Shadows in the Rain
Sting/ Gil Evans Lyrics

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Woke up in my clothes again this morning
I don't know exactly where I am
And I should heed my doctor's warning
He does the best with me he can

He claims I suffer from delusion
But I'm so confident I'm sane
It can't be an optical illusion

So how do you explain
Shadows in the rain

And if you see us on the corner
We're just dancing in the rain
I tell my friends there when I see them

Outside my windowpane
Shadows in the rain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sting/ Gil Evans's song Shadows in the Rain are open to interpretation but one possible explanation is that the singer is struggling with mental illness. The first stanza paints a picture of someone who wakes up wearing the same clothes they slept in and is disoriented about their surroundings. They acknowledge the advice of their doctor but seem confident in their sanity despite being told they suffer from delusion. The second stanza describes a scene where the singer and some friends are dancing in the rain, and they see shadows outside their window.

The presence of shadows could be seen as a metaphor for the singer's mental state, which is distorted or unclear. The overall mood of the song is introspective and melancholic with an underlying sense of unease. The refrain "Shadows in the rain" is repeated several times throughout the song, further emphasizing the idea that there is something hidden or lurking within the singer's consciousness.

Line by Line Meaning

I woke up in my clothes again this morning
I spent another night in my clothes without knowing where I am.

I don't know exactly where I am
I am lost and confused about my whereabouts.

And I should heed my doctor's warning
My doctor advised me to take extra care of myself.

He does the best with me he can
My doctor is trying his best to help me with my condition.

He says I suffer from delusion
My doctor diagnosed me with delusional behavior.

But I'm so confident I'm sane
I believe I am normal and not crazy.

It can't be an optical illusion
What I see is real, not my imagination.

So how can you explain Shadows in the rain
I cannot understand the presence of flickering shapes in the rain.

And if you see us on the corner
If you notice us standing on the street corner...

We're just dancing in the rain
...we are dancing in the rain.

I tell my friends there when I see them
Whenever I see my friends around...