The Everly Brothers – Crying in the Rain

Introduction and Short Summary of the Song

“Crying in the Rain” is one of The Everly Brothers’ most enduring and emotionally resonant songs, released in 1962. Written by the powerhouse duo of Carole King and Howard Greenfield, the track is a masterful blend of melancholic lyrics, haunting melody, and the Everly Brothers’ unmatched vocal harmonies. Unlike their earlier rock-and-roll and teenage love anthems, this song leans toward mature balladry, capturing the pain of heartbreak while cloaking vulnerability in imagery of rain and solitude. With its subtle arrangement and timeless emotion, “Crying in the Rain” stands as one of the finest examples of the Everlys’ later work in the early 1960s.

Origins of the Song

The song came from an unusual pairing of two legendary songwriting teams. Normally, Carole King wrote with her husband Gerry Goffin, while Howard Greenfield worked with Neil Sedaka. For a brief experiment, Aldon Music suggested swapping partners, and the result of King and Greenfield’s collaboration was “Crying in the Rain.” The song found its perfect interpreters in The Everly Brothers, who had the vocal nuance to convey both sadness and restraint.

Recorded in late 1961 and released in January 1962, the track quickly became one of their most successful singles of the decade. It represented a departure from the youthful, upbeat style that had defined their earlier hits, marking a new phase in their artistry.

Why The Everly Brothers Released “Crying in the Rain”

By 1962, the Everly Brothers were transitioning from their early rockabilly hits into more sophisticated material. Their contract with Warner Bros. demanded strong singles, and “Crying in the Rain” offered exactly what they needed: a song that was accessible to pop audiences but also emotionally deeper than their teenage heartbreak numbers.

The choice to release it also reflected the duo’s growth as performers. They wanted to be seen not just as teen idols but as serious vocalists capable of interpreting complex songs. The combination of King and Greenfield’s poignant lyrics with their flawless harmonies made “Crying in the Rain” a natural choice.

The Message Conveyed in the Song

“Crying in the Rain” conveys the pain of heartbreak and the desire to hide one’s vulnerability from the world. The narrator, devastated by love lost, chooses to cry only when it rains so that no one will see their tears.

Key themes include:

• Heartbreak and Loss: The sorrow of losing a relationship underpins the entire song.

• Emotional Concealment: The narrator hides pain, revealing the stigma of showing vulnerability.

• Nature as Metaphor: Rain becomes both a physical cover and a symbolic expression of grief.

• Loneliness: Despite the concealment, the narrator remains profoundly isolated.

The simplicity of the imagery makes the song universally relatable, allowing listeners to connect with the idea of private sorrow hidden from public view.

The Recording and Musical Characteristics

Musically, “Crying in the Rain” is understated, allowing the Everly Brothers’ vocals to carry the emotional weight.

• Vocals: Don and Phil Everly’s harmonies are intimate and haunting, perfectly suited to the song’s theme of restrained sorrow.

• Instrumentation: Gentle guitar, subdued percussion, and light orchestral touches create a reflective atmosphere.

• Mood: Somber, tender, and vulnerable, with an undercurrent of resilience.

• Style: A ballad that blends elements of pop and country, aligning with the early 1960s shift toward smoother, more polished productions.

The recording’s minimalism is key to its power—it avoids melodrama, relying instead on sincerity and subtlety.

Cultural and Commercial Impact

Commercially, “Crying in the Rain” was a success. It reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charted internationally, becoming one of the Everly Brothers’ last major hits of the 1960s. While they continued to record and perform, the changing music scene—with the British Invasion and evolving rock sounds—meant their dominance was fading. Nevertheless, this track proved they could still compete at the highest level.

Culturally, the song became one of their most beloved recordings, standing out for its emotional maturity and lyrical sophistication. It also highlighted the richness of collaboration between Brill Building songwriters and performers like the Everlys, bridging the gap between crafted pop songwriting and deeply felt performance.

Legacy of “Crying in the Rain”

Today, “Crying in the Rain” is considered one of The Everly Brothers’ signature ballads. While it may not have the same youthful exuberance as “Bye Bye Love” or the dreamy romanticism of “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” it represents their artistry at a more mature stage.

For their legacy, the song underscores their ability to interpret material from other writers with depth and sincerity. It also demonstrates their versatility, proving that they could move seamlessly from playful rock-and-roll numbers to heartbreaking ballads.

More broadly, “Crying in the Rain” has enjoyed a long afterlife through covers by other artists, including Tammy Wynette and A-ha, further cementing its status as a timeless standard. Each interpretation underscores the universality of its themes, but the Everly Brothers’ version remains definitive for its understated beauty.

Over sixty years later, “Crying in the Rain” still resonates as one of the most heartfelt songs in the Everlys’ catalog. It stands as a testament to their enduring artistry, their ability to evolve with changing times, and their unmatched gift for harmonizing human emotion into unforgettable music.

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