It's Raining Men

"It's Raining Men" is an exuberant and theatrical anthem of female desire and empowerment, wrapped in a campy, over-the-top meteorological metaphor. On the surface, it's a simple, joyful fantasy about an abundance of available men literally falling from the sky, offering a solution to loneliness for single women. The lyrics, "God bless Mother Nature, she's a single woman too / She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do," frame this event as an act of divine feminist intervention, a celestial gift to womankind. It humorously subverts traditional gender roles by placing female desire front and center and objectifying men in a way that was uncommon in popular music at the time.

Deeper than its catchy disco beat, the song carries a message of liberation. It encourages abandoning societal restrictions and celebrating one's desires openly and joyously—to "go out to run and let myself get absolutely soaking wet." The catalog of men ("Tall, blonde, dark and lean / Rough and tough and strong and mean") can be seen as a playful critique of idealized masculinity while also celebrating a diversity of types. The song's core message is one of abundance over scarcity, encouraging a positive outlook and the idea that there are plenty of possibilities for everyone. Its unabashed joy, theatricality, and celebration of desire led to its adoption as a major gay anthem, resonating with the LGBTQ+ community's own fight for visibility and the freedom to express love and desire without shame.

The song begins with a playful weather report-style introduction by "The Weather Girls." They announce breaking news for all the lonely girls, advising them to leave their umbrellas at home. The atmosphere is building with rising humidity and a dropping barometer, signaling that the streets are the place to be. Tonight, for the first time in history, something unprecedented is about to happen around half-past ten: it's going to start raining men.

The chorus erupts into a jubilant, gospel-style exclamation of "Hallelujah! It's Raining Men! Amen!" The singers express their sheer delight and intention to go outside and get "absolutely soaking wet." The downpour isn't just any rain; it consists of every type of man imaginable—"Tall, blonde, dark and lean / Rough and tough and strong and mean." It's a celebration of male diversity and abundance.

The narrative then gives credit to a higher power, personified as Mother Nature. The lyrics bless her, noting she's a single woman herself, who took matters into her own hands. She went to heaven and orchestrated a celestial rearrangement, teaching every angel to fix the sky so that every single woman on Earth could find her "perfect guy." This act is portrayed as a divine intervention designed to end female loneliness and fulfill their desires.

The feeling of an approaching storm is used as a metaphor for the building excitement. The lyrics urge listeners not to lose their heads when they hear the thunder, but instead to fully embrace the moment, even suggesting they "rip off the roof and stay in bed." This reinforces the theme of surrendering to this fantastic, joyous event. The song circles back to the initial weather report, reiterating the signs of the miraculous storm, before launching again into the exultant chorus, cementing the song as a wild, liberating fantasy of romantic and sexual abundance for all women.

"It's Raining Men" was written in 1979 by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer in a single afternoon. Jabara, who had previously penned hits like "Last Dance" for Donna Summer, initially intended the song for her. However, Summer, having recently become a born-again Christian, rejected the song, finding its lyrics "blasphemous" and even sent Jabara a Bible. The song was subsequently offered to a string of music icons including Cher, Diana Ross, and Barbra Streisand, all of whom declined.

In 1982, the song was presented to Martha Wash and Izora Armstead, a duo then known as Two Tons O' Fun who were acclaimed backup singers for the disco star Sylvester. They too were initially hesitant, thinking the song was "too crazy to record." Wash recounted, "I kept saying, 'It's raining men? Really? Are you kidding me?' I just did not think people would buy it." Despite their reservations, they were persuaded by Jabara's conviction and recorded the track. The production was handled by Jabara and Bob Esty.

Upon the song's impending release, the duo changed their name from Two Tons O' Fun to The Weather Girls, a fitting pun on the song's title. Released on September 10, 1982, the song initially struggled to get support from Columbia Records, who were reportedly hesitant about promoting two large Black women. Jabara and his team launched an independent campaign, distributing the single to dance club DJs, which successfully built underground demand and essentially forced the label to release it. The song went on to become a massive international hit, topping the U.S. Dance chart.

The rhythmic and rhyming structure of "It's Raining Men" is crafted to maximize its energy and memorability, making it an enduring dance classic.

Rhyme Scheme: The song's verses primarily follow a simple AABB rhyme scheme, which enhances its catchy, nursery-rhyme-like quality and makes the lyrics easy to follow. For instance, "Humidity is rising (A) / Barometer's getting low (B) / According to all sources, the street's the place to go (B)" and "She took off to heaven (A) / and she did what she had to do (B) / She taught every angel (C) / so that each and every woman could find her perfect guy (D)" (though with some variation). The pre-chorus and chorus sections rely more on repetition and powerful declaration than intricate rhyming.

Rhythm and Tempo: The song is characterized by a fast, driving Hi-NRG (High Energy) tempo, typical of post-disco dance music. The beat is relentless and propulsive, designed specifically for dance floors. The vocal rhythm is dynamic, shifting from the spoken-word cadence of the introduction to the more melodic, sustained notes of the verses and the explosive, syncopated exclamations of the chorus ("It's! Rain-ing! Men!"). This interplay between the steady instrumental rhythm and the powerful, often dramatic vocal rhythm creates a sense of joyful urgency and excitement.

