You say that you love rain, but you open your umbrella when it rains.
You say that you love the sun, but you find a shadow spot when the sun shines.
You say that you love the wind, but you close your windows when wind blows.
This is why I am afraid, you say that you love me too.
I must not be hanging out in the right circles. I’d never heard this quote. Every “You say that you love rain” variation brings traffic to this page. When I googled it, it was all over the place. It should take two seconds to realize this isn’t Shakespeare. Just another “I don’t know who said it, so I’ll make it sound better by attaching Shakespeare’s name.”
Here’s a tip – whenever you see a supposed Shakespeare quote attributed to Shakespeare in the second person (“you do this” and “you do that”) ask yourself, “Who was he talking to?” and “Where would this make sense in his work?” Shakespeare didn’t write Hallmark greeting cards. Rarely does one character stand there and go on and on about another, as in this quote.
Shakespeare On Rain
One of the most recognizable quotes from Shakespeare that has to do with rain comes from a song in Twelfth Night:
Clown
(Sings)
When that I was and a little tiny boy,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
Or, the opening of Portia’s big speech in The Merchant Of Venice:
PORTIA
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
Who Said You Say That You Love Rain?
The best I’ve found is the Turkish poem “I Am Afraid (Korkuyorum),” which is also sometimes attributed to William Shakespeare. The source material has long since disappeared from the net. With help from the Wayback Machine – here it is, I Am Afraid (Korkuyorum), in both Turkish and English translation. Enjoy. If anybody knows the actual author, please let us know. It’s just not Shakespeare.
Not By Shakespeare
This quote is just one of many found on social media attributed to Shakespeare but not in his works. Check out our Not By Shakespeare category for more!
Other Quotes Not By Shakespeare
- Expectation Is The Root Of All Heartache
- The Earth has music for those who listen.
- How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways
UPDATED
The original author’s name might very well be Qyazzirah Syeikh Ariffin.
I’ve been listening to Bob since I was 12 (now I’m 31) and I have a vast collection of songs, records and books about him and his works. I’ve seen a lot of interviews and documentaries, and I have never seen him saying, singing or smoking those words in any song, and I have very, very rare and unique music he recorded. But if someone can thell me the name of the song, I will be able to confirm it. This sounds to me as one of those songs that no one knows who sings it or who wrote it, so they say “Bob Marley”.
A friend told me they studied this poem in High School and it was attributed to Qyazzirah Syeikh Ariffin
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-am-afraid-12/
Submitted on Sunday, November 13, 2011
So before it was said here
Actually, Just Me, this blog post went up on October 19, 2011 – before your example (you can check the URL of the post). But I did not have an author to attribute the poem to at the time. I have only seen the association with Qyazzirah Syeikh Ariffin in the last two comments made here. I will update the post with this name as author.
Funny, but no listing for this Poet’s name on a Turkish Poetry web site, nothing in Wikipedia, nothing on Amazon, no mention at all except in blogs, and this one site that might appear to have some credibility … attributing it with a date of 1984. http://completeclassics.com/p/m/poem.asp?poem=0&poet=1418949&num=2&total=4
Bob Marley did not write this. He did write one about rain but it wasn’t this.
Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.
I’m a huge Marley fan and he did not write this (though I kind of wish he did)
Is it a song or just a saying if it’s a song then what’s it called
If anyone can say is this a song or poem.Someone Say thats bob kkkkkkkkkkkk the what is the SOng name
The whole thing is really nice, you know. Too bad we don’t know who the original writer of it is. :S
I FEEL AT THIS POINT IN THE CONVERSATION IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT BOB MARLEY DID NOT WRITE THIS 🙂
that quote came from the Original Bob Marley!!
Bob Marley was never “afraid” when someone said they love him. That is not Bob Marley. He would have said the more love the merrier. He would have said I love u too. And he never spoke like that either; that sounds like something the Dalai Lama would have said.
People help me! Who wrote these beautiful words? I can not eat, drink, live, see and breathe … I just need to know who is the author?
BOB MARLEY BABY!!!
julian, he did say this quote, regardless if he wrote it or not.. the song is called “could you be loved”.
Bob Marley wouldn’t even sing anything like this. His sings were about his spirituality mostly. He would never sing about a personal bad relationship.
@Julian exactly!! I didn’t read yours before I posted (sorry) but you said it better 🙂
Pretty sure Bob Marley ,but I ll try to find a confirmation via my turkish friends 🙂
To the person who said this poem sounds like it was written by a 12 year old, just because something sounds simple does not mean it was written by a kid. Actually, it takes great intelligence to convey something very simply without any complications and misinterpretations.
I think the fact that no body knows makes this quote way cool.. its like the quiet things that no one ever knows… like a true poet wrote it and he/she never needed the recognition… dope
i love this quote
All these idiots who WANT it to be a Marley quote… well, children, it is NOT Bob Marley, and it never will be Bob Marley, no matter how much you wish it. It is by an unknown Turkish poet… and I’m pretty sure Bob was no Turk.
Well, for having been at an Jean Cocteau (famous paintor, author, movie maker) exposition in France, i can confirm that this quote is his. A little bit modified though, “Tu dis que tu aimes les fleurs et tu leur coupes la queue, tu dis que tu aimes les chiens et tu leur mets une laisse, tu dis que tu aimes les oiseaux et tu les mets en cage, tu dis que tu m’aimes alors moi j’ai peur.” so, either i got a cut version of the quotation, either it has been modified by people on the web. But that can’t be a coincidence, Cocteau is old enough to be the author of the “you say you love, but… […] you say you love me, so i’m afraid”
I’m guessing you’re all saying it’s Bob because he says it in the Marley film. Maybe he was quoting it?
This is a poignant proverb-style “poem.” Obviously, it isn’t Shakespeare because the meter isn’t his style. The words aren’t nearly profound enough, either, though a similar sentiment is there (fear of vulnerability).
And Marley? Please.