In the Early Morning Rain
Gordon Lightfoot/Peter, Paul and Mary: In the Early Morning Rain
Quiz by Sharon Michiko Yoneda
"With an aching in my heart and my pockets full of sand:
"Hear the mighty engines roar, see the silver wing on high. "
"She's away and westward bound, far above the clouds she'll fly."
performed by Peter, Paul and Mary
songwriter: Gordon Lightfoot
date released: 1965 by Peter, Paul and Mary
The Peter, Paul and Mary version was released as a single in 1969 and became their only No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100.
Gordon Lightfoot’s In the Early Morning Rain is a melancholic folk song about longing, loss, and loneliness. The song tells the story of a man watching a plane take off while standing in the cold rain, feeling stranded and left behind. The plane symbolizes escape and freedom—things he cannot reach. His sadness is deepened by memories of better times, possibly with a loved one or in a place he can’t return to. The mood is sorrowful and reflective, evoking feelings of isolation and helplessness. The imagery of rain and flight enhances the song’s theme of unattainable desires.