Cloudbursts

     Awhile back I was listening to a few new songs I'd downloaded that were recommended by my kids. I was surprised that, at regular intervals, the sound of thunder popped up during the first song. I thought that was, well...interesting...or maybe a bit odd, since the song had nothing to do with the weather.  (Not even weather-as-metaphor, such as in, say, Tom Waits' 'Emotional Weather Report'.)  Then I started to listen to the next song--again, the sound of thunder!!  What's this, I thought--some strange new trend in indie rock?
    Finally I figured it out.  I recently added 'desktop weather' to my computer, courtesy of the Weather Channel, and that day I learned that severe storm alerts are issued to the sound of thunder.  Never mind that our severe weather that day was high winds...but I guess you can't getting anyone's attention with the sound of wind.
    Anyway, here is one of my favorite songs, and positively my favorite weather related song--The Ronettes'  majestic 'Walking in the Rain'.  The song opens with the sound of thunder, then a couplet that is the apotheosis of hopeful anticipation:

I want him, and I need him,
And someday, someway, I'll meet him...

The sound of rain & thunder repeats again & again in the song--one might even think a little too often.  Get out your umbrella...