"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" was the second single from Melanie's 1970 album Candles in the Rain. The song proved to be her breakthrough hit in the United States, climbing to number six on Billboard's Hot 100 and number three on the Cash Box Top 100. The record was ranked #23 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970.

Released in March 1970, the recording was a spirited collaboration between folk singer/songwriter Melanie (Safka) and California gospel act the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who had reached the national Top Ten the previous year with "Oh Happy Day". Melanie wrote the song after performing at in August 1969; the song's lyrics describe what she felt as she looked out at the sea of people attending the music event.

“Lay Down” is also associated with certain events occurring during the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, held in the autumn of 1969.

The single reached the Top Ten in several countries including the Netherlands, where in late March 1970 it replaced the Beatles' “Let It Be" at number one. In its native America “Lay Down” spent what was then a lengthy 17 weeks on both the Billboard and Cash Box charts. In May and early June 1970 it remained at number one for three weeks on WRKO-AM in Boston, ultimately ranking tenth among the station's year-end Top 100. In addition it reached number one in both Minneapolis/St. Paul (WDGY) and Albany (WPTR (AM)) in July, when it also peaked nationally. In Australia “Lay Down” spent 23 weeks on the Go-Set national charts, reaching number three.

In most territories the album's spoken-word title track "Candles in the Rain" – also part of the single's title — featured as the B-side.

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