Buckets of Rain
"Buckets of Rain" is a song by Bob Dylan, recorded on September 19, 1974 in New York City and released in 1975 on Dylan's critically acclaimed album Blood on the Tracks.
"Buckets of Rain" | |
---|---|
Song by Bob Dylan | |
from the album Blood on the Tracks | |
Released | January 1975 |
Recorded | September 19, 1974 at A&R Recording in New York City |
Genre | Folk rock |
Length | 3:22 |
Label | Columbia |
Songwriter(s) | Bob Dylan |
Producer(s) | Bob Dylan |
Blood on the Tracks track listing | |
A September 18, 1974 outtake of the song was released in 2018 on the single-CD and 2-LP versions of The Bootleg Series Vol. 14: More Blood, More Tracks, with the complete recording sessions released on the deluxe edition of that album.[1]
Background
In the officially released studio recording, "Buckets of Rain" is played in the key of E major. There are only two instruments: acoustic guitar and bass guitar. The guitar is not in standard tuning; rather, it is in "Open E" tuning.
Lyrically, "Buckets of Rain" is relatively simple, with five short verses addressing a lover. Oliver Trager describes the song thus:
- Closing an otherwise desperate album with a light reappraisal of commitment, "Buckets of Rain" is a final, Sinatra-like tip of the hat sung with the playfulness of an old Piedmont songster. Though Dylan seems to liken the relationship he describes here with the ferocity of a deluge, he plaintively sings to his love, describing in light, sensual brushstrokes why he still finds her special. (88)
The melody in fact is virtually identical to that of the 1972 song "Seaside Shuffle" written by English musician Jona Lewie and recorded that year under the band name "Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs" although the mood and style of the two songs are very different.
Covers
"Buckets of Rain" has been covered by many musicians, including:
- Bette Midler: Songs for the New Depression (1976), in a duet with Bob Dylan.
- Happy Traum: American Stranger (1978), Bucket of Songs (1983)
- Wendy Bucklew: The Times They Are A-Changin' (1992), After You (2002)
- Jimmy LaFave: Road Novel (1998)
- Steve Howe: Portraits of Bob Dylan (1999)
- Mary Lee's Corvette: Blood on the Tracks (2002)
- various artists (performed by Bette Midler): Doin' Dylan 2 (2002)
- various artists (performed by Wendy Bucklew): May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Volume 3 (2003)
- Neko Case: Live from Austin, TX (Neko Case album) (2003)
- Beth Orton and M. Ward: "Confidentially Speaking" live recording @ "Largo" Los Angeles, CA; September 30, 2003.
- Dave Van Ronk: Dave Van Ronk: ...And the Tin Pan Bended and the Story Ended... (2004)
- Redbird: Redbird (2005)
- various artists (performed by Neko Case): Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs (2005)
- Chris Martin at the Union Chapel, London, November 27, 2006. (Martin then dedicated it to Lily Allen.)
- Eric Bibb: Diamond Days (2006)
- John Renbourn: So Early in the Spring (2006)
- Martin Simpson at the Union Chapel, London, November 13, 2007.
- The Wood Brothers: Loaded (2008)
- Danny Schmidt: Man of Many Moons (2011)
- David Gray: During many live concerts.
- Fistful Of Mercy on the compilation "Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International" (2012)
- Tim Armstrong, as a part of his Tim Timebomb and Friends project (2012)
- John Mayer, played at a private event in Santa Monica at Casa Del Mar, February 19th 2015.[2]
- Joan Osborne, on her album “Songs of Bob Dylan” (2017)
References
- "More Blood, More Tracks – The Bootleg Series Vol. 14 to Be Released on November 2 | The Official Bob Dylan Site". www.bobdylan.com. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- Ian Z Richards (2015-02-20), John Mayer - Buckets of Rain (Bob Dylan) Cover 2015, retrieved 2017-12-04
- Bob Dylan's official page. Retrieved 15 March 2006.
- Cowe, Matt and Dick, Arthur. Acoustic Masters for Guitar. Wise Publications, 2004.
- Trager, Oliver. Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Billboard Books, 2004.