Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)

Subject: Lyr Add: INNISFAIL RAIN SONG (Bill Scott)
From:
Date: 17 Feb 98 - 06:04 AM

Inisfail Rain Song by Bill Scott,
Sung by Penny Davies and Roger Illott


Rain In my hair rain in my face
Muddy old Innisfail's a bloody muddy place.


chorus

Hey rain,
Rain comin' down on the cane
On the roofs of the town.
Hey rain. Hey rain.

Bloke from the west nearly died of fright
'cause the river rose 35 feet last night
ch
Rain in me hair ,rain in me grub
They'v just fitted anchors to the Garrudunga pub
ch
Johnson river crocodile livin' in me fridge
And a bloody great tree on the Jubilee bridge
ch
Monsoon sky has sprung a leak
From Flying Fish Point to the Millstream bridge
ch
Clouds in the sky so black and big
And an old flying fox in a Morton Bay fig
ch
Worst wet season we've ever had
I'd swim down to Tully but it's just as bloody bad.
ch


Innisfail is on the north east coast of Australia near Cairns and is in the centre of an area known
as the"Super wet tropics" where annual rainfall is measured in feet or meters rather than inches
or millimeters Three towns, Babinda Innisfail and Tully vie yearly for the "Golden Gum Boot"
award.
Babinda where I live had 3.77 meters or 12.5 feet of rain last year (1997)and 971 mm or 3 feet
this January

Subject: RE: Add words. Innisfail Rain Song
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 17 Feb 98 - 12:08 PM

Inisfail is an old name for Ireland - which is also fairly damp!

Regards

p.s. For that matter, "Tully" is a common anglicisation of "Tulach", an old Gaelic word for a hillock or mound - preumably where you keep your feet dry!

Subject: the Innisfail Song
From: GUEST,hamlet
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 10:01 PM

This song is from Queensland Australia and was recorded on a tape clled Witchwood Wart's n All. By a group called Candy, King and Virtue, Unfortunately - altho I have that information - I don't have the lyrics. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the Innisfail Song
From: GUEST,hamlet
Date: 28 Oct 01 - 01:21 AM

Tony - Thanks very much for the lyrics. Now I just have to figure out the tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the Innisfail Song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Oct 01 - 12:12 AM

G'day Hamlet,

So do I ... I know it to sing, but my Workshop group want to do it and I have to work out the details on the button accordion (this afternoon!).

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the Innisfail Song
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 29 Oct 01 - 12:31 AM

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I used to guest with Witchwood prior to moving North and recorded double bass and background vocals in the studio on this album (as I recall).

Bob, let me know if you need help with the melody line.

Hamlet, I don't have a copy any more. What are some of the other titles? I sthere a Tom Paxton song on it about the US Mail?

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the Innisfail Song
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Oct 01 - 08:15 AM

G'day John,

Thanks for the offer, but I can lug it ... I just need to have another listen to Dave de Hugard on the CD and fake it from there.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Add words. Innisfail Rain Song
From: GUEST,alinact (on new comp. at home)
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 03:39 AM

Just wanted to make a correction to the posting of this song.

I don't know the lyrics as written by Bill Scott, but the version above appears to be as sung by the (?) Moreton Bay Band.

The version by Penny Davies and Roger Illott (and as sung by my little band) goes thus:

The Inisfail Song.
Words by Bill Scott; as performed by Penny Davies and Roger Illott.


Hey rain,
rain coming down,
on the cane,
on the roofs' of the town.

There's rain on me hands,
and rain on me face,
and muddy old Innisfail
you're a muddy wet place.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

And there's rain in me beer
and rain in me grub,
and they've just fitted anchors
to the Garradonga pub.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

Hey rain,
rain coming down,
on the cane,
on the roofs' of the town.


There's a Johnson River crocodile
livin' in me fridge,
and a bloody great tree
on the Jubilee Bridge.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

and the monsoon sky
has sprung a leak,
and the flying fish point
to the Mill Stream creek.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

Hey rain,
rain coming down,
on the cane,
on the roofs' of the town.

And the storm clouds
are so black and big,
there's an old flying fox
in the Moreton Bay fig.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

It's the worst wet season
we've ever had,
and I'd swim down to the lake,
but it's just as bloody bad.

