Lyr Req/Add: Courting in the Rain / We Courted...

Subject: Lyr Add: WE COURTED IN THE RAIN (from Dock Walsh)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 May 04 - 01:57 PM

Like the sheet music version shown above, this version alternates speaking and singing, but the sung part is greatly simplified, and the story has some added irony at the end:

Transcribed from the sound file at Honking Duck. Some parts were unintelligible or doubtful, so corrections are welcome.

WE COURTED IN THE RAIN
As recorded by "Dock" Walsh, 1926.

Well, I was a-goin' down the road one rainy day and I overtook a beautiful female girl, and I asked about carryin' her ... a piece, and she said it'd be all right, so I went off singin':

We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what courtin' was till we courted in the rain.

Well, I begin to like my kid pretty good, so I asked about dropping over to see her some Saturday night and she said I was gonna have to speak to Dad. Well, I went ahead and seen Dad, and Dad he said it'd be all right, so I went off singin':

We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what pleasure was till we courted in the rain.
We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what pleasure was till we courted in the rain.

Well, I begin to like my kid still better, and so I asked about marrying her, and she said I was gonna have to see Dad about that, and so, by gosh, that got me, so I sang:

We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what courtin' was till we courted in the rain.
We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what courtin' was till we courted in the rain.

Well, I went ahead and seen Dad about that, and he said I could have his girl, and so that tickled me even better, and now I sing:

We courted in the rain, courted in the rain.
I never knew what pleasure was till we courted in the rain.
We courted in the rain. We courted in the rain.
I never knew what courtin' was till we courted in the rain.

Well, I went ahead and got my license, and me and my girl got married, and I went off singin' something like this:

We courted in the rain. We courted in the rain.
I never knew what trouble was till we courted in the rain.
We courted in the rain. We courted in the rain.
I never knew what trouble was till we courted in the rain.

'Bout three years from that time, I went off singin' something like this:

We courted in the rain. We courted in the rain.
I never knew what mis'ry was till we courted in the rain.
Oh, we courted in the rain. Courtin', what a pain!
I never knew what mis'ry was till we courted in the rain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: courting in the rain
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 21 May 04 - 10:46 PM

Forgot to add:

The Carolina Tarheels version is available from Folk Legacy:

COURTING IN THE RAIN - ROUD#7873 -- The CAROLINA TAR HEELS: (FOLK LEGACY FSA-24)

Lin

Subject: Lyr Add: COURTING IN THE RAIN (Vincent Davies)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 21 May 04 - 10:43 PM

Yikes! Guest, Eileen--

We need to know if you're looking for a country song, or an old-time!
No luck on T. Tyler's song, but here are transcribed lyrics from Masato's link to Levy. Hope this is helpful. (I'll email the requester to let her know the problem.)

Lin

Songs of the Lydia Thompson Troupe. No. 4.
COURTING IN THE RAIN.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Vincent Davies.

Publication: Boston: G.D. Russell & Company, 127 Tremont St., 1872.

One April morn while walking down a quiet country lane
I overtook a fair young girl whilst hurrying through the rain.
I asked her if she would accept my arm and take a share
Of my umbrella. Thanks, kind sir, I will, replied the fair.

[SPOKEN]: On with golden locks, by Jove, and without one of these useful articles (holding up umbrella). When she popped her little arm in mine my heart beat in that degree it nearly dislocated my ribs (of the umbrella I mean!) It's a fact, I thought to myself here's a chance to go...[Chorus]

CHORUS:
Courting in the rain, courting in the rain,
I never regret the day I met my charmer in the lane.
Courting in the rain, courting in the rain,
Twas sweeter far than moon or star,
Whilst courting Mary Jane.

The rain poured down alarmingly
When to a tree we came
And shelter took beneath it
There I quickly learnt her name.
She also told me where she lived
With Pa down at the farm.
A farmer's daughter, well, said I,
That is an extra charm.

[SPOKEN]: I glory in country life, and a farmer's daughter, what could be better? I wished the rain would keep on as I rather liked...[Chorus]

At length the rain abated,
And the sun shone out quiet [sic] bright.
The little birds began to sing,
My heart it felt so light.
I gently press'd her arm in mine,
And said, now don't say "nay,"
But let me come and meet you here
Again some other day.

[SPOKEN]: Well, she said, I can't exactly decide, you must ask my Pa, so I made up my mind to go and inform the old Gentleman we'd been...[Chorus]

We reached the old farm house, and then
She introduced to me
Her Pa, a jolly old nice old boy,
With him I made quite free.
I told him when and where I'd met
His daughter in the rain,
And bless'd the lucky chance that took
Me down that country lane.

[SPOKEN]: The old Gntleman was quite delighted with my kind attention, and I soon gained his consent, which proves the truth of the old proverb--"It never rains but it pours," and so it occurred to me, though, [Chorus]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: courting in the rain
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 02 - 09:36 AM

"Courtin' in the Rain" was sung by T. Texas Tyler. His recording is available on "Best of T. Texas Tyler," Collectors' Choice Music CD #51, 1998; and on the anthology "Louisiana Hayride, Vol. 2," Music Mill CD #70016, 2000. Authorship is credited to ["Dock"?] Walsh.

It is listed in the Folk Music Index as "Courting in the Rain." The recordings listed are:
Carolina Tar Heels on "Carolina Tar Heels," Folk Legacy FSA-024, LP (1965), cut# 3
Wade Mainer on "From the Maple on the Hill," Old Homestead OHTRS 4000, LP (1976), cut#B.03
Wade & Julia Mainer, on "Best of Seedtime on the Cumberland," June Appal JA 0059C, Cas (198?), cut# 9
"T" Texas Tyler on "Country and Western Album," Forum 7G 501, LP (196?), cut# 5

honkingduck.com gives this information:
Recording: Columbia 15075-D
Date Issued: June 1926
Side: B
Title: We Courted In the Rain
Artist: "Dock" Walsh
Recording Date: April 17, 1926

Couldn't find the lyrics, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: courting in the rain
From: masato sakurai
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 11:31 PM

This may not be the one (from the Levy collection).

Title: Songs of the Lydia Thompson Troupe. No. 4. Courting in the Rain.
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger: Vincent Davies.
Publication: Boston: G.D. Russell & Company, 127 Tremont St., 1872.

~Masato

Subject: courting in the rain
From:
Date: 21 Apr 02 - 03:07 PM

looking for lyrics don't know the artist but would really apprecate anyone sending me the lyrics