<P> The song is one of the most melancholy in the Temptations repertoire , with lead singer David Ruffin delivering , in a pained voice , the story of a heartbroken man who wants to hide his sorrow . His woman has just left him , and he wishes that it would start raining , to hide the tears falling down his face because `` a man ai n't supposed to cry '' . Accompanying Ruffin 's mourning vocal are the vocals of his bandmates ( Eddie Kendricks , Melvin Franklin , Paul Williams , and Otis Williams ) alongside the subdued instrumentation of The Funk Brothers studio band , and , courtesy of Whitfield , sound effects depicting the `` sunshine and blue skies '' , with the sound of chirping seagulls , and the sound of thunder and rain described in the song . Producer Norman Whitfield devised much of the musical structure of the song , with former Motown artist Barrett Strong composing the song 's signature piano intro on a piano with only ten working keys . Motown staff writer Roger Penzabene provided the song 's lyrics . </P>
<P> The song is one of the most melancholy in the Temptations repertoire , with lead singer David Ruffin delivering , in a pained voice , the story of a heartbroken man who wants to hide his sorrow . His woman has just left him , and he wishes that it would start raining , to hide the tears falling down his face because `` a man ai n't supposed to cry '' . Accompanying Ruffin 's mourning vocal are the vocals of his bandmates ( Eddie Kendricks , Melvin Franklin , Paul Williams , and Otis Williams ) alongside the subdued instrumentation of The Funk Brothers studio band , and , courtesy of Whitfield , sound effects depicting the `` sunshine and blue skies '' , with the sound of chirping seagulls , and the sound of thunder and rain described in the song . Producer Norman Whitfield devised much of the musical structure of the song , with former Motown artist Barrett Strong composing the song 's signature piano intro on a piano with only ten working keys . Motown staff writer Roger Penzabene provided the song 's lyrics . </P>
who sings lead on i wish it would rain
who sings lead on i wish it would rain
David Ruffin
David Ruffin