Sister Rosetta Thorpe Didn't It Rain

Didn't it rain, children Talk 'bout rain, oh, my Lord Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it oh my Lord Didn't it rain? Didn't it rain, children Talk 'bout rain, oh, my Lord Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it, oh my Lord Didn't it rain? It rained 40 days, 40 nights without stopping Noah was glad when the rain stopped dropping Knock at the window, a knock at the door Crying brother Noah can't you take on more Noah cried no, you're full of sin God got the key and you can't get in Just listen how it's rainin' Will you listen how it's rainin' Just listen, how it's rainin' All day, all night All night, all day Just listen how it's rainin' Just listen how it's rainin' Just listen how it's rainin' Some moaning, some groaning Some groaning, some praying Well, a whole Didn't it rain till dawn Rain on my Lord Didn't it, didn't it Didn't it, oh Oh, my Lord Didn't it rain Oh, God sent a raven to spread the news To hoist his wings and away he flew And to the north, and to the south And to the east, and to the west All day, all night, all night, all day Well just listen how it's rainin' Well just listen how it's rainin' Oh, listen how it's rainin' Some prayin', some cryin' Some runnin', some moanin' Will you listen how it's rainin' Just listen how it's rainin' Just listen how it's rainin' Didn't it rain, children Rain on my Lord Didn't it, didn't it, didn't it, oh Oh, my Lord, didn't it rain Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain

This song is homage to the header image of the exhibit who is Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She is a singer of the 1930's and amazing guitar player. "Didn't it Rain," is a gospal song that uses rain as a metaphor for hardship because it is such a stark image for endurance. The song also takes an optimistic twist on hardship. The past tense implies this song is the otherside of the rainbow where the singer is wondering perhaps ironic what life was life before the hardtime. It admits that hardship happened and that it will happen again, but the song in the present savors this moment before it rains again. The 1930's was full of alot of metaphorical rain and what helped everyone get through were people like Sister Rosetta Tharpe giving voice to the hardship. All the while making people smile because of it.