Hey rain,
hey rain.

Hey rain,
rain coming down,
on the cane,
on the roofs' of the town.

Hey rain, (hey rain) (hey rain).
Hey rain, (hey rain) (hey rain).

Just as an aside, when we do the song, we finish it off in the same way PD and RI finish another of their songs - Road To Queensland.

Anyway, further corrections most welcome; and if anyone has the original lyrics by Bill Scott, please post.

Allan

Subject: RE: Add words. Innisfail Rain Song
From: Hrothgar
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 06:12 AM

This is the version I know, which is pretty much the same as the MBB cersion above. I have a suspicion that the transcription of the PD & RI version might not be exact, because the times I've heard them sing it, they have been closer to the MBB version.

PD & RI should be close - I think they are good friends of Bill's.


THE INNISFAIL SONG
(HEY RAIN)
(Bill Scott)

Rain in me hair, rain in me face,
Muddy old Innisfail's a muddy wet place.

CHORUS:
Hey rain, hey rain, hey rain,
Rain comin' down,
On the cane,
On the roofs of the town

Bloke from out west nearly died of fright,
'Cause the river rose thirty-five feet last night.

CHORUS

Rain in me beer, there's rain in me grub,
And they've just fitted anchors to the Garradunga pub.

CHORUS

Johnstone River crocodile swimmin' in me fridge,
And a bloody great tree on the Jubilee Bridge.

CHORUS

Clouds in the sky so black and big,
An old flying fox in a Moreton Bay fig.

CHORUS

Monsoon sky has sprung a leak
From Flying Fish Point out to Millstream Creek.

CHORUS

Worst wet season that we've ever had,
I'd swim down to Tully but it's just as bloody bad.

CHORUS

---

Multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Req: THE INNISFAIL SONG ( 'Hey Rain')
From: GUEST,Si Wells
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 03:14 AM

yairrrrrsss , I know; any Aussie folkie worth their saltbush should know this song by heart, but my memory proves fragmentary, as it did last Saturday night at a singing sesh at the Grafton festival .

THe only record of the words that I can track thru Google is on the Davies/Ilott site, but it's not responding. And I've misplaced my recording of it. So Hrothgar or someone likely: please put it up.

Ta muchly. I'll be ready next time

Subject: Lyr Add: HEY RAIN (INNISFAIL RAIN SONG) (B Scott)
From: GUEST,freda
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 03:32 AM

HEY RAIN (THE INNISFAIL RAIN SONG)
Bill Scott

          C        Csus4                    C
  CHORUS: Hey rain, rain coming down on the cane,
  
         Csus4         C
  On the roofs of the town.
   C                F          C
  Rain in my hair, rain in my face,
   G                       C          F
  Muddy old Innisfail's a muddy wet place.
   C   Am        C
  Hey rain, hey rain.

Bloke from the west nearly died of fright
'Cause the river rose thirty-five feet last night.
Hey rain, hey rain.

There's a Johnsons River crocodile living in me fridge,
And a bloody great tree on the Jubilee Bridge.
Hey rain, hey rain.

Rain in my beer, rain in my grub,
And they've just fitted anchors to the Garradunga Pub.
Hey rain, hey rain.

Wet season skies have sprung a leak
From Flying Fish Point to the Millstream Creek.
Hey rain, hey rain.

Wet season sky so black and big,
And an old flying fox in a Moreton Bay fig.
Hey rain, hey rain.

It's the worst wet season we've ever had.
I'd swim down to Tully, but it's just as bloody bad.
Hey rain, hey rain.


