About the song
Title: Weathering Life’s Storms: The Quiet Resilience of Barry Manilow – I Made It Through the Rain (1979)
Some songs don’t just echo in our ears — they stay with us because they reflect our own journeys. Barry Manilow – I Made It Through the Rain (1979) is one such song. Gentle, reflective, and quietly powerful, it speaks to anyone who has ever faced hardship, doubt, or isolation — and found the strength to carry on. This isn’t just a ballad; it’s a companion for difficult times, and a tribute to perseverance.
Released as part of Manilow’s 1980 album Barry, the song actually originated a year earlier and was written by Gerard Kenny and Drey Shepperd. Manilow reworked it slightly, adapting the lyrics to broaden its message from a story about a struggling songwriter to something far more universal. What resulted was a deeply personal anthem about enduring adversity with quiet dignity.
From the very first notes, Barry Manilow – I Made It Through the Rain (1979) establishes a tone of introspection. The melody is soft and steady, like a heartbeat — a perfect backdrop for lyrics that speak of disappointment, loneliness, and the will to endure. Manilow’s voice, as always, is clear and expressive. But here, more than in many of his pop hits, there is a maturity in his delivery that speaks volumes. He doesn’t oversing or dramatize; instead, he lets the words do the work, singing with restraint and respect for the emotion in the lyrics.
What makes this song resonate so deeply — particularly with older, more seasoned listeners — is its honest recognition of life’s challenges. It acknowledges the rain, but it doesn’t dwell in it. Instead, it celebrates the moment after the storm, when you can look back and say, “I made it.” It’s not triumphant in a flashy way; it’s triumphant in a deeply human, quietly courageous way.
Barry Manilow – I Made It Through the Rain (1979) endures because it tells a truth many understand: that strength isn’t always loud, and survival doesn’t always make headlines. Sometimes, simply staying upright in difficult times is an achievement worth singing about. And with this song, Manilow offers us both comfort and inspiration — reminding us that even when skies are dark, the rain doesn’t last forever.