The weather and the natural world play an integral role in our lives. They influence our work, our activities, and subsequently our mood. From huddling up with a cup of coffee on rainy evenings to soaking in the winter sun on the balcony, the weather dictates our habits and habits inspire songs.
From memoirs of mundane activities suited to the weather, to using the sun, storms, and rains as metaphors, we have compiled for you a list of 50 songs that explore the depth and wonders of the natural world.
Here are the 50 Best Songs About The Weather
- Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head — B.J. Thomas
- Hurricane — Hamilton
- Thunder Rolls — Garth Brooks
- Here Comes The Sun — The Beatles
- Rain on Me —Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
- It’s Raining Men — The Weather Girls
- Somewhere Over The Rainbow — The Wizard Of Oz
- Purple Rain — Prince
- Set Fire to the Rain —Adele
- Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! — Dean Martin
- A Year Without Rain —Selena Gomez & The Scene
- Thunder Road —Bruce Springsteen
- Wind of Change —Scorpions
- No Rain — Blind Melon
- Blowin’ In The Wind — Bob Dylan
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life —Stevie Wonder
- Thunder —Imagine Dragons
- November Rain —Guns N’ Roses
- Cold Cold Cold —Cage the Elephant
- Candle In The Wind — Elton John
- Riders On The Storm — The Doors
- Blame It On The Rain — Milli Vanilli
- Cold —Maroon 5 featuring Future
- Ain’t No Sunshine — Bill Withers
- Electrical Storm — U2
- Singin’ In The Rain — Gene Kelley
- Pocketful of Sunshine —Natasha Bedingfield
- Have You Ever Seen The Rain — Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Dust In The Wind — Kansas
- Walking On Sunshine — Katrina & The Waves
- Mr. Blue Sky — Electric Light Orchestra
- Early Morning Rain — Gordon Lightfoot
- Through The Rain —Mariah Carey
- Snow on the Beach — Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey
- Heat Waves —Glass Animals
- Thunderstruck —AC/DC
- Sweater Weather —The Neighbourhood
- Northern Downpour —Panic! At The Disco
- The Rain Song —Led Zeppelin
- Summer Wind —Frank Sinatra
- Paris in the Rain —Lauv
- Sunlight — Hozier
- Midnight Rain — Taylor Swift
- Kentucky Rain —Elvis Presley
- Crying in the Rain —The Everly Brothers
- Desert Rain — Edward Maya
- Rainy Days and Mondays — Carpenters
- Lightning Crashes — Live
- Did You Hear the Rain? —George Ezra
- Umbrella — Rihanna
1. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head — B.J. Thomas
Rain is often associated with sadness and gloom, but that’s not the case for this song written for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Here, the protagonist declares that despite the raindrops falling on his head (a metaphor for difficulties), it won’t be long before happiness greets him!
The song reached Number 1 in the United States, Canada, and Norway charts, and won an Oscar for Best Original Song.
2. Hurricane — Hamilton
Any self-respecting history or theater nerd just has to have this entire sequence from the musical memorized! An important decision hangs in the background of this song while Hamilton, on stage alone, revises his childhood days, the peace he found in little moments, just like the calm in the eye of the hurricane.
3. Thunder Rolls — Garth Brooks
The weather sometimes serves as a reflection of one’s thoughts as is the case for our protagonist, who not only worries about the return of her husband due to the storm outside but also because of the emotional turmoil in their marriage. Alluding to infidelity, this country hit peaked at both the U.S. and Canadian country song charts at number 1.
4. Here Comes The Sun — The Beatles
As of 2021, this is the most streamed Beatles song on Spotify globally, and it’s no surprise since this is probably the most feel-good song they’ve composed. Full of hope and something to look forward to, the song not only literally talks about the end of a long winter, but has been used by many to signify the transition into entering a better phase of life from a dark one.
5. Rain on Me —Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
Rain on Me is an empowering anthem about heartbreak, resilience, moving on, and processing your grief. This was a collaboration none of us saw coming. Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga on one song? You have a major hit coming your way and thus it’s no surprise it topped charts in over 10 countries and was the most streamed song by a female artist globally during the Summer of 2022.
6. It’s Raining Men — The Weather Girls
In a rare twist of event, this iconic RuPaul number objectifying men was the highlight of the latter half of 1982. The song was immediately adopted by the gay community, who felt seen and saw this song as a celebration of their culture. The song was a number 1 dance hit in the United States and reached the top ten in various other countries worldwide.
7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow — Judy Garland
This song has well and truly earned its place on lists of the greatest English songs of all time. A beautiful symphony of Judy Garland’s melodic voice and Dorothy’s longing for adventure and novelty, this song has a dear place in the hearts of children (and adults!) worldwide. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland’s signature song.
