Early Morning Rain – English Lyrics

• By: Gordon Lightfoot
• Album: Gord's Gold

Lyrics & Translation

"Early Morning Rain" by Gordon Lightfoot is a quintessential folk song that paints a vivid picture of loneliness and longing through simple yet evocative language. Its clear narrative and accessible vocabulary make it an excellent choice for English language learners to grasp conversational storytelling, while its profound emotional depth offers insights into expressing feelings of homesickness and weariness.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere.
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon.
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb.
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space.
runway /ˈrʌnˌweɪ/ B1	noun - a strip of hard ground along which aircraft take off and land.
grass /ɡræs/ A1	noun - vegetation consisting of typically short plants with long, narrow leaves, growing wild or cultivated on lawns and pasture, and as a fodder crop.
liquor /ˈlɪkər/ B2	noun - an alcoholic drink, especially distilled spirits.
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
engines /ˈendʒɪnz/ B1	noun - a machine with moving parts that converts power into motion.
wing /wɪŋ/ A2	noun - a modified limb of a bird or insect that enables it to fly.
clouds /klaʊdz/ A1	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth.
airport /ˈerpɔːrt/ A2	noun - a complex of runways and buildings for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth.
jet /dʒet/ B1	noun - an aircraft propelled by jet engines.
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by integral motors.
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something.
drunk /drʌŋk/ B1	adjective - affected by alcohol to the extent of impaired physical and mental control.

Key Grammar Structures

• In the early morning rain with a dollar in my hand

  ➔ Prepositional phrase as an adverbial modifier.

  ➔ The phrase "In the early morning rain" describes the circumstances of the situation, modifying the implied action of the speaker being present.

• I'm a long way from home, Lord, I miss my loved ones so

  ➔ Simple sentence with adverb of degree "so".

  ➔ The adverb "so" emphasizes the extent to which the speaker misses his loved ones. "I miss my loved ones *so*" means the speaker misses them greatly.

• Out on runway number nine a big 707 set to go

  ➔ Inverted sentence structure for emphasis. Ellipsis of the verb "is/was".

  ➔ The standard word order would be "A big 707 is set to go out on runway number nine." Inversion emphasizes the location. The "is" is omitted for a more poetic effect.

• And, I'm stuck here in the grass where the pavement never grows

  ➔ Relative clause with "where" to define a place.

  ➔ The relative clause "where the pavement never grows" modifies "the grass", specifying which area of grass the speaker is stuck in.

• Now, the liquor tasted good and the women all were fast

  ➔ Simple sentences connected by "and".

  ➔ "And" connects two independent clauses, showing a connection between the speaker's enjoyment of the liquor and his observation about the women.

• Well, there she goes, my friend, she'll be rolling down at last

  ➔ Future tense with "will be" (future continuous)

  ➔ "She'll be rolling down" indicates a future action that will be in progress for a period of time. The use of "at last" expresses relief or expectation.

• There the morning rain don't fall and the sun always shines

  ➔ Simple present tense to describe a habitual action and negative contraction "don't" (non-standard).

  ➔ The use of "don't" with the singular noun "rain" is grammatically incorrect in standard English (should be "doesn't"), but it's a common feature in some dialects and in song lyrics for stylistic effect.

• You can't jump a jet plane like you can a freight train

  ➔ Modal verb "can" expressing ability or possibility in comparative sentence. Ellipsis in the second clause

  ➔ The full second clause would be "like you can jump a freight train". The verb "jump" is omitted for brevity. "Can" expresses the speaker's understanding of the difference between the two actions.