on the plow.