Thunder and lightning have always fascinated people, both young and old, and songs about them are as electric as their components. This article will explore 31 songs about thunder and lightning that are sure to spark your interest:
1. “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
Thunder was one of the biggest hits of 2017. It ranked number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
This exceedingly clever band gives us hit after hit, and this one has to be our favorites in popular music.
Daniel Reynolds, one of the group members, says that he relates most to the song. It was inspired by his life experiences that created an anger that pushed him to become the artist that he is today.
The part where he sings ‘lightning before the thunder’ means that the dream he had as a kid was the flash of light and the thunder that came afterward was the success.
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2. “Saw Lightning” by Beck
Saw Lightning was written by both Beck and Pharrell Williams, who also played the keyboard and drums while Beck played the harmonica and piano.
The song has different weather elements, each having different meanings. The part where he sees lightning means that he encountered something supernatural that forced him to have an awakening.
Next: The top songs about storms of all time (stormy weather tracks)
3. “The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks
Garth wrote this song trying to understand the challenges in a marriage.
Thunder Rolls is a song about infidelity where Garth Brooks returns home after having an affair only to find that his wife knew of his actions. The Thunder symbolizes the wife’s rage; who knows her husband has been unfaithful. She ends up killing him after she promises herself that was going to be the last night she does not know about his whereabouts.
The Nashville Network banned the video, but people protested, and it was brought back, becoming a number one country song.
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4. “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” by Richard Thompson
Richard worked hard to keep British folk music alive, and the Rumor and Sigh album depicted that.
This is one song from the album where he tells a story of two lovers brought together by their love for motorcycles. One of the lovers, James, a gangster, has to face the consequences of his crimes, and he leaves Molly, his lover, the keys to his bike, the only thing he could be able to offer her. If this does not tear you up, we don’t know what will.
Next: The best songs about riding motorcycles and biking
5. “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen
This song has been a staple on every rock and roll playlist since it was released by Bruce Springsteen way back in 1975. It was written and recorded by Bruce and was made the opening track on the Born to Run album.
Thunder Road is a song about a couple trying to have a new beginning in the city where they believe life is better, and it is a rough journey for them hence the name ‘Thunder Road.’ The lyrics are so real, and you could relate to them.
Next: The best songs about new beginnings & starting over (our list)
6. “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
This Australian rock band is unapologetically energetic and passionate about their art. Thunderstruck was said to be the band’s greatest song. Songs about thunder have done well but not compared to this one.
Since it was made accessible for digital download, selling over a million copies already says a lot. The song was one of the singles from The Razors Age album that talks about the fear of Thunder which is a normal human response. I know that as a child, we would hide under the blankets and scream when it rumbled. This track really is a masterpiece and a must listen.
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7. “Ride the Lightning (717 Tapes)” by Warren Zeiders
Written by Eric Paslay, Rob Crosby, and Warren Zeiders and released in 2021 during the pandemic, the song got a really good reception.
Going viral on the most popular app Tik Tok enabled him to gain 1.3 million followers on the app, showing just how much Warren put his heart into this. This is a beautiful country song that you can play around people that are not fans of country music, and they will automatically vibe to it.
Next: The top country songs of all time (a list of our absolute favs)
8. “Thunder Kiss ’65” by White Zombie
This was a song that earned this aggressive and energetic band its first Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.
This song out rightly demands your attention. With a great voice, music, and talent, White Zombie sings about a man and his girlfriend trying to ‘hook up,’ but suddenly there is Thunder and lightning, only for the man to wake up in the morning to find lipstick marks on his shirt. Leaving him to question what had happened the previous night and how much could go on during a storm.
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9. “Thunder and Lightning” by Chi Coltrane
Chi Coltrane is an artist and pianist from Wisconsin. This was the first song when she launched her first self-titled album. Very few people get the opportunity to see their dreams come true, and Chi Coltrane is one of the lucky ones.
She puts all of herself into every song and gives it her all with a gospel touch. She talks about a wild love that she could not get away from, and it is like thunder and lightning to her.
Next: The best gospel songs of all time (greatest tracks ever)
10. “Thunder in my Heart” by Leo Sayer
Produced by Richard Perry and written by Leo and Tom Snow, the song received positive comments from critics who commended the team. It managed to become number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Leo talks about a woman he had just met, but there is a voice that warns him that he should not fall for someone he doesn’t know, but the thunder in his heart quiets that voice. A truly great masterpiece by Leo. He is such an underrated artist, and we hope you give him the credit he deserves.
