[Verse 1] Blue paint peeling by the laundromat wall One bald tire, one cracked windshield I turn the key and nothing answers Like it’s got a grudge to keep concealed [Pre-Chorus] But the clouds roll in from the county line And water beads on the hood She coughs twice, then fires up Like only a bad machine could [Chorus] It only starts when it rains Only starts when it rains Dry week, dead week, stranded again Then thunder wakes the old thing up It only starts when it rains [Verse 2] Mrs. Alvarez laughs from her porch Says, “Boy, that car knows the weather” I keep a coat on the passenger seat And a spare key tied with leather [Pre-Chorus] The forecast says clear for Friday So I park beneath the drain By Saturday the tank is full And I’m begging clouds for rain [Chorus] It only starts when it rains Only starts when it rains Dry week, dead week, stranded again Then thunder wakes the old thing up It only starts when it rains [Bridge] Come on, sky, don’t leave me here I’ve got a shift and a half-worn gear One cold drop on the roof tonight And this rusted heart might come alive [Instrumental] [Final Chorus] It only starts when it rains Only starts when it rains Everybody’s gone but I’m laughing again Water running down the steering wheel It only starts when it rains Yeah, it only starts when it rains [Outro] Blue paint shining under porch-light rain She rolls away, then dies again
