Released: August 23, 1993

Songwriter: Prince

Producer: Ricky Peterson

[Verse 1]
You will be moved
When the baby lets out his very first cry
You will be moved when
When you think of how hard he'll have to try
He'll grow up on an empty stomach, but he'll try his best to listen
To the teacher readin' from a schoolbook with half the pages missin'

[Chorus]
Surely when the rain comes
You will be moved
La da da da da
See the video

[Verse 2]
You will be moved
And you will be when the baby makes all the grades
You will be moved
And you will be when they still don't hire him anyway
Moved by a system without one single guarantee
That an education is the answer and love will set us free

[Chorus]
Surely when the rain comes
You will be moved
La da da da da
See the video

[Verse 3]
Oh, you will be moved
When the rain comes, oh yes, you will be moved
When the streets overflow with angry souls
That's when you see the truth
When the pain that you've inflicted
Comes back on your door to roost
(Back on your door to roost)
That's when you'll see the future (future)
But you won't see you

[Chorus]
Surely when the rain comes
You will be moved
La da da da da
See the video

[Verse 4]
You will be moved
When the whip comes down
On the back of one of your own
You will be moved
When you look for compassion
But you find you're all alone
Moved you will be
When you are, that's when you'll know
That the bread you share is better than the blood
That your deeds have caused to flow
(That the bread is better than the blood)

[Chorus]
Surely when the rain comes
You will be moved
La da da da da
See the video

[Verse 3]
Hey, you will be moved
When the rain comes, oh yes, you will be moved
When the streets overflow with angry souls
That's when you see the truth
When the pain that you've inflicted
Comes back on your door to roost
(Back on your door to roost)
That's when you'll see the future (future)
But you won't see you

[Outro]
I said surely when the rain comes
You will be moved
La da da da da (La da da da da)
See the video
Hey, surely, surely, surely (when the rain comes)
Surely y'all
Ow, la da da da da

Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist. She has recorded and performed with her family’s band The Staple Singers (1947-1994), and also as a solo artist (c.1960-today). During their time, the family group was affectionately known in the industry as “God’s Greatest Hitmakers.”