Top 101 Songs About Hurricanes

There’s no doubt that songs about hurricanes offer fertile ground for songwriters and musicians. Just be aware, though, that typically, the theme of these songs concerns turbulent and chaotic lives, with hurricanes in the title or lyrics being used as a metaphor.

If you like these kinds of songs, here are a few of the more popular hurricane songs to help you build a playlist. So, let’s get straight to it and take a look at the first song…

Top 101 Songs About Hurricanes

1

Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions

When I started to think of songs about hurricanes, this was the first one to spring to mind. It’s an absolute classic Scorpions song and a classic song about hurricanes. It was released in 1984 and has remained a firm fan favorite and a constant part of their live setlist since it first hit the charts. 

It was taken from the hugely successful album Love at First Sting, which went triple-platinum in the US. Part of its popularity was undoubtedly down to the inclusion of “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” 

The song at the time was on heavy rotation on radio stations as well as MTV. Additionally, “Still Loving You” was also on the album, which helped further fuel sales.

The 80s was a highly successful period for the band… 

Within five years of the release of “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” other singles, “Holiday,” “Send Me an Angel,” Rhythm of Love,” and their biggest hit, “Winds of Change,” were also released. 

Now, back to the song…

One of the things you can be sure of is that there is no mention of inclement weather or winds anywhere in the lyrics. The kind of hurricane The Scorpions are singing about is very different. 

If I tell you that the official video contains lots of scantily clad women writhing around in cages, you’ll get the idea.

It’s a cool song and brilliantly sung by Klaus… 

If you decide to listen to it and you have young children, it’s probably best to leave the video alone, though. It’s not something I’d have ever wanted to expose my kids to when they were growing up.

If you want to watch them live, try their incredible opening performance during the 1990 “The Wall (Live in Berlin)” concert instead.

2

Like a Hurricane by Neil Young

This is one of my favorites. I love Neil Young, and I love his Folk-inspired music. He built a reputation and career around songs like “Old Man” and “Sugar Mountain,” which are essentially acoustic guitars. However, if you think that he can’t seriously play and sing Hard Rock songs, then think again.

“Like a Hurricane” is a great example, if not the best, to demonstrate his amazing Rock credentials. The arrangement of the song and its amazing heavy chord progressions and riffs are sensational. 

It’s an absolute joy to listen to and a real blast to perform live…

It was released in 1977 from the album American Stars n’ Bars. The single edition runs for just under five and a half minutes. The album version is another three minutes and much my preferred option.

“Like a Hurricane” is all about sexual desire and attraction. The inspiration for the song happened when Neil Young was out on the town with a group of friends and neighbors. This was incidentally in 1975, during his convalescence from surgery on his vocal cords.

Neil was apparently “wasted”… 

On what I’ll leave to your imagination, and in this state, he saw someone across the bar. He didn’t make a move but couldn’t get the attraction he felt for her out of his head. So, he then proceeded to write a song when he staggered back to the ranch.

He presented the song to his band, Crazy Horse, and after a couple of weeks, they came up with the intense Rock version that we now love. Plenty of distorted guitar and feedback with heavy bass and drums. It sounds amazing, and I believe it’s one of his best songs.

He never did get the number of that girl, though. But he did leave us with a rocking song about hurricanes.

As a side note, British goth band the Mission do a storming version of this song, especially live, if that happens to be your thing.

3

Riders On The Storm by The Doors

This is one of The Doors’ most iconic songs. It is their fourth most popular in terms of physical single sales. The most popular is unsurprising, “Light My Fire,” which sold two and a half million copies. 

The second most popular is “Hello, I Love You,” which sold just short of two million copies. “Touch Me” and “Riders On The Storm” were just a little way behind. 

It was released in 1971 from the album L.A. Woman. Sadly, this was the very last single to come out before his death. Just four short weeks later, he was found dead in a Paris hotel room.

Like most songs about hurricanes… 

This is also not literally about hurricanes but is used as a metaphor for the stormy ride of life. More specifically, it was penned as a commentary on the life of a hitchhiking serial killer. 

This was inspired by the real-life murderer, Billy Cook, and through a character in a book that Jim Morrison had already written.

The song is only four minutes long on the single but seven minutes long on the album. Regardless of which version you listen to, it’s a Psychedelic Rock trip of the finest order. It’s less Pop-based than their other hits, but I think it’s his best work and all the sadder for the fact that it was his last song. 

4

The Tide Is High by Blondie

This might come as a surprise to many of you, but “The Tide Is High” wasn’t written by Debby Harry or any of the members of Blondie. 

It was written by Dennis Holt and first performed by a little-known Jamaican band, The Paragons, in 1967. The original song received a bit of interest in the UK and Jamaica but was not universally popular. 

What’s it about?

The song is about someone being in a challenging position relating to their love interests. It uses all kinds of metaphors to show the woman competing for the attention of her man amongst a large group of other ladies. 

Despite the fierce competition, she is determined to win him over and ‘make’ him fall in love with her. It’s like “Love Island,” but from the 60s.

Blondie released their cover at the back end of 1980…

This was when they moved away from their Punk roots and towards more of a New Wave style. The cover was very successful and made it to #1 in the US and the UK. Sales in the US were particularly strong as it sold over two million copies there alone.

“The Tide Is High” was taken from Blondie’s fifth studio album, Autoamerican. It sold reasonably well but, quite frankly, was nowhere near as good as “Parallel Lines,” which was released in 1978 and contained a string of hits. 

By comparison, the only other decent track on Autoamerican was “Rapture,” and even that wasn’t especially good. But “The Tide is High” remains a memorable song about hurricanes that doesn’t directly reference hurricanes.

As a side note…

The awful all-girl British Pop group, Atomic Kitten, released their cover in 2002. It went to #1 in the UK and sold over one and a half million copies worldwide. Don’t listen to it, though, because, despite its popularity, it’s crap.

5

Hurricane by Charles Bradley

There’s every chance that you’ve never heard of Charles Bradley. The guy was a vocal powerhouse. He had one of the greatest Soul voices of all time. Most of his career was spent impersonating James Brown, and frankly, he did sound uncannily similar, though not identical. 

I find it rather sad that it wasn’t until the last seven years of his career, at the age of 60, that he finally pursued a solo career.

During his short time as a solo artist under his own name, he released just four albums. Victim of Love was his second, from which the track “Hurricane” was taken. It’s a great pity, but unfortunately, the track was never released as a single.

The song is about the turbulent nature of life… 

However, although it’s the main theme, there are still plenty of references to impending weather disasters. It is a nice piece of writing and beautifully sung.

It’s hard to describe just how good a singer Chares Bradley was. His chaotic and difficult life seems to have prepared him to perform Soul to the very highest level. Not living a prolonged life in the music spotlight makes his voice and message feel more authentic than many of the traditional greats.

On a personal note…

“Hurricane” is a great song, but I think his cover of “Changes,” originally written by Black Sabbath, better showcases his remarkable talent. This was released in 2016 as the lead single from his album, “Changes.”

Sadly, Charles Bradley died in 2017 at the age of 68. It felt like his career was just getting started.

6

Hurricane by Bob Dylan

The song was written and recorded by Bob Dylan in 1976. It’s unusual in that it’s one of the very few protest songs he wrote. The song is about the wrongful conviction of a black boxer, Rubin Hurricane Carter. The song was written to draw attention to his plight and to raise funds for his retrial.

Carter had initially been convicted of triple murder together with another defendant. When it was brought to the attention of Bob Dylan, it appeared that the investigation had been tainted with racial bias. 

It also appeared that there were discrepancies in witness testimony to the extent that Carter had received an unfair trial.

Over 13 years… 

Dylan continued to support and push for a retrial and the release of Carter. Eventually, his persistence paid off, as after the retrial still found him guilty, in 1988, he was finally released when it was deemed that he never received a fair trial on both counts. The power of music.

“Hurricane” was released from the album, Desire and ended up being his fourth most successful single of the 70s. The album made it to #1 in the US and #3 in the UK. It sold two million copies in the US and close to three million copies globally.

It is also probably the most well known song about hurricanes.

7

Stormy Weather by Etta James

When it comes to female Soul singers, Aretha Franklin is almost always thought of as having the best voice. Whilst I agree that she has an amazing voice, I can’t agree that she’s the best. 

Eta James, I believe, was superior in terms of vocal talent as well as being a better performer. I’ll talk about what I think was her best song and performance a little later.

So, what about “Stormy Weather”?

This was released as a track from her 1960 debut album, At Last. The song was a cover of a 1933 song originally written by Ted Koehler and Harold Arlen. It was first performed by Ethel Walters in the Harlem Club and was subsequently recorded in the same year by Frances Langford.

The song is about a stormy and difficult relationship with her man. He ends up walking away, and her life is thrown into pain and misery. It’s got all the ingredients of a classic Soul and Blues song to which Etta James more than does justice to.

“Stormy Weather” and “At Last” were clear indications of how talented Etta James was and what could be expected in the future. The pinnacle being, in my opinion, her performance at the 1975 Montreux festival of the song “I’d Rather Go Blind.”

Everything is better live…

The live version of this heartbreaking song stretched out for eight of the most memorizing minutes you’re ever likely to see and hear. Her voice and onstage presence were nothing less than sensational. I still get goose pimples listening to it, even after hearing it multiple times.

Her career stretched over almost 60 years. If, after listening to this, you think Aretha Franklin is a better Soul, Jazz, and R&B singer, then fine. However, there’s still no denying the brilliance that was Etta James. A legend.

