☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man named Big John who feels dissatisfied on a dark and stormy evening.
- Big John can't make progress due to the constant rain and is frustrated.
- The lyrics also mention that Big John needs money and that it starts snowing in the winter.
- It is clear that Big John doesn't like the rain and would rather be at the movies.
- Overall, the song's lyrics speak about Big John's sad mood and the difficulties that the constant rain brings.
Interpretation
"Keeps on Rainin'" by
Billie Holiday is about a man named Big John who is sad on a dark and stormy evening and doesn't know what to do. He feels dissatisfied and doesn't know how to get out of that mood. He is asked if he is satisfied and responds with a sad look, "Keeps on raining, look how it's raining, Daddy he can't make no time." The lyrics also describe how the wind blows strongly and worsens Big John's situation, "Wind keeps blowing, howl wind's blowing." It is implied that he can't make progress due to the bad weather. It is also mentioned that it starts to snow in the winter and Big John needs money, "In the winter time, when it starts to snow, I know, Billy, you've got to have some dough." The lyrics also include a line that says some people find the rain beautiful, but Big John would rather see it in a fine movie place, "Ain't the rain just beautiful, some people say, but I'd rather see it in a fine movie place." Overall, the song lyrics are about the sad mood and difficulties that Big John faces due to the constant rain. It is about his dissatisfaction and the fact that he can't make progress due to the bad weather.