About The Song
“Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” is a country song co-written and recorded by Gary Allan, released on September 17, 2012, as the lead single from his ninth studio album Set You Free on MCA Nashville. Allan wrote the song with Hillary Lindsey and Matt Warren, marking his first No. 1 as a co-writer. The track hit No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart on February 9, 2013, his fourth chart-topping single overall, and also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, his first since “Nothing On but the Radio” in 2004. It peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 93 on the Canadian Hot 100. The song earned a 2014 ACM nomination for Song of the Year.
The idea for the song came from Matt Warren during a tough period. Warren, who previously sold merchandise for Allan but transitioned to songwriting, was mowing lawns after being dropped by Warner-Chappell/Amylase. One day, while weed-eating, a rock hit him in the forehead, sparking frustration. He recalled the phrase “every storm runs out of rain,” which he’d jotted down weeks earlier. Warren shared the concept with Allan and Lindsey, and they wrote the song at Allan’s house. Warren told American Songwriter in 2013, “I had to learn the hard way that hard work and adversity are good for the human soul.” The song required minimal editing, with its structure, lyrics, and melody largely unchanged from the initial writing session.
Initially piano-driven by Lindsey, the track evolved in the studio when guitarist David Steele added the iconic opening lick, which stuck instantly. Produced by Allan and Greg Droman, the mid-tempo song features electric guitar in the key of A minor with a chord pattern of Am-F-C-G. Lindsey provided harmony vocals, a first for an Allan single. Allan told The Boot in 2012, “It’s a song about hope, and the timing, with the recent storms and floods, our country needs hope.” The album Set You Free debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 106,000 copies, Allan’s first chart-topping album.
The music video, filmed in an old slaughterhouse in East Nashville, was released on December 4, 2012. Allan tied the video to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, encouraging fans to donate to the Red Cross in exchange for a free acoustic version of the song. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave it four stars, noting, “It’s his ability to mix gravel with rose petals that makes him such a treasured original.” The song’s message of resilience resonated widely, appearing on compilations like NOW That’s What I Call Country, Vol. 6. It has been covered by Piano Dreamers, per SecondHandSongs.
The track’s cultural impact endures, with steady streams on Spotify since its 2013 release. Posts on X from 2016 to 2021 often quote its hopeful lyrics, reflecting its lasting resonance. “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)” remains a cornerstone of Allan’s career, blending his signature melancholy with a newfound optimism, capturing the essence of overcoming adversity through music.
Video
Lyric
I saw you standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning
I know you’re feeling like you just can’t win, but you’re trying
It’s hard to keep on keepin’ on, when you’re being pushed around
Don’t even know which way is up, you just keep spinning down, ’round, downEvery storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rainSo hold your head up and tell yourself that there’s something more
And walk out that door
Go find a new rose, don’t be afraid of the thorns
‘Cause we all have thorns
Just put your feet up to the edge, put your face in the wind
And when you fall back down, keep on rememberin’Every storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rainIt’s gonna run out of pain
It’s gonna run out of sting
It’s gonna leave you alone
It’s gonna set you free
Set you freeEvery storm runs, runs out of rain
Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rainIt’s gonna set you free
It’s gonna run out of pain
It’s gonna set you free
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