“Rain Parade” by Church Mice – A Song Feature

 

     “Rain Parade” was written to express the loneliness and isolation that are common frustrations among artists/musicians. Church Mice explained:
  “Musicians hope to inspire with their unique perspective on the world. When our message is misunderstood or not heard at all, we retreat, sometimes into darker places. Those dark places are frequently where we generate our inspiration for more material. It can be an exhilarating ride, but it can also be hauntingly lonely. The hope is that this song encourages the positive end of this spectrum.”
 
     The lyrics of “Rain Parade” (included in this post) certainly carry that message. The vocals expose the emotion, particular the anguished backing vocals that enter at 1:25. And loneliness and isolation are further conveyed by the guitar and piano “solos” that are in the instrumental second half of the single from Church Mice.
 
           Church Mice states its pride in crafting songs that sound both familiar and altogether new. They identify U2, The Cult, and Pink Floyd as the inspirations for “Rain Parade.” We do hear the Pink Floyd influence in the modulation of the first 20 seconds, but the rest of the song brings Guns N' Roses to mind. At 1:25, the backing vocals possess a timbre similar to that of Axl Rose for songs that have him in the upper vocal range, such as “Sweet Child O' Mine.” And the combination of a guitar solo and a piano solo is shared with “November Rain,” but without the orchestration and other trappings. Church Mice describe “Rain Parade” as a straightforward, three-chord rock progression with thick layers of boomerang guitars.

     Church Mice is based in Detroit, Michigan. The members are Christian Thompson (vocals, guitar), Bill Solomonson (guitar, vocals), Rob Dawson (keyboards), Bryan Frink (bass), and Jason Gittinger (drums).

     “Rain Parade” by Church Mice (on alternative platforms)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchmice5
Bandcamp: https://churchmicedetroit.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Rain Parade” by Church Mice
Welcome to my confusion
I'm a visionary of circus illusions
 
I hope that it don't rain on my parade
 
The anguish you cannot lessen
In this fortress of wanton, and endless confessions
 
I hope that it don't rain on my parade
 
Marked in the pages of time and space
We've all got something to give to this place
The gifts we besiege upon you - will last
 
And if there should ever come a day
When this song can't clear your skies of grey
I hope you'll join me, in here; way down in here, oh