Declan O'Rourke is my guest on this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast - another huge talent and always a delight to talk to. Warm, humorous, super-smart and clearly a huge talent.
This time around we talk Find El Dorado and the opening song - a duet between Paul and Declan - a cover of Richie Havens’ 'Handouts in the Rain' - a song that is undeniably beautiful with the juxtaposition that it reflects on humanity’s repeated failures - violence, prejudice, and exploitation - while warning of the inevitable consequences: alienation, shame, and destitution.
Written during the 1970s, its verses reflect on personal and societal cruelty, from harming neighbours and foreigners to betraying women and misleading children. The refrain - "taking handouts in the rain” - is a powerful image of collective downfall, suggesting that those who perpetuate harm will ultimately share in suffering and marginalisation.
As Paul and Declan cover the song decades later, its relevance has not diminished. In today’s world, issues of xenophobia, social division, and generational mistrust remain pressing. The song’s critique of scapegoating, violence, and inherited prejudice resonates just as strongly, if not more so, amid ongoing global conflicts, refugee crises, and polarised societies.
Both versions underscore how cycles of blame and cruelty lead only to mutual ruin - a message as urgent now as when Havens first sang it.
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