IT DON’T DO NOTHING BUT RAIN

(Phil Cook)


As recorded by:
Harry Hudson’s Melody Men
V. Harry Hudson

Also recorded by:
Lew Childre
Milly Mayerl
Al Starita / Piccadilly Players
Billy West (Billy Jones) & Bob Thomas (Ernest Hare)



I get all dressed in the Sunday best
And it don’t do nothing but rain
Me pants all pressed, with me coat and vest
But it don’t do nothing but rain
It’s hard to smile when the clouds are black
And the rain keeps trickling down your back
Guess I was born with a raincoat on
‘Cos it don’t do nothing but rain

Transcribed from John Wright’s 78 RPM Record Collection


As recorded by: Lew Childre

Weather man, weather man, 
Can’t you hear me pine
Weather man change your plan 
And make that old sun shine
I keep hearing folks crooning about
It ain’t gonna rain no more
But when I get ready to step out
It starts right in to pour

Now I get all dressed in my Sunday best
And it don’t do nothing but rain
Ma pants all pressed with ma coat and vest
And it don’t do nothing but rain
It’s hard to smile when them clouds look black
And the rain comes trickling down your back
I oughta been born with a bathing suit on
‘Cos it don’t do nothing but rain

I can’t make love ‘neath the stars above
When it don’t do nothing but rain
There’s no spark in a public park
When it don’t do nothing but rain
It cramps my style, I can’t do my stuff
When the rain comes oozing out of my cuff
I can’t pet her when the bench is wet
And it don’t do nothing but rain

I take my sweet out for a walking treat
It don’t do nothing but rain
We cross the street and she got wet feet
‘Cos it didn’t do nothing but rain
Now you all know what Sir Raleigh did
He said to the Queen, “oh, step on it, Kid”
I’m gonna trade my coat for a ferry boat
‘Cos it don’t do nothing but rain

Well I had me a date at the garden gate
It didn’t do nothing but rain
My shoes all shined, I’m looking mighty fine
And it don’t do nothing but rain
Well the ducks are glad when the rain drop flows
But I ain’t got no webbing between my toes
Musta got my blood from the Johnstown flood
‘Cos it don’t do nothing but rain

I take my gal outside for an auto ride
It don’t do nothing but rain
We couldn’t go far in an open car
‘Cos it didn’t do nothing but rain
Well I parked the car and I talked and talked
Well I knew she couldn’t get out and walk
But the sweet young thing, she carried water wings
When it didn’t do nothing but rain
I mean, it don’t do nothing but rain




(Transcribed by Bill Huntley - September 2013)