8. Purple Rain — Prince
If I associate one song with this legend, it’s Purple Rain. It’s most probably due to his album and autobiographical movie of the same name! Despite the sparse lyrics, this has gone down as one of the most iconic songs in history. The song is ranked at number 18 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
9. Set Fire to the Rain —Adele
A master when it comes to writing about breakups and a powerhouse of vocals, Adele showcases both these qualities in this 2011 number. It’s one of my favorite Adele songs along with Rolling In The Deep and it always leaves me in awe of her vocal range.
Written about an unpleasant relationship coming to an end, this song dominated charts for the year it came out.
10. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! — Dean Martin
A beloved classic, this feel-good hit is still fresh as ever around Christmas Time around the globe. There isn’t a single Christmas playlist complete without this jazzy tune despite the song never mentioning the holiday even once! This just makes me want to cuddle up with someone and watch the first snow of the season from the window.
11. A Year Without Rain —Selena Gomez & The Scene
Selena’s post-Disney music journey was a blessing for all her fans worldwide. Coming up with dance-pop hit after hit like Love You Like A Love Song and Slow Down, this number was comparatively more mellow with haunting background melodies showcasing Selena’s vocal range. The song peaked in the top 10 positions in the U.S., Canada, and Spain.
12. Thunder Road —Bruce Springsteen
From the harmonica intro to the iconic vision of Mary dancing on the porch, this song is a timeless masterpiece and representative of both the artist and the era of ‘80s music. “Thunder Road” is ranked as one of Springsteen’s greatest songs and one of the top rock songs in history. It is number 111 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
13. Wind of Change —Scorpions
Who doesn’t remember the iconic whistle notes at the beginning of this song? This song is littered with political references and is a symbol of hope for many- with hopes the winds of change are blowing in the right direction. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time and holds the record for the best-selling single by a German artist.
14. Daylight —Maroon 5
The monotony of life, wanting to share a cup of tea with someone, and watching the rain pour – a recipe for the ideal song about weather. 90s kids will remember the bee girl character from this music video.
The song is the band’s highest-charting song, reaching number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on both the Billboard Album Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts.
15. Blowin’ In The Wind — Bob Dylan
If I had a penny for every time a political song mentioned the wind blowing in this list, I’d have two pennies, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird considering it happened twice. This is another known anthem containing references to freedom, war, and peace.
In 1994, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and later was ranked number 14 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
16. You Are the Sunshine of My Life —Stevie Wonder
An expression of commitment, admiration and undying love, this song describes a husband’s affection for his wife by calling her the ‘sunshine of his life’. The song did well on the charts and won the artist a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
17. Thunder — Imagine Dragons
I fondly remember when this 2017 hit took over the charts and later all our for you pages. An anthem of nonconformity and staying true to oneself coupled with an earworm of a chorus, makes you want to stomp your shoes and clap your hands while singing along. It’s definitely one of those songs I would love to hear in a concert.
18. November Rain —Guns N’ Roses
Rock songs about heartbreak hit differently. This protagonist describes the changing nature of love in a relationship by comparing it to ‘holding a candle, In the cold November rain’. This song is also extremely long at 9 minutes and 16 seconds, dragging on the whirlwind of emotions. Despite the length, it was the longest song to enter the top ten of the chart at the time of its release. Currently, it is the fourth longest song to enter the Hot 100 chart.
19. Cold Cold Cold — Cage The Elephant
If you ever feel like a villain from those old Bond movies or need inspiration for an evil character in the novel you’re writing, this song is the way to go. Hands down one of my favorite songs of all time, it also serves as a killer background to solving a particularly difficult set of math problems and is one of the most famous Cage The Elephant songs after Cigarette Daydreams.
20. Candle In The Wind — Elton John
This song is a tribute from one legend to another. Written about Hollywood bombshell Maryline Monroe, the song admires her beauty, grace and acknowledges the tumultuous nature of her life in the fame. The actresses’ candle burned out long before her legend ever did, but she is still fondly remembered by all today.
Fun fact; Prince Harry asked Elton to perform the song on her mother’s funeral as well,
21. Riders On The Storm — The Doors
Strangle macabre, but I love a good murder ballad. This psychedelic-rock number song loosely references serial killer Billy Cook and talks about a ‘killer on the road’. Some say the song is an autobiographical reference to Morrison’s life who considered himself a “Rider on the Storm” and a play he wrote (The Hitchhiker (An American Pastoral)).
I prefer the murder version though.
22. Blame It On The Rain — Milli Vanilli
Accountability? We don’t know her. Let’s instead blame a failing relationship on the weather and the rain. Other interpretations say the song is a message to fans, asking them not to blame the group for their downfall. The song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and did well on charts around the globe, becoming the singer’s final single to do so.
23. Cold —Maroon 5 featuring Future
The weather and its cooler elements seem perfect to describe a relationship that has grown cold and distant. This is the case with this Maroon 5 single as well. The song did well commercially as well and features a rather. . . interesting music video about psychedelic trips.