... as sung at the National last weekend!

freda

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: THE INNISFAIL SONG ( 'Hey Rain')
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 05:49 AM

You need to be very careful singing this song.....it is guaranteed (in my experience anyway) to bring on rain. Wonderful in a drought but not so good in the wet season.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: THE INNISFAIL SONG ( 'Hey Rain')
From: BB
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 09:07 AM

Yeah, but great when it's already tipping down! Good, too, to adapt to suit other locations.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: THE INNISFAIL SONG ( 'Hey Rain')
From: Rowan
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 05:54 PM

Well, JennieG, it held off at the National until the "formal" bits had finished and I gather the Canberrans were happy that it did so and then fairly bucketed down; after I'd packed the car I had to wade through a stream 3" deep flowing through the Performers' Camping Area. I didn't hear any complaints.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (Bill Scott)
From: Hrothgar
Date: 29 Mar 08 - 03:58 AM

I think copyright is still owned by Bill's widow, Mavis, so don't forget to send her those big cheques.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: CET
Date: 19 May 14 - 04:58 PM

I heard this song for the first time last weekend. Can someone explain the line "And an old flying fox in a Moreton Bay fig?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 May 14 - 03:40 AM

A Morton Bay Fig is a very big tree, originally noted (or named) in Morton Bay in Queensland, but now spread to other areas.

Flying fox - well, we have 2 to choose from - this one or this

sandra

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 14 - 07:36 AM

That's Moreton Bay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: Hrothgar
Date: 20 May 14 - 07:38 AM

Oops, that was me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 20 May 14 - 08:47 AM

picky! picky! picky!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: CET
Date: 20 May 14 - 07:17 PM

Many thanks. There seem to be a few versions of how the chorus runs, and how many times "hey rain" should be repeated and when. Does anybody know how Bill Scott actually wrote it? It's one of the best songs I've heard in a long time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 20 May 14 - 08:15 PM

CET, I don't think there are any recordings of Bill Scott singing it (but I hope someone will prove me wrong). My suggestion: if you sing it for an audience that likes singing along, put in "hey rain" as many times as possible. For an audience that doesn't sing along, put it in fewer times.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Feb 18 - 03:41 PM

A wonderful song from Bill Scott, Danny Spooner recorded it on Emerging Traditions some years ago -(my personal preference)- here are the lyrics from there:

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

Rain in me beer and rain in me face, old Innisfail is a bloody wet place, hey rain, hey rain

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

Rain in me beer and rain in me grub, they've just fitted anchors to the Gurradunga Pub, hey rain, hey rain,

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

Gotta Johnson River crocodile livin' in me fridge, there's a bloody great tree down on the Jubilee Bridge, hey rain, hey rain

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

Monsoon's sky's so dark and big, there's an old flyin' fox in a Moreton Bay fig, hey rain, hey rain

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

A bloke from West Nigh died of fright, the river rose 35 feet last night hey rain, hey rain

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town

It's the worst wet season we've ever had, I'd swim down to tully, but it's just as bloody bad, hey rain, hey rain,

    Hey rain, rain comin' down on the cane, on the roofs of the town, hey rain, hey rain.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jun 20 - 07:23 PM

Interesting song, sung today by Guest, Gerry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 28 Jun 23 - 12:52 AM

I was looking for this song (which I originally heard from Danny Spooner at CDSS Pinewoods Folk Music week in 1999), because my sister, her son, and his family are in Australia right now and having to deal with rain delays.

I found some tidbits to add to the thread:

An Australian Folk Song A Day, December 7, 2011 has a recording (not sure by whom), lyrics (missing the "bloke from the west" verse), and an illustrative photo. (The link to the National Library of Australia is no longer current, but here's an interview with Bill Scott on the NLA site. His papers are now there.)

I found this 52 minute video, "Hey Rain - The songs and stories of Bill Scott", which opens with his story of the song's origin. I assume it's him singing in the soundtrack.

Here's Danny Spooner with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, instead of his usual concertina. Hey Rain (Live from City Recital Hall, Sydney, 2007). (I'm so sad he's gone too soon!)

Penny Davies and Roger Ilott Hey Rain! PENNY DAVIES & ROGER ILOTT sing Bill Scott's Australian classic

A nice simple one: The Basics "Hey Rain!" (Live at The Garradunga Pub)

~ Becky in Oregon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: The Innisfail Song/Hey Rain (B Scott)
From: GerryM
Date: 28 Jun 23 - 04:54 AM

A guest posted, "A bloke from West Nigh died of fright...." I think there's no such place as West Nigh.... Better to sing "A bloke from the West nigh died of fright," or "A bloke from the West nearly died of fright."

"An Australian Folk Song A Day, December 7, 2011 has a recording (not sure by whom)...." The lