I was driving home from work recently, listening to the Beatles on my iPod in shuffle mode, when a song came up which surprised me.

We go through it every four years here in America, Great Britain suffers from the same problem. At any one time, it seems half the country is mad at and/or hates the other half. Each side says the other side is "polarizing," but it seems to me that both sides are equally to blame. And it seems that there isn't any hope for both sides to ever "get along."

And then the Beatles song Rain came on my iPod. This song is so aurally exciting, it's easy to listen to and enjoy this song and not notice the lyrics. But in the context of just having gone through a big national election, all of a sudden it was like I was hearing the song for the first time.

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
    When the sun shines down
And sip their lemonade
    When the sun shines down
When the sun shines, when the sun shines

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

I can show you that when it starts to rain,
    When the Rain comes down
Everything's the same
    When the Rain comes down
I can show you, I can show you

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

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?

In this song, John is saying, no matter what side you are on, everyone finds it hard to accept the situation, either running and hiding from the rain, or seeking the shade when the sun shines. But he says, I can show you, whether it's rain or shine, everything's the same, and it's just a state of mind.

So, when it seems half your country hates the other half, or when your team loses to its home-town rivals, don't let it get you down, just remember John's words. You don't have to feel bad, or angry. Everything's the same, it's all a state of mind. I can show you.

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Published November 27, 2008

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