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Jaydann Grossman

English Composition II

Professor Johnson

2/13/22

The Thunder Rolls

“The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks and All That Remains have the same lyrics that

tell the same story. However Brooks’ video version portrays the full story of an extramarital

affair and the ramifications that may occur as a result. The All That Remains version only shows

the wife whose husband is having an affair. In addition to these video differences, the Garth

Brooks version is a clean, acoustical slow version of the song. Whereas, the All That Remains

version uses a heavier, faster rhythm with auto tuning used on the vocals.

The Brooks video begins by setting the scene of an extramarital affair in a motel room.

The man(husband) is getting ready to leave when the woman says, “you belong with me, not her.

I want you to stay”. The man responds with. “Get real, I’m a family man”, as he grabs his

briefcase and exits the room. The video then shows the mans’ family photographs and his young

daughter in her night gown and holding her teddy bear at the top of the stairs as she watches her

distressed mother. In this portion of the video, pathos is definitely elicited as these scenes may

trigger emotional distress in someone watching. For instance, in someone who as a child

witnessed pain exhibited by a parent whose spouse was having an affair. Or it may trigger

emotional pain in someone who has experienced an affair first hand.

From the beginning of the video to this point Brooks version of the song has been mostly

acoustic with soft and natural vocals. As the music increases in intensity, with the electric guitar

adding some depth, the wife receives a phone call from the woman telling her about the affair.
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The lyrics at this point, “asking for a miracle, hoping she’s not right, praying it’s the weather

that’s kept him out all night”, may elicit again a pathos response in one who has been cheated on.

Someone in this position wants to hold on to all hope that their love is strong and their spouse

would never consider cheating on them. They don’t want to see the clear signs in front of them or

think about the divorce statistics that would tell them otherwise.

The music again softens and the vocals are natural as Brooks sings, “she rushes out to

hold him, thankful he’s alive, but on the wind and rain a strange new perfume blows”, and the

wife knows her worst nightmare is true. The vocals increase and the music intensifies with drums

and electric guitar. In the video, the man and wife begin fighting, striking each other as the little

girl slowly and timidly descends the stairs. Again, pathos is elicited as someone watching feels

the pain of actual blows to the face or the pain of the child watching.

Both the mother and father see the little gurl on the stairs. The mother yells at her,

probably to go back upstairs as you see the child turn and ascend the stairs quickly. The wife

runs to retrieve a gun that she had placed in a drawer earlier. She turns, aims and fires point

blank at her husband. Once again, pathos is elicited. This time it may be from the person who has

been cheated on, however, it could also be from someone who has been a victim of domestic

violence. The video ends with a close up of the wife’s battered face as the police pull up in front

of the home with sirens and lights. As the song is ending the music has returned to its less intense

acoustical beginning.

The All That Remains video begins in the studio with the band members. Right away the

song is instrumentally more intense than Brooks’ version with electric guitar and heavy drums.

The vocals are also very different as Brooks’ vocals are very soft and natural and the All That

Remains version features auto tuned vocals. Once the video begins telling it’s story it features a
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woman alone in a rocking chair on the front porch of a farmhouse as a storm rolls in. The video

goes back and forth from the band in the studio to the woman who is alone as the rhythm of the

music remains faster and harder than Brooks’ version.

Each time the video shows the woman she is in solitude. She is shown alone walking her

horse, alone in bed, and even burning photographs or memories. These scenes elicit pathos, as

someone who has found themselves in an unfaithful relationship often feels isolated and trapped.

These feelings are exhibited in the scene where the woman is sitting in front of a window

handcuffed to a chair. The video ends with a single candle flame being snuffed out. This act

could allude to the end of the relationship. However, it is not as explicit and clear as it was at the

end of Brooks’ video.

Both versions of “The Thunder Rolls” are good, however their musical genre will leave

each song appealing to a different audience. Garth Brooks is a very popular country artist and

there is a slight twang in his soft and natural vocals. The Brooks version is mostly acoustic

instrumentally with times of increased electric guitar and drums to add depth to the song. All

That Remains is a metal band that begins their version with electric guitar and heavy drums.

Throughout most of the song the lead singers vocals are autotuned, however at one point near the

end he uses a guttural scream well known in metal music. Even though both songs may appeal to

different audiences musically, they both definitely elicit pathos in the listeners. Even if someone

hasn’t experienced the effects of infidelity personally, watching these videos one can definitely

relate to the solitude and turmoil that is portrayed.

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Works Cited

Garth Brooks. “The Thunder Rolls.” Youtube, No Fences, 1990,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiYEapQR1A0

All That Remains. “The Thunder Rolls.” Youtube, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?vjA