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11. “Thunderstruck” by Owl city
The band decided to feature Sarah Russell, known for her Electronic Dance Music (EDM).
It is fair to say Sarah’s angelic and seductive voice will leave you ‘thunderstruck.’
Remember that feeling when you first fall in love and everything feels right? Owl City decided to put it in a ghoulish way where a woman falls in love with a ghost. A symbol of a doomed relationship. Very poetic if you ask us.
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12. “Some Loud Thunder” by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Alec Ounsworth’s unique voice gave the music an acuminate edge that would not be everyone’s cup of tea.
This band is known for their fast pace and lively music, but they twisted this one with a slow tempo but maintained their mighty and strong melody that still captured the hearts of their fans.
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13. “Living in Lightning” by City and Colour
Ths is an indie rock band based in Canada led by a songwriter named Dallas Green.
Sometimes fame seems too much for celebrities, and Dallas Green was not an exception. He wrote this song to explain the feeling of being weighed down by the limelight and expectations from people that strike you down like lightning. He said you should be able to appreciate people’s differences because you never know what they could be going through.
14. “God of Thunder” by Kiss
If you love rock music and are a Kiss fan, you would have grown up listening to their music.
Kiss has been around for more than 40 years, and they have come up with some of the greatest songs in pop history.
God of Thunder is one of the most popular songs released by the band during the 80s party rock era.
God of Thunder was one of the best Kiss songs from the Destroyer album in 1976. After performing blood spew, Gene Simmons always did God of Thunder, which drove the crowd crazy. Why wouldn’t it, though? With a catchy vibe and thunderous chords, it will drive you crazy too.
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15. “Heavy Metal Thunder” by Saxon
This heavy metal band formed the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). They are one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history.
Hailing from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, they have had heaps of success and have set the bar high for other artists to follow. They have been around since 1977, but they never changed their style or genre.
They are known for their very energetic live performances. They started working on Heavy Metal Thunder in 1987, and it didn’t take them long to finish it. This song could even make you want to ride a horse on the battlefield with its beautiful and evocative melody.
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16. “Lightning Strikes” by Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne has been a legendary singer and guitarist since the 1970s when he was in Black Sabbath. Since then, he has had a successful solo career that has rivaled his success with the band. This has earned him the title ‘Godfather of Metal.’
Osbourne gave his all when it came to this song from the beats, captivating hooks, while Jake made the riffs amazing, making this song electrifying.
17. “The Shock of The Lightning” by Oasis
This is the fourth song on the band’s album Dig out Your Soul.
Oasis is one of those bands that have written and performed songs that have become part of pop culture. The Shock of the Lightning was one of their timeless melodies that became part of great British rock music.
This song will grow on you with every listen. a track that speeds along with all the bombast and zest one expects from the group. We promise you, if you don’t know it yet, you will love it.
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18. “The Lightning Strike (What if This Storm Ends)” by Snow Patrol
A song from Snow Patrol’s A Hundred Million Suns. The song was written by Gary Lightbody and Lightning Strike is one of his most potent tracks written.
Another song inspired by life experience makes it part one of a three-part symphonic trilogy. The sheer chills and evocative feelings that you will get from this song are indescribable. It is simply strength infusing. If you thought that listening to them was beautiful, you should hear them in a concert.
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19. “Summer and Lightning” by ELO
This song was written by the group lead singer Jeff Lynne and sold about ten million copies universally by 2007.
Certainly, Jeff Lynne did the most when it came to this song. Writing about unreciprocated love, he talks about trying to reach out to a lady but bearing no fruit. He looks up to the sky in the lady’s direction when a storm passes, and emotions get the better part of him, and he takes this as a sign of bad luck in this relationship. The summer symbolizes how thinking about the lady makes him happy, while the lightning is a sign of unrequited love.
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20. “When the Levee Breaks” by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie
This is a song that existed way before the existence of the famous ’70s and 80s rock bands. It was written in 1929, and it was about the great Mississippi flood of 1929 that washed away many towns and affected over 630,000 people. It would help if you were thankful that Led Zeppelin brought it back.
21. “Lightning Strikes the Postman” by The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips is the name of a band formed in Oklahoma City in 1983 by a group of friends.
This song is about a postman sent to deliver letters, but every time he is struck by lightning, that adds some humor to the song. The receiver cannot get the message making it a communication problem between the two people that creates a distance between them.
It has a nice chord progression that will awe you.
22. “Silver Thunderbird” by Marc Cohn
In 1992, Marc won a Grammy for the best new artist.
Silver Thunderbird is the kind of song that makes you stop what you are doing and listen. Marc wrote this song after his father passed, saying it was a kind of therapy for him. He then explains how the song discusses how we view our parents with admiration and enigma — not knowing where his father worked scarred him for life.
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23. “Thunder on the Mountain” by Bob Dylan
Although he used the pseudonym Jack Frost to produce the song, Bob wrote and performed it himself.
The inspiration to write the song came when he saw the talented Alicia Keys perform at the Grammy Awards in 2002. The video was a combination of Bob’s television appearances over the years.
Bob proved once again that he is an unbeatable singer with this catchy tune. Listening to this song will help you escape reality for a minute. His genius knows no bounds.
24. “Thunder” by Jessie J
This song is found on the Alive album written by Jessie J, Claude Kelly, Benjamin Levin, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen.
The spirited and intellectual Jessie J never disappoints. In this song, she dances in the desert as there is a flash of lightning, an idea that was influenced by her faith. She says the song is dedicated to God and was happy to share her beliefs with her fans. Jessie encourages you to use your beliefs in every aspect of your life.
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25. “Thunder in the Rain” by Kane Brown
Before becoming the successful singer that he is, Kane used to post videos of covers he had done that helped him grow his brand. He then decided to start doing his songs.
Kane Brown and Josh Hoge wrote Thunder in the Rain. He even performed the song on The Ellen Show to promote the album. Markos Papadatos even wrote that Kane could never do wrong with whatever music he gave us.
Kane found the title in a magazine and was immediately impressed. This song will instantly take you from tears to smiles—a blessing to all country music lovers.
26. “Twilight of the Thunder God” by Amon Amarth
This song raised the highest sales during the band’s existence and received very good remarks. This could be the best album Amon Amarth has written. It has good quality, and the band’s unity made it the best melodic death metal.
The deftly skilled Swedish metal band came up with a masterpiece about Thor’s battle against Jormungandr during the Ragnarok and named the album and song after it. In 2008, it was number six on Metal Hammers top 50 albums. You could play it during your workout to get your blood pumping.
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27. “Lightning Bolt” by Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder describes a girl smitten him like a lightning bolt in the song, but he had to let her go. The momentum in the song is just so powerful.
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28. “Thunder Underground” by Ozzy Osbourne
After making the promise of retiring in 1991, Ozzy Osbourne returned with his new album four years later. While this album received mixed reviews from fans, it was still considered a comeback for Ozzy.
We, however, feel the ardent and clever Ozzy outdid himself with this piece making it our favorite from the Ozzmosis album. It has beautiful ballads giving you a quality song as Ozzy focused on things that had meaning to him. Give it a chance, and we promise you will not regret it.
29. “Ride The Lightning” by Metallica
Ride The Lightning was borrowed from a passage in ‘The Stand’ novel by Stephen King, a story about a man that was to be electrocuted. He uses the words’ ride the lightning to refer to the method of his death.
This song is epic and energetic, giving out the best riffs. The lead and rhythm complement each other so well you will get goose bumps. You can listen to this track and literally feel the hairs on your skin stand up.
30. “Thunder and Lightning polka” by Johann Strauss II
Known as the waltz king during his time, Johann was an Austrian composer of operettas and wrote over 500 waltzes. He promoted the waltz in Vienna.
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31. “Thunder” by Boys Like Girls
This pop-rock song was first an acoustic before its single release, and it became number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
When we first heard this song, we were blown away by the chorus of voices. This song will surely make your heart swell up with love. It brings nostalgia and takes you back to your teenage days.
It is about two people who have a summer fling, and when summer is over, the boy is so in love with the girl and tells her she is always going to be his thunder.
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As the Head Editor and Writer at Music Grotto, Liam helps write and edit content produced from professional music/media journalists and other contributing writers. He works closely with journalists and other staff to format and publish music content for the Music Grotto website. Liam is also the founding member of Music Grotto and is passionate in disseminating editorial content to its readers.
Liam’s lifelong love for music makes his role at Music Grotto such a rewarding one. He loves researching, writing and editing music content for Music Grotto.
