It's been bugging me for days...

[Gypsy]

What the heck does "I set fire to the rain" mean? Is it like "kiss from a rose on the grave" cause I swear that line drives me irrationally cray cray. I miss my ipod. I wouldn't have been listening to the radio if I'd just had my ipod. Then I wouldn't have heard this song over and over again, and then it wouldn't be stuck in my head and I wouldn't be wondering (after another lovely night of insomnia) what the heck it means. I need a new ipod. Still, if anyone can shed light, my tired brain and I would appreciate it.

 

[minmin001]

now it's bugging me

 

[Gypsy]

now it's bugging me

I'm sorry. I really REALLY am. I understand it's an impossible thing. But she says it with such conviction I keep seeing embers floating down from the clouds (and yes I have devoted WAY too much brain space to this) and then I think... why would you do that, is there a point and... then we're back at irrationally cray cray.

 

[madelise]

my interpretation of it is that the "rain" is the guy that didn't work out for her, but is constantly haunting her.. she's "setting fire" to it to try to fight back and get over him, but naturally, the rain puts out that fire.

that's my interpretation :X i'm sure it's wrong, but it let me finally sleep after those stupid lyrics irritated the crap out of me.

 

[Gypsy]

my interpretation of it is that the "rain" is the guy that didn't work out for her, but is constantly haunting her.. she's "setting fire" to it to try to fight back and get over him, but naturally, the rain puts out that fire.

that's my interpretation :X i'm sure it's wrong, but it let me finally sleep after those stupid lyrics irritated the crap out of me.

Now I am imagining Adele setting a man on fire. And surprisingly enough, not a stretch. What does that say about her music I wonder? Not working for me though, I'm sorry to say. All I keep thinking is "that Adele, she just can't seem to keep a man" (paraphrase from a TV sitcom line I heard that had me chuckling for days).

Another wacky thought I've had about the lyrics is she's a witch and she's calling out to set fire to the rain (I read too much urban fantasy) and then all that does is make think of a character setting fire to the rain and how cool that would be, to write a character that can do that and would she be a heroine or a villian.. and we're back at the fact that I keep starting to write novels I never finish. Yes, this is how my mind works. And yes, it's a scary place.

Did I mention irrationally cray cray?

 

[Aoife]

I'm assuming that rain=tears, and the "setting fire to" means that she's done crying, now she's mad.

That's my story, anyway.

I hate lyrics that keep me awake, and much as I like Adele, she frequently exceeds my angst quotient for the day.

 

[junebug17]

I'm not familiar with the song, so just going by that line out of context - maybe it means she accomplished something she thought she wouldn't be able to do. Really don't know, just a guess! The other lines of the song might explain it.

ETA: Maybe it's a metaphor for the anger she feels? As in, she's so mad she could set fire to rain.

 

[Gypsy]

I'm assuming that rain=tears, and the "setting fire to" means that she's done crying, now she's mad.

This makes sense to me. I like it. I'm going with this. Brilliant! Thank you (yes, I'm still awake).

Junebug... so mad you could set fire to rain? That is so logical it actually sounds like it could be a saying.

Also.. Apparently that stupid Seal song makes sense if you get the words right... it's gray not grave and there's a tower. I'm not saying it makes a lot of sense, but I'm good with it now.

Two for two. Red letter day. Now if only I could catch some sleep.

 

[zoebartlett]

Ha! I often wonder what I'm singing as I belt out songs in my car. I have no clue what her lyrics mean but it doesn't stop me from channeling my inner Adele.

 

[distracts]

See, this is why I never bother paying attention to lyrics. It's just all random babbling that sounds pretty.

Though I agree about witches, you should definitely write that.

 

[Mayk]

What the heck does "I set fire to the rain" mean? Is it like "kiss from a rose on the grave" cause I swear that line drives me irrationally cray cray. I miss my ipod. I wouldn't have been listening to the radio if I'd just had my ipod. Then I wouldn't have heard this song over and over again, and then it wouldn't be stuck in my head and I wouldn't be wondering (after another lovely night of insomnia) what the heck it means. I need a new ipod. Still, if anyone can shed light, my tired brain and I would appreciate it.

I'm sorry Gypsy no answer for you.. but I have to say.. your first statement and the look on your cat's face (your avatar).. just go together.. perfectly.. It made me laugh..

 

[monarch64]

I'm not sure what it means, exactly. She was just featured in Vogue a couple months ago and offered lots of insight regarding the songs on this current album including her love life at the time. Remember Alanis Morisette's "Jagged Little Pill?" (Of course you do, who could forget, ha!) Same sort of angry, emotional mindset. Did you know Adele does not intend to put out another album for 5 years? She respects quality over quantity. I think that's great.

 

[LALove]

I like this interpretation best:

"Setting fire to the rain, for me is about doing the impossible. I believe that when she was leaving this manipulative person, she was still in love with him and therefore breaking it off was as powerful and as hard as setting fire to the rain."

 

[Gypsy]

What the heck does "I set fire to the rain" mean? Is it like "kiss from a rose on the grave" cause I swear that line drives me irrationally cray cray. I miss my ipod. I wouldn't have been listening to the radio if I'd just had my ipod. Then I wouldn't have heard this song over and over again, and then it wouldn't be stuck in my head and I wouldn't be wondering (after another lovely night of insomnia) what the heck it means. I need a new ipod. Still, if anyone can shed light, my tired brain and I would appreciate it.

I'm sorry Gypsy no answer for you.. but I have to say.. your first statement and the look on your cat's face (your avatar).. just go together.. perfectly.. It made me laugh..

That's my Hally. She's patented that WTF expression. It does suit my mood when I posted it to a T doesn't it?

Zoe, the only song of her that gets me going like that is Rolling in the Deep. That's my favorite of hers (even though it is criminally over played on the radio).

LA Love. I like that interpretation too. I think we've got three that really work for me now. That's pretty awsome. You ladies are talented!

Distracts-- I'm in the middle (and will never finish) 4 novels. If you have any desire to write it yourself, go for it with my blessing. I agree it sounds like a good premise.

Just so you know, the newly minted expression: "I'm so angry I could set fire to the rain" has now been added to my vocabulary. I love it.

 

[Polished]

"I'm so angry I could set fire to the rain"

I like this. If anger is powerlessness. Setting fire to the rain implies you are re-gaining power or control over a situation.

 

[Imdanny]

Now I am imagining Adele setting a man on fire.

 

[Gypsy]

Now I am imagining Adele setting a man on fire.

Well. It's not the big a stretch.

 

[Gypsy]

I'm not sure what it means, exactly. She was just featured in Vogue a couple months ago and offered lots of insight regarding the songs on this current album including her love life at the time. Remember Alanis Morisette's "Jagged Little Pill?" (Of course you do, who could forget, ha!) Same sort of angry, emotional mindset. Did you know Adele does not intend to put out another album for 5 years? She respects quality over quantity. I think that's great.

She's very talented. And I think-- outside her love life-- she has a good head on her shoulders. She's also very young. I think she's 24 ???

Plenty of time. And maybe within the next five years she'll have a couple good relationships with normal guys and that will result in a little less angst in just ONE of her songs. That's not too much to ask is it?

Polished, I like it too. It works for me visually and metaphorically.

 

[texaskj]

www.songmeanings.net

I can waste a bunch of time on this site. It's always interesting to see what other people come up with.

 

[dragonfly411]

This once and for all settled it for me, and is what I picture when the song plays.