Sunshine After Rain

The song ‘Why Worry’ was written by Mark Knopfler lead vocalist, and guitarist of Dire Straits and it was first released by Dire Straits in 1985 on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms.  Mark said he wrote this with The Everly Brothers in mind and it was a commercial success, reaching the TOP 40 in several countries.  Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler, and The Everly Brothers performed ‘Why Worry’ live in New York, in 1987.  The Everly Brothers recorded the song for their thirtieth album titled Born Yesterday out of the 31 albums that they recorded.  About twenty years later, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris released a collaborative album called All the Roadrunning, which led to them performing together, and when they went out on tour, the song became part of their regular set list.

The lyrics in this song explore the theme of cheering up someone who is sad.  It is a love song between two people who have known worry, and they are able to comfort each other.  They realize the fleeting nature of life and that bad experiences happen to everyone.  He promises to comfort her and help her feel better, even if the world seems hard.  He reminds her that there will always be happiness after sadness and sunshine after rain, so there is no need to worry.  It’s almost a lullaby, as he turns the cold, cruel world into a place of tranquility.

Jennifer Warnes included it on her 2018 album Another Time, Another Place.  In 1987, at the Bottom Line a club in New York City Chet Atkins gave a concert that was titled Music From The Heart with Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, the Everly Brothers, Michael McDonald, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson which was filmed and recorded over two nights.  The concert marked the first time that Chet Atkins had performed live in New York City in over 20 years and an album and video of this performance was released titled Chet Atkins & Friends which featured this song and also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance.

Baby, I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say

But baby, I’ll wipe away those bitter tears
I’ll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into gray

Why worry
There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now
Why worry now

Baby, when I get down I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
And though it isn’t hard to say

But baby, just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way

Why worry
There should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now
Why worry now

Written for Glyn’s Mixed Music Bag #13 Monthly Challenge, May week 4.