Harry Belafonte & The Belafonte Singers - "Didn't It Rain" (sound file & transcription)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a 1960 sound file of Harry Belafonte & The Belafonte Singers performing the African American Gospel song "Didn't It Rain".

My transcription of this sound file is included. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, religious, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Harry Belafonte and the Belafonte Singers for their musical legacy. Thanks also to the publisher of this song file on YouTube.

This transcription was requested by a pancocojams reader in Italy Gigi Erba (name added with prior permission). Thanks, Gigi, for your request!

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/didnt-it-rain-gospel-song-lyrics.html for another pancocojams posts on "Didn't It Rain". That post includes four videos of performers singing this song and another text version of the lyrics to "Didn't It Rain".

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LYRICS: DIDN'T IT RAIN
(as sung by Harry Belafonte & The Belafonte Singers)

Didn't it rain, children
Talk about
Rain all night long
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Oh, my Lord
Didn’t it rain
[3x]

[Backup singers repeat “Listen to the rain” while soloist sings]
Well, you read in the Good Book you must understand
that Noah was living as a righteous man
The Lord called Noah and gave him a plan
Build an ark at my command!

[Backup singers repeat “Listen to the rain”]

Water rising in the East
And rising in the West
Men groaning in the North
Some moaning in the South

[Backup singers repeat “Listen to the rain”
Soloist - Oh-o” [repeatedly]
Just listen.
How it rains
All day
All night

Water rising in the East
And rising in the West
Men groaning in the North
Some moaning in the South

Didn't it rain, children
Talk about
Rain all night long
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Oh, my Lord
Didn’t it rain
[2x]

Then the Lord told Noah to take ‘em two by two.
The ox and the fox and the kangaroo.
The wicked man if he don’t be picked
Leave him there and he might just mend.

[Backup singers repeat “Listen to the rain”]
Soloist: Water rising in the East
And rising in the West
Men groaning in the North
Some moaning in the South
All day
All night

[Back-up singers continue to sing “Listen to the rain” while soloist sings “Oh-o”
Soloist- Just listen to the rain.
How it rains
All day
All night
Mmm-mmm [humming]

Didn't it rain, children
Talk about
Rain all night long
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Oh, my Lord
Didn’t it rain
[2x]

Well, it rained forty days
It rained forty nights
There was no land down there in sight
Noah sent a dove
To find the sign
No more water
But the fire next time

[repeat “Listen to the rain” and “Water rising in the East” lyrics]

Now can I hear you groan, some children
[A singer groans]
Let me hear you moan, some children
[A singer responds: “God gonna trouble the water”]

[Back up singers repeat “Listen to the rain”]

Soloist: Listen how it’s raining
All day
All night
Wo- oh- oh oh oh oh oh

Didn't it rain, children
Talk about
Rain all night long
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Didn’t it
Oh!
Oh, my Lord
Didn’t it rain
[2x]
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell from the sound file given below. Additions and corrections are welcome.

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SHOWCASE EXAMPLE: Didn't It Rain by the Belafonte Folk Singers



brendandawna, Uploaded on Jan 30, 2010

from Belafonte Returns to Carnagie Hall (1960)

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