Career-defining songs don’t come along very often or for everyone. For The Beatles, they had so many that it’s difficult to count them. Rihanna has had many hits throughout her career, but “Umbrella” is the one for which she is particularly remembered. It stayed No. 1 on the Billboard 100 for seven weeks, and she won two Grammys for it. It was a collaborative song with Jay-Z about a successful woman for whom the money and glitz mean nothing and a not-so-successful fellow for whom it meant everything. Despite the woman’s personal philosophy, she decided to be her lover’s “umbrella” against the metaphorical rainstorm of the world, protecting him and making sure that they both live out their dreams. It’s a song that resonated with myriad people who had the same dreams as Jay-Z’s character.

The Master

The-Dream was the song’s lyricist. He’s been a creative force in hip-hop for a generation, and he was at the peak of his ability when composing the lyrics for “Umbrella.” In contrast to other lyricists, who pound out revision after revision trying to write perfection, The-Dream just took 15 minutes. He composed the lyrics as a freestyle rap in one sitting, building each rain-themed metaphor upon the previous one. He is savvy enough to know, however, that the greatest words are nothing without scintillating performance. Rihanna and Jay-Z delivered that, and The-Dream remarked that he’s forever grateful for that.

Keen Timing

The-Dream, who was born Terius Nash, said that on the day he came up with the song, he and a few others were moving equipment around the studio. He had to step out for a little while, but when he returned, he heard something that Trick was fooling around with it. He stopped, listened to about eight measures, and told Trick to turn on the microphone. Trick said that they were just playing whatever, but Nash insisted. So, Trick did as he was told, and Nash let loose. Later, he said that other than probably four words, the song you hear Rihanna sing today is exactly what he did during those fateful 15 minutes.

Other Media

The song has been in the soundtrack of many crime dramas over the years, which include such hit shows as “Cold Case,” “Bones,” and “Criminal Minds.” Andy sings it to Angela on the American version of “The Office,” and a few contestants on “Lip Synch Battle” have used the song as well.

Lyrics

Uh huh, uh huh (yeah, Rihanna)
Uh huh, uh huh (Good Girl Gone Bad)
Uh huh, uh huh (take three, action)
Uh huh, uh huh (Hov)

No clouds in my stones
Let it rain, I hydroplane in the bank
Comin’ down like Dow Jones
When the clouds come, we gone
We Roc-A-Fella
We fly higher than weather
In G5’s or better
You know me (you know me)
In anticipation for precipitation stack chips for the rainy day
Jay, Rain Man is back
With Little Ms. Sunshine, Rihanna, where you at?

You have my heart
And we’ll never be worlds apart
Maybe in magazines
But you’ll still be my star
Baby, ’cause in the dark
You can’t see shiny cars
And that’s when you need me there
With you I’ll always share
Because

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh

These fancy things will never come in between
You’re part of my entity, here for infinity
When the war has took its part
When the world has dealt its cards
If the hand is hard
Together we’ll mend your heart
Because

When the sun shines, we shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh

You can run into my arms
It’s okay, don’t be alarmed
Come into me (there’s no distance in between our love)
So gon’ and let the rain pour
I’ll be all you need and more
Because

When the sun shines, we shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be your friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out to the end
Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh
Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh-eh

It’s raining, raining
Ooh, baby, it’s raining, raining
Baby, come into me
Come into me
It’s raining, raining
Ooh, baby, it’s raining, raining
You can always come into me
Come into me
It’s pouring rain
It’s pouring rain
Come into me
Come into me
It’s pouring rain
It’s pouring rain, come into me

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Christopher A. Stewart / Shawn C. Carter / Terius Youngdell Nash / Thaddis Laphonia Harrell

Umbrella lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Listeners that enjoy this song about Love may also enjoy the song All My life by Foo Fighters