24. Ain’t No Sunshine — Bill Withers
This bittersweet old-timey hit describes an older man’s affection for a younger lover- he knows he should leave her alone but aches for her when she’s not around. The song became a breakthrough hit for Withers, reaching number 6 on the U.S. R&B Chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Context aside, it’s the perfect song to send to your girl when she’s away.
25. Electrical Storm — U2
Tension, distance, and a storm brewing outside reflect those conditions, the song talks about a distant couple who are trying to reconcile with their situation. The rock music in the background adds to the melancholy touch of the song.
Despite not doing well in the United States, it performed well elsewhere, reaching number one in Canada, Italy, and Spain.
26. Singin’ In The Rain — Gene Kelley
The image of Gene Kelly singing in the rain and dancing through puddles is a hard one to forget. This jolly, feel-good song is from the musical of the same name, ensuring everyone who listens has a little skip in their step afterward. The song has since appeared in multiple films and TV shows.
27. Pocketful of Sunshine —Natasha Bedingfield
I think I can attest to all of us when I say we remember this song from Emma Stone’s iconic scene from Easy A. Just like her character, we can’t get this song out of our heads either. From the upbeat tune to the lyrics bursting with optimism. The song was commercially successful and topped the charts in Canada and the U.S.
28. Have You Ever Seen The Rain — Creedence Clearwater Revival
The song is a paradox- raining on a sunny day. One would usually expect a rainbow, but this song uses metaphors as a way of indicating hardships. Some say the song was a sign of the rock bands’ breakup.
29. Dust In The Wind — Kansas
Need an existential crisis? We have the song for you. Debating the fleeting nature of life and our purpose in his world, this song hits deep when you’re listening to it alone in the middle of the night, which is how I recommend enjoying it. Perhaps you’ll find answers to a few of the questions running in your head.
30. Walking On Sunshine — Katrina & The Waves
Need to bounce back from a depressive episode? I present this empowering rock anthem. Why wait for someone to come around when you can enjoy your own company and ‘walk on sunshine’? The upbeat tempo and lyrics full of positivity present the message of finding joy in the mundane. The song did pretty well commercially and on the charts as well.
31. Mr. Blue Sky — Electric Light Orchestra
Nowadays we find more iconic old-timey gems from viral TikTok sounds than from the musical knowledge passed down by our parents. You may find yourself recognising this song from a TikTok trend, but that’s not all there is to it.
The song uses a blend of instruments and a vocoded voice to create a unique progressive rock symphony that led to this song doing well on charts.
32. Early Morning Rain — Gordon Lightfoot
This song presents a low-spirited man, down on luck, watching the take-off of a plane and hoping to reach his faraway home. Whether the song is referencing a bad breakup or some other adversity, it gained popularity and was covered by many notable artists like George Hamilton IV.
33. Through The Rain —Mariah Carey
This is one of those rare instances that Carey truly opened up about her struggles with mental health in music. The song starts off on a desolated note, only to turn into an anthem of resilience and hope. Carey describes being stuck in the rain and once she gets through it, she feels like she can get through anything.
Though it was her lowest charting single on Billboard Hot 100, the song dominated the US Dance Club Songs chart at number 1.
34. Snow on the Beach — Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey
I swear my heart stopped when I saw this collaboration on Midnights. Two of the most celebrated female artists, each with a fanbase that could rival any other in history, came together to write this dream pop song about two people falling in love at the same time. That’s about as rare as snow on the beach, but beautiful nonetheless.
When fans complained about the lack of Lana’s vocal presence on the song, Taylor released a ‘More Lana Del Rey’, addition as part of The Til Dawn Edition of Midnights.
35. Heat Waves —Glass Animals
Late nights in the middle of June and regret from the realization that you’re not giving your partner what you deserve, this alternative number is Glass Animal’s largest hit to date. The hazy vocals and captivating beat led to this song dominating charts across the globe.
36. Thunderstruck —AC/DC
True rock fans know this one from the heart, but I unfortunately stumbled upon this rock masterpiece after watching Thor: Ragnarok. The opening tune hits you as unexpectedly as thunder does the protagonist in this song.
The Guardian ranked the song number 8 on its list of the 40 greatest AC/DC songs, and Kerrang! ranked the song number six on its list of the 20 greatest AC/DC songs.
37. Sweater Weather —The Neighbourhood
Sensual and sweet at times, I’ve had this song on repeat every few weeks since 2012. The seductive nature of the lyrics, coupled with a variation in tune that goes from a fast rock number to a slow guitar solo, It’s just one of those songs you never get tired of.
The song launched the band into throughs of success: It reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in June 2013, remaining there for 11 non-consecutive weeks. The song is also ranked in the top 100 of the most streamed songs on Spotify.
