When I was in middle school, I bought the “Beaches” soundtrack because I fell in love with the song “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” that Bette Midler sang in the movie. This was 1988, before the days of Spotify, iTunes or even Napster when you had to buy the entire soundtrack for one song.
It’s a beautiful song, with sadness in the lyrics, yet this accompanying idea of human kindness that juxtaposes the feelings. Randy Newman wrote the song in 1963 and about it said, “music is emotional – even beautiful – and the lyrics are not.” I feel that same sense of sad beauty every time I hear the song. … And on some rainy evenings, the song plays on a loop in my head, just like the worn down “Beaches” cassette my lonely 13-year-old self owned.
“Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today.
Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
I think I’ll kick it down the street
That’s the way to treat a friend.
Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today.”