Meter and Feel: The song is in a standard 4/4 time signature, the backbone of most disco and pop music. Its feel is overwhelmingly upbeat and celebratory, with the powerful backbeat and energetic bassline compelling listeners to move. The song's musical complexity, noted as being above average in its chord progressions and melodic structure, adds a layer of sophistication to its seemingly simple, fun exterior.

"It's Raining Men" employs a rich combination of musical and literary techniques to achieve its iconic, high-energy impact.

Musical Techniques:

• Genre Fusion: The track is a quintessential post-disco and Hi-NRG song, blending elements of R&B, soul, and 1970s electronic dance music. This creates a relentlessly upbeat and danceable foundation.
• Vocal Delivery: The song is defined by the powerhouse, gospel-trained vocals of Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Their delivery is not just sung but proclaimed, filled with ad-libs ("Alright!", "You better listen!"), call-and-response sections, and soaring, soulful harmonies that elevate the track from a pop song to a jubilant anthem.
• Instrumentation: The arrangement features a prominent horn section, a driving bassline by Leland Sklar, and dramatic synth flourishes, creating a sound that is both grand and infectiously rhythmic. The use of a full studio band gives it a rich, organic disco feel.
• Structure: The song opens with a spoken-word intro that mimics a weather report, a clever framing device that sets up the central metaphor before launching into the explosive chorus.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor and Personification: The entire song is an extended metaphor comparing an abundance of men to rain. Mother Nature is personified as a proactive, single woman looking out for her own.
• Hyperbole: The central concept is a massive exaggeration, creating a humorous, campy, and fantastical tone.
• Repetition: The recurring chorus "It's Raining Men! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Men! Amen!" acts as a powerful, memorable hook that is easy to sing along to, functioning like a mantra of pure joy.

"It's Raining Men" has had a profound and lasting cultural impact since its release in 1982. Initially a No. 1 hit on the US Billboard Dance chart, its legacy has far surpassed its original chart performance.

Gay Anthem: The song was quickly adopted by the gay community and is now considered one of the most iconic gay anthems of all time. Its themes of joyful, shameless desire, theatrical camp, and the objectification of men resonated deeply within gay culture, especially in dance clubs where it first gained popularity. The song became a soundtrack of celebration and defiance against homophobia. It is consistently ranked among the top gay anthems by publications like Billboard and Time Out.

Chart Performance and Awards: It reached No. 1 on the US Dance Club Songs chart, No. 34 on the R&B chart, and No. 46 on the Hot 100. It was a major international hit, peaking at No. 2 in the UK. The song also earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1983.

Cover Versions and Media Presence:

• In 2001, Geri Halliwell of the Spice Girls released a hugely successful cover version for the soundtrack of the film Bridget Jones's Diary. Her version became a UK No. 1 hit and an international success, introducing the song to a new generation.
• Martha Wash herself re-recorded the song in 1998 with drag superstar RuPaul, titled "It's Raining Men... The Sequel".
• Rihanna's 2010 song "Raining Men" featuring Nicki Minaj pays homage to the original concept, though it is not a direct cover or sample.

The song has been featured in countless films, TV shows, and commercials, cementing its status as a pop culture staple. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless message of joy and liberation, making it a classic played at parties and celebrations of all kinds.

"It's Raining Men" is built around a central, powerful metaphor: a literal downpour of men. This isn't just a quirky weather event; it symbolizes an overwhelming abundance of romantic and sexual opportunity, directly countering feelings of loneliness and scarcity. The act of it "raining" suggests a natural, powerful, and uncontrollable force, a blessing from the heavens.

Key symbolic elements include:

• Mother Nature as a Feminist Deity: The lyrics personify Mother Nature as a "single woman" who takes charge, rearranging the heavens to provide men for every woman. This serves as a powerful symbol of female agency and solidarity, suggesting women can and will alter their own circumstances. It cleverly re-brands a natural force into a champion for female empowerment.
• The Storm as Liberation: The storm imagery—rising humidity, low barometer, thunder—symbolizes the building excitement and the chaotic, liberating joy of desire unleashed. Being told to "rip off the roof and stay in bed" is a metaphor for breaking down personal and societal inhibitions to fully embrace this fantasy.
• 'Getting Soaking Wet': This phrase is a thinly veiled, playful metaphor for complete and unashamed immersion in sexual pleasure and desire. It’s an instruction to surrender to the joyous experience without reservation.
• The Diversity of Men: The description of men as "Tall, blonde, dark and lean / Rough and tough and strong and mean" functions as a symbol of boundless choice and variety, catering to every possible preference and reinforcing the theme of abundance.

The most significant recurring element in the song is its title phrase and central hook: "It's Raining Men!" This phrase is repeated extensively, always followed by the exclamations "Hallelujah!" and "Amen!" The combination of the fantastical weather report with religious expressions of joy and affirmation transforms the line from a simple statement into a jubilant, gospel-infused praise chant. This motif is the core of the song's identity, making it instantly recognizable and unforgettable.

Another key recurring motif is the weather forecast theme. It opens the song ("Hi! We're your Weather Girls...") and reappears in the lyrics with phrases like "Humidity is rising," "Barometer's getting low," and "I feel stormy weather." This framework cleverly ties the song to the group's name and reinforces the central metaphor, lending a playful, theatrical structure to the entire track.

The personification of "Mother Nature" as a proactive, benevolent force for single women is also a recurring idea, mentioned in both the second verse and the bridge. Her role as the orchestrator of this miracle is a significant motif that underpins the song's empowering and feminist-friendly message.