“That One Was the Gift of God”: The Beatles Song John Lennon Credited to Divine Intervention

“Rain” remains one of the Beatles’ most beloved tracks. It’s a fan-favorite for its experimental production. How did John Lennon come up with “Rain?” According to him, this masterpiece was a gift from a higher power. Learn more about why Lennon thought he got a bout of divine intervention, below.

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The Beatles Song John Lennon Credited to Divine Intervention

If the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes

When the sun shines
They slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade
When the sun shines
When the sun shines

While trying to compose “Rain,” Lennon ran into some road blocks. He had the bones of the song fleshed out, but it wasn’t worthy of release in its current state, according to Lennon. He decided to take a smoke break–a marijuana smoke break that is. Despite it being a way to kick back, it ultimately became just the ticket for Lennon to finish this track.

“I got home from the studio and I was stoned out of my mind on marijuana,” Lennon once explained. “As I usually do, I listened to what I’d recorded that day. Somehow it got on backwards and I sat there, transfixed, with the earphones on, with a big hash joint.”

“The drums became a giant drum kit,” Paul McCartney added. “If you slow down a footstep it becomes a giant’s footstep, it adds a few tones to the weight of the person. So we got a big, ponderous, thunderous backing and then we worked on top of that as normal.”

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Despite that stroke of genius, Lennon decided not to take credit for “Rain.” He instead pointed to a higher power for inspiration.

“That one was the gift of God, of Ja actually, the god of marijuana, right,” Lennon added. “So Ja gave me that one.”

Revisit “Rain,” below.

Rain, I don’t mind
Shine, the weather’s fine

I can show you
That when it starts to rain
Everything’s the same
I can show you
I can show you

Can you hear me that when it rains and shines
(When it rains and shines) It’s just a state of mind
(When it rains and shines) Can you hear me?
Can you hear me? (Hear me)

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)