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"Buckets of Rain" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1975 on his critically acclaimed album Blood on the Tracks
Blood on the Tracks

Blood on the Tracks is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 15th studio album, released in 1975 by Columbia Records, which marked Dylan's return to Columbia after a two-album stint with Asylum Records....
.

In the officially released studio recording, "Buckets of Rain" is played in the key of E major
E major

E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E , F? , G? , A , B , C? , and D? . Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative key is C-sharp minor, and its parallel key is E minor....
. Instrumentally there are only two: acoustic guitar and bass guitar
Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
. The guitar is not in standard tuning
Guitar tuning

Guitar tunings are differing pitch arrangements of open strings used for the guitar. Many arrangements are possible, some of the most popular are detailed below....
; rather, it is in "Open E" tuning.

Lyrically, "Buckets of Rain" is relatively simple, with five short verses addressing a lover.






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"Buckets of Rain" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1975 on his critically acclaimed album Blood on the Tracks
Blood on the Tracks

Blood on the Tracks is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 15th studio album, released in 1975 by Columbia Records, which marked Dylan's return to Columbia after a two-album stint with Asylum Records....
.

In the officially released studio recording, "Buckets of Rain" is played in the key of E major
E major

E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E , F? , G? , A , B , C? , and D? . Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative key is C-sharp minor, and its parallel key is E minor....
. Instrumentally there are only two: acoustic guitar and bass guitar
Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
. The guitar is not in standard tuning
Guitar tuning

Guitar tunings are differing pitch arrangements of open strings used for the guitar. Many arrangements are possible, some of the most popular are detailed below....
; 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
Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an United States singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became a solo artist with great success in the early to mid-1940s, being the idol of the "bobby soxers"....
-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)


Lyrics are bright yet heartbroken:

Like your smile and your fingertips

Like the way that you move your hips.

I like the cool way you look at me.

Everything about you is bringing me misery.

"Buckets of Rain" was included on the Wonder Boys
Wonder Boys (film)

Wonder Boys is a 2000 in film feature film based on the 1995 in literature Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon. Directed by Curtis Hanson, it stars Michael Douglas as professor Grady Tripp, a novelist who teaches creative writing at an unnamed Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania university....
 Soundtrack, which was released in 2000. Dylan also sang this song in a recording with Bette Midler
Bette Midler

Bette Midler is an American singing, actress and comedienne, also known as The Divine Miss M. During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards....
 on her 1976 album Songs for the New Depression
Songs for the New Depression

Songs for the New Depression is the third studio album by American female Singing Bette Midler, released in early 1976 on the Atlantic Records label....
. Dylan has only performed this song one time live, as a surprise opener at a November 18, 1990 concert in Detroit.

Covers

"Buckets of Rain" has been covered by many musicians, including:
  • Happy Traum
    Happy Traum

    Happy Traum is an American folk music who started playing music in the Fifties....
    : American Stranger (1978), Bucket of Songs (1983)
  • Wendy Bucklew
    Wendy Bucklew

    Wendy Bucklew is an American folk music singer/songwriter who became well-known as part of the Atlanta folk scene, which she joined in 1988. She recently moved back to California....
    : The Times They Are A-Changin (1992), After You (2002)
  • Jimmy LaFave
    Jimmy LaFave

    Jimmy LaFave is an American singer/songwriter and folk music musician born in Wills Point, Texas, a small farming community located near Dallas....
    :     Road Novel (1998)
  • Steve Howe
    Steve Howe (guitarist)

    Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an England guitarist best known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes after replacing Peter Banks in 1970....
    :     Portraits of Bob Dylan (1999)
  • Mary Lee's Corvette
    Mary Lee's Corvette

    Mary Lee's Corvette is a New York City-based band led by Michigan-born singer-songwriter Mary Lee Kortes . They have recorded five albums, notably 2002's song-for-song Cover version of Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, recorded live in New York....
    :     Blood on the Tracks (2002)
  • Various artists (performed by Bette Midler
    Bette Midler

    Bette Midler is an American singing, actress and comedienne, also known as The Divine Miss M. During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Awards, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards....
    ):     Doin' Dylan 2 (2002)
  • Various artists (performed by Wendy Bucklew): May Your Song Always Be Sung: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Volume 3 (2003)
  • Various artists (performed by Neko Case
    Neko Case

    Neko Case is an United States alternative country singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
    ):     Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs (2005)
  • Beth Orton and M. Ward : "Confidentially Speaking" Live recording @ "Largo" Los Angeles CA. Sept 30, 2003
  • Chris Martin at the Union Chapel, London, November 27th 2006. Martin then dedicated it to Lily Allen.
  • David Gray
    David Gray

    David Gray may refer to:*David Gray , Scottish poet*David Gray , rugby league player for the Connecticut Wildcats*David Gray , English singer-songwriter...
    : During many live concerts.
  • Sarah Softich: Duluth Does Dylan Revisited (2006)
  • Martin Simpson
    Martin Simpson

    Martin Simpson is an England guitarist....
     at the Union Chapel, London, November 13th 2007.
  • The Wood Brothers
    The Wood Brothers

    The Wood Brothers are musician siblings Chris and Oliver Wood. Chris Wood was a founding member of Medeski Martin & Wood, and Oliver Wood played second guitar with Tinsley Ellis before forming King Johnson....
    :     Loaded
    Loaded

    'Loaded' may refer to:In 'music':* Loaded , by The Velvet Underground** ...
     (2008)
  • Neko Case
    Neko Case

    Neko Case is an United States alternative country singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and her contributions as a member of the Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers....
    : Live from Austin, TX (Neko Case album)
    Live from Austin, TX (Neko Case album)

    Live from Austin, TX is a live album recorded by Neko Case on August 9, 2003 on the Austin City Limits Television series. The performance first aired on PBS on November 8, 2003, was released on DVD in 2006, and appeared on Compact disc on January 9, 2007....
     (2003)


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