“Kentucky Rain” is a classic song recorded by the legendary Elvis Presley in 1970. Written by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard, this soulful ballad tells the poignant story of a man searching for his lost love on a rainy Kentucky night. With its heartfelt lyrics and Elvis’s emotive delivery, the song captures the listener’s attention from the very first note.
In the song, the narrator reflects on a past relationship and longs to find his lost love. He describes wandering through the pouring rain, searching for the person who has captured his heart. The melancholic tone of the lyrics, combined with Elvis’s soul-stirring voice, creates a powerful and unforgettable listening experience.
“Kentucky Rain” showcases Elvis Presley’s ability to convey deep emotions through his music. The song’s evocative storytelling and the raw emotion in Elvis’s voice have made it a timeless classic, loved by fans around the world. It continues to be a testament to the enduring talent of the King of Rock and Roll, reminding us of his legacy in the music industry.
Did You Know?
In this heartfelt soft-rock ballad penned by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard, an anguished Elvis embarks on a cold and rainy quest to find the woman who left him without a reason. Despite reaching only #16 on the Hot 100, the single managed to climb to #3 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Elvis recorded this song during his significant two-week sessions at American Sound Studio in Memphis, which contributed material for two successful albums in 1969: “From Elvis In Memphis” and “From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis.” Interestingly, “Kentucky Rain” was not included in either album but was later added to the 2000 re-release of “From Elvis In Memphis.” Its first album appearance was in the 1970 compilation “Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1.”
The track features Ronnie Milsap on piano, with Elvis urging him, “More thunder on the piano, Milsap!” Eddie Rabbitt, the songwriter, went on to create the hit “Pure Love” for Milsap in 1974. Rabbitt, recognized as one of Nashville’s most promising young songwriters, subsequently pursued his own recording career. He closed out the decade with five albums, three of which made it to the Top 10 on the country chart.
When Rabbitt wrote the song, he was employed at Hill and Range Publishers. His composition nearly landed him a record deal after a major producer heard it and greenlit its recording. However, Lamar Fike, an employee at the publishing company and one of Elvis’ close friends, shared the demo with Elvis. Rabbitt reminisced in a 1987 interview, “He took the song to Elvis, and Elvis wanted to record it as the A side of his new single. I said, ‘That’s great and not so great.'” Eventually, Rabbitt realized it was a wiser decision to let Elvis record the song. “I thought if this is the only hit song I ever write, then it is better that Elvis does it because he’s the King.”
In 1978, a year after Elvis passed away, Rabbitt released his rendition on his album “Variations.” Before “Kentucky Rain,” songwriter/producer Dick Heard’s most significant success was “Tears and Roses,” initially recorded by George Morgan in 1964 and brought into the Top 20 by Al Martino that same year. A live version of “Kentucky Rain” from February 1970 was featured in the 2001 box set “Live In Vegas.”
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Lyrics
Seven lonely days
And a dozen towns ago
I reached out one night
And you were gone
Don’t know why you’d run,
What you’re running to or from
All I know is I want to bring you homeSo I’m walking in the rain,
Thumbing for a ride
On this lonely Kentucky backroad
I’ve loved you much too long
And my love’s too strong
To let you go, never knowing
What went wrongKentucky rain keeps pouring down
And up ahead’s another town
That I’ll go walking thru
With the rain in my shoes,
Searchin for you
In the cold Kentucky rain,
In the cold Kentucky rainShowed your photograph
To some old gray bearded man
Sitting on a bench
Outside a gen’ral store
They said “Yes, she’s been here”
But their memory wasn’t clear
Was it yesterday,
No, wait the day beforeSo I fin’ly got a ride
With a preacher man who asked
“Where you bound on such a cold dark afternoon?”
As we drove on thru the rain
As he listened I explained
And he left me with a prayer
That I’d find you