According to the Hits are for Squares liner notes,
“Rain on Tin” was written as a prayer and cry for love and unity after the destruction of September 11, 2001, in New York City that was shared by gentle folk the world over.
The working title was “Celtic Frost” and one of the riffs in the song was...
[Verse]
We all hope
To signal kin
Rays of gold
Now rain on tin
Gather round
Gather friends
Never fear
Never again
Rain on Tin was written by Steve Shelley & Jim O’Rourke & Kim Gordon & Lee Ranaldo & Thurston Moore.
Rain on Tin was produced by Sonic Youth.
Sonic Youth released Rain on Tin on Tue Jun 25 2002.
Thurston uses CGDGCD, Lee uses CGDCGD, and Jim O'Rourke uses GGDEGB.