38. Northern Downpour —Panic! At The Disco
Usually Panic! Songs are full of din and loud drum beats and screaming vocals. This song however, is a nice change of pace from their usual style. An oddly romantic number, the lyrics don;t make much sense but sound just as pleasant nonetheless. What makes the song even more rare is the vocal feature from Ryan Ross, who usually just contributes as a background vocalist.
39. The Rain Song —Led Zeppelin
The song follows a transition of seasons as metaphors for the stages of a relationship, starting with spring and a new beginning and slowly morphing into summer, something much more warm and comfortable. A ballad in its own right, I consider it one of the most melodious love songs written.
40. Summer Wind —Frank Sinatra
I think by now you have picked up on the fact that no list of ours is complete without Sinatra. What can we do? The man has a song for every occasion, including this one about a bittersweet fleeting romance described in the most poetic way possible. His version of this song peaked at number 1 on the US Easy Listening chart.
41. Paris in the Rain —Lauv
Thinking of Paris in the rain is imagining the epitome of romance; it just can’t get better. In this pop number, the singer describes his preference for the company of his lover, saying no matter the place, with her it will feel like Paris in the rain.
42. Sunlight — Hozier
Hozier is not only a powerhouse of vocals, he’s best described as a poet instead of a musician or lyricist. Perhaps it’s my bias considering he’s one of my favorite artists, but I deem this song one of the most impactful romantic ballads ever written, describing a protagonist who lives in the dark now lit up by the warmth of his lover.
43. Midnight Rain — Taylor Swift
Whether it was the allusion to Tom Hiddlestone or the catchy auto-tuned chorus of the song, the song is one of her most successful from her latest album Midnights, The way the lyrics flow into one another is what makes the song such a hard earworm to get rid of.
The song peaked at the top 10 globally and has surpassed 500 million streams on spotify.
44. Kentucky Rain —Elvis Presley
The 1970s hit by the King of Rock and Roll is quite different to his usual style, leaning more towards country music. The song describes the desperation of a man trying to find his lover who left him, in the cold kentucky rain.
45. Crying in the Rain —The Everly Brothers
Another melancholy song, nothing breaks my heart more than the concept of having to hide your tears in the rain in order to keep up a brave face, as the narrator describes himself doing in the song. The simple guitar chords and grainy, slow pace of this song intensifies its effect. The song did well on charts and was even covered by the famous rock band A-ha.
46. Desert Rain — Edward Maya
Edward Maya dominated soundcloud and all our music tastes in the early 2010s and this is most renowned hit after Stereo Love. The song represents hope (the rain) in a barren place (the desert) implying how love can save us from the most desolate of places in life.
47. Rainy Days and Mondays —Carpenters
I think we can all relate to the ‘blues’ of this song in one way or another. Sometimes we all hit a low phase in life and it’s more than okay to not be okay! Music like this is relatable and can help us process whatever we are going through while reassuring us we aren’t alone in feeling this way. The song peaked at number 1 on the US Billboard Easy Listening and Canada RPM Adult Contemporary charts.
48. Lightning Crashes — Live
If you’re looking for the most unusual song on the list, you’ve found it. Instead of talking about feelings and love, this song contrasts the cycles of life and death, painting the picture of just how fragile life truly is. Starting off with an acoustic guitar melody and turning into a full-fledged rock song, it peaked at number one on both the U.S. Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts (Billboard).
49. Did You Hear the Rain? —George Ezra
George Ezra’s deep baritone is a delight to my ears and I was quite surprised to discover just how much I loved this debut song of his. Written when Ezra was just 18, the song questions human nature, indulgence and uses rain as a metaphor for transformation and renewal. Now that’s quite the philosophy lecture in the form of an acoustic-blues song.
50. Umbrella — Rihanna
There was no way we could end the list without this Rihanna number. We remember every lyric, the iconic choreography and music video, and the even more iconic Tom Holland dance battle on the song.
A whooping success, the song topped the charts in 17 countries, remains one of the highest digital debuts in the United States at the time, and won Rihanna and Jay-Z a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
FAQs
What is the most famous song about the weather?
This list is filled with award-winning, chart-topping numbers, but we would put Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” as the clear winner here, considering the legacy of the song and its position. It was entered in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as music that is “culturally, historically, or artistically significant” and ranks number 1 on Songs of the Century lists by the RIAA and the NEA.
What songs about the weather are featured in old musicals?
These would be Judy Garland’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, which was featured in her 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and Gene Kelly’s Singin’ In The Rain which was featured in his 1952 musical of the same name.
Where can I stream these songs?
While most of these songs are easily available on Spotify and Apple Music, we’ve included links to YouTube for each one of them. Fear not, even if you can’t find the song or it doesn’t stream in your country, you can always head to YouTube for music in the gold old 2000s manner.