Lyrics
Chorus
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven
Let it rain, let it rain
Verse (Psalm 97)
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad
Let the distance shores rejoice
Clouds and thick darkness surround him
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne
A fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side
His lightning lights up the world
The earth sees and trembles
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord
Before the Lord of all the earth
The Heavens proclaim His righteousness
And all peoples will see His Glory
Chorus (Repeat)
Open the floodgates of Heaven
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven
Let it rain, let it rain
Bridge
We want to see Your Glory, God!
Do you want to see His Glory?
Lift your voices, lift your hands!
Outro
Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven
(Repeat)
Credits & Song Information
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Michael W. Smith’s “Let It Rain” draws directly from Psalm 97, placing the request for heaven’s floodgates within a scene of divine majesty. The rain is not merely weather; it is the outpouring of God’s presence, answered by a creation that trembles at His power. The psalm’s language of clouds, fire, and melting mountains points to a holiness that cannot be managed. Righteousness and justice hold up His throne, so the rain arrives as both mercy and awe.
The chorus repeats the same plea, turning a public worship moment into a persistent longing. The bridge then shifts to a voiced desire to see God’s glory, followed by an invitation to respond physically. That movement—from declaring God’s rule to asking for rain to seeking His glory—gives the song a coherent arc.
The theological weight rests on the conviction that God’s reign is good and that His presence can be asked for. The song does not explain how the rain comes; it simply opens the hands to receive it.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 97 The Lord reigns; the earth trembles before Him