8

Hurricane Eye by Paul Simon

9

Hurricane Season by Trombone Shorty

10

The Calm Before The Storm by Fall Out Boy

11

I Am The Hurricane by Alice Cooper

12

Hurricanes and Suns by NEEDTOBREATHE

13

Hurricane Glass by Marc Broussard

14

Hurricane Hand by The Black Crowes

15

A Hurricane Is Coming Tonight by Brad Paisley

16

Hurricane Drunk by Florence + The Machine

17

Hurricane Jane by Black Kids

18

Hurricane Heart by Marc Almond

19

Hurricane Streets by The Arcade Fire

20

Like a Hurricane by Roxy Music

21

Tear Down The House by The Avett Brothers

22

Sea Shanty by The Pogues

23

Storm Warning by The Volcanics

24

Hard Rain by The Heads

25

Stormy Waters by Goodnight, Texas

26

The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix

27

Hurricane Ingrid by Carl Barat

28

The Hurricane Song by Paul Kelly

29

Hurricane Bells by Monsters Of Folk

30

When The Hurricane Comes by Neil Finn

31

Eye of the Storm by Disturbed

32

Hurricane in My Heart by The Long Winters

33

Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker

34

The Hurricane by Band of Horses

35

The Storm by Big Country

36

Come To The Storm by Michael Franti & Spearhead

37

Wind Storm by Woody Guthrie

38

The Eye Of The Hurricane by The Blow Monkeys

39

Raging Storm by Atlantean Kodex,

40

When the Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin,

41

Winds of Change by Jefferson Starship,

42

Eye of the Hurricane by David Wilcox,

43

Storm Front by Billy Joel

44

Hurricane J by Desaparecidos

45

Hurricanes by The Darkness

46

Blackout Hurricane by Fiona Apple

47

Hurricane Fighter Plane by The Red Crayola

48

Hurricane Waters by Citizen Cope

49

Stormy Weather by The Kooks

50

Eyes On The Prize by Mavis Staples

More 51 Songs About Hurricanes

51. 51. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen,
    52. The Storm by Big Country,
    53. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot,
    54. The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix,
    55. The Hurricane by Theory of a Deadman,
    56. Hurricane Waters by Citizen Cope,
    57. Into the Storm by Yes,
    58. Eye of the Hurricane by The Herd,
    59. The Hurricane by Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy,
    60. Storm Front by Billy Joel,
    61. The Flood by Katie Melua,
    62. Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan,
    63. Stormy Monday Blues by T-Bone Walker,
    64. Life in a Hurricane by The Last Bison,
    65. Hurricane Heart by Marc Broussard,
    66. As The Storm Unfolds by The Agonist,
    67. Darkness and a Bottle to Hold by The Tragically Hip,
    68. The Hurricane by The Hooters,
    69. In the Eye of the Hurricane by Keel,
    70. Hurricane Ride by Pat Green,
    71. Hurricane Drunk by Florence + The Machine,
    72. The Hurricane by Mindy Smith,
    73. Batten Down the Hatches by Chumbawamba,
    74. Broken in the Hurricane by Shawn Mullins,
    75. The Storm by Jerry Reed,
    76. Hurricane Heart Attack by Smash Into Pieces,
    77. Storm Warning by Fleetwood Mac,
    78. The Hurricane by The Wild Feathers,
    79. After the Storm by Mumford & Sons,
    80. Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide by The Wonder Years,
    81. Stormwatcher by Hawkwind,
    82. The Hurricane Song by Paul Stookey,
    83. Stormy May Day by AC/DC,
    84. Come In from the Rain by Captain & Tennille,
    85. Weather With You by Crowded House,
    86. Weather to Fly by Elbow,
    87. It’s Raining Again by Supertramp,
    88. I Can’t Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles,
    89. Rainy Days and Mondays by The Carpenters,
    90. Riders in the Sky by Johnny Cash,
    91. The River by Bruce Springsteen,
    92. S.O.S. by ABBA,
    93. Thunder Island by Jay Ferguson,
    94. Who’ll Stop the Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival,
    95. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and The Waves,
    96. Set Fire to the Rain by Adele,
    97. No Rain by Blind Melon,
    98. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head by B.J. Thomas,
    99. November Rain by Guns N’ Roses,
    100. Blame It on the Rain by Milli Vanilli,
    101. Here Comes the Rain Again by Eurythmics,

Looking for Songs About Weather and Nature?

Well, take a look at our detailed articles on the Top Songs About Rainbows, the Best Songs about Flowers, the Best Songs About Rain, the Best Songs About Thunder and Lightning, as well as the Top Songs About Snow for more incredible song selections.

Songs About Hurricanes – Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. I hope my list of hurricane songs included one of your favorites or at least a couple that you already know. There are plenty of others to choose from, so good luck in building that best Hurricane Song playlist.

Until next time, happy listening.