You know that feeling when the first four chords of a song hit and the entire room just shifts? That’s the "Let It Rain" effect. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a Pentecostal or non-denominational church over the last twenty-five years, you’ve heard it. You've probably sung it. You might have even wept to it. It’s a phenomenon. But there is a weird, lingering confusion about where the gospel song Let It Rain actually came from and why it became the "National Anthem" of modern worship.
Most people think Michael W. Smith wrote it. He didn't.
In the late 90s, a songwriter named Michael Farren was leading worship at a small church in Tennessee. He wasn't trying to write a global CCM hit. He was just looking for a way to express a spiritual desperation that felt bigger than standard hymns. The lyrics are almost aggressively simple: "Open the floodgates of Heaven, let it rain." That’s basically it. But that simplicity is exactly why it stuck. It didn't need a theology degree to understand; it just needed a voice.
The Michael W. Smith Connection and the 9/11 Shift
While Farren wrote it, Michael W. Smith made it a household name. He recorded it for his landmark album Worship in 2001. Honestly, the timing was everything. The album was recorded live in Lakeland, Florida, just months before the September 11 attacks. When the world felt like it was falling apart, people weren't looking for complex metaphors. They wanted something visceral.
The gospel song Let It Rain provided a soundtrack for a grieving nation. Smith’s version is soaring and cinematic, but it’s the bridge—the "I feel the rains of Your love" part—that usually pushes a room over the edge. It’s repetitive, sure. Some critics call it "7-11 music" (seven words sung eleven times). But in a liturgical sense, that repetition serves a purpose. It’s meant to move the singer from their head to their heart. It’s meditative.
Why Does Every Artist Have a Version?
If you check Spotify, you’ll see dozens of covers. It’s sort of the "Yesterday" of the gospel world. You’ve got the Winans Phase 2 version, which brings that slick R&B harmony to the track. Then there’s Bishop Paul S. Morton’s rendition. That one is legendary. If Smith’s version is a soft spring rain, Morton’s is a full-blown thunderstorm.
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Morton’s take on the gospel song Let It Rain highlights the "call and response" tradition that is so vital to Black Gospel music. He’s not just singing a song; he’s leading a congregation into a specific spiritual atmosphere. The instrumentation is heavier, the ad-libs are more intense, and the "rain" isn't just a metaphor for love—it’s a metaphor for power and breakthrough.
It’s interesting how the same eight bars of music can be interpreted as a quiet acoustic ballad or a ten-minute powerhouse anthem with a 50-person choir. That’s the mark of a well-written song. It’s malleable. It fits wherever people are hurting or hoping.
The "Floodgates" Imagery Explained
So, what are we actually talking about when we sing about floodgates? It’s a direct reference to Malachi 3:10. It’s the idea of an outpouring so massive that you don't have enough room to receive it. In a religious context, "rain" usually symbolizes the Holy Spirit or God's favor.
But there’s a darker side to the imagery of rain in the Bible, too—think Noah. It’s about washing things away. It’s about a fresh start after a total clearing of the old ground. When people sing this song, they are often asking for a personal reset. They want the dry seasons of their life to end. It’s a song for the parched.
The Technical Side: Why It Works Musically
Musically, the song is a bit of a "cheat code." It’s usually played in a key like G or A, using a basic progression that almost anyone with three weeks of guitar lessons can master.
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- It starts on the IV chord (C in the key of G).
- It moves to the I chord (G).
- Then the V chord (D).
- Finally the vi chord (Em).
This is a "circular" progression. It never feels like it has to end. Because the melody stays within a very narrow range, it’s incredibly easy for a crowd to sing. You don't have to be a soprano to hit the notes. Everyone can join in. This accessibility is why the gospel song Let It Rain replaced more complicated hymns in many contemporary services. It lowered the barrier to entry.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
People get the title wrong all the time. Sometimes they search for "Open the Floodgates" or "The Rain Song." They also frequently credit it to whatever artist they heard it from first. If you grew up in a Black church in the early 2000s, you might swear Bishop Paul S. Morton wrote it. If you grew up in a suburban Baptist church, you’d bet your life it was Michael W. Smith.
The reality is that Michael Farren's contribution often gets lost in the shuffle of the big names. He’s a prolific writer who has written for Revere, CityAlight, and many others, but "Let It Rain" remains his most pervasive contribution to the global church. It’s a weird quirk of the music industry—sometimes your simplest work becomes your entire legacy.
Impact Beyond the Church Walls
Believe it or not, this song has crossed over into spaces you wouldn't expect. It’s been used in movies and TV shows to signify a moment of redemption. It’s been sung at secular funerals. There is something about the "rain" metaphor that transcends specific religious dogma. Everyone knows what it feels like to wait for a drought to break.
Actually, if you look at the "Let It Rain" (Bishop Paul S. Morton) YouTube comments, you’ll see people from all walks of life. They aren't all "churchy" people. Some are just folks dealing with addiction or grief who found the song on a random playlist. The song acts as a bridge. It’s a universal cry for help.
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How to Properly Use the Song in a Setlist
If you're a worship leader, don't just throw this song in because it's a "classic." It requires a certain level of sensitivity.
- Don't rush the tempo. The song needs room to breathe. If you play it too fast, it loses the "soaking" quality that makes it special.
- Lean into the dynamics. Start small. Just a piano or a light pad. Let the voices be the loudest thing in the room.
- Know your audience. In some settings, the Michael W. Smith arrangement works best. In others, you need the grit and soul of the Morton version.
- Watch the repetition. Yes, the song is repetitive by design, but you have to know when to move on. There is a fine line between a "spiritual moment" and just being stuck on a loop.
The Future of "Let It Rain"
Is it dated? Kinda. The early 2000s production on some of the original recordings definitely feels like a time capsule. The "watery" synth sounds and the specific drum EQ choices scream "Y2K era." However, the core of the song—the melody and the lyric—seems to be evergreen.
Newer groups like Maverick City Music or Elevation Worship haven't necessarily re-recorded it as a lead single, but you'll hear snippets of it in their spontaneous "flow" moments during live recordings. It’s part of the DNA of modern worship. It’s the vocabulary that songwriters now use as a baseline.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the gospel song Let It Rain, don't just stick to one version. Listen to Michael Farren’s original intent, then jump over to the live gospel versions to see how the song evolved. It’s a masterclass in how a simple idea can turn into a global movement.
Actionable Insights for Your Playlist
To truly appreciate the scope of this song, curate a chronological listening session:
- Start with Michael W. Smith’s Worship (2001): This gives you the context of how the song broke into the mainstream. Pay attention to the crowd noise; it tells the story better than the music does.
- Move to Bishop Paul S. Morton’s version: This is where you see the song’s peak emotional output. It’s a lesson in vocal power and "anointing" (as they say in the industry).
- Check out Jesus Culture’s version: This shows how the song transitioned into the "Bethel-style" era of the late 2000s and early 2010s, with more electric guitar and a "rock" edge.
- Analyze the Lyrics: Take a moment to read the lyrics without the music. Notice how few words are actually there. Think about what "rain" means in your own life right now. It might be peace, it might be financial help, or it might just be a moment of quiet.
By understanding the history and the structure of this anthem, you get more than just a catchy tune. You get a glimpse into a piece of musical history that managed to bypass the gatekeepers and go straight to the hearts of millions. It’s not just a song; it’s a prayer that hasn't stopped being answered for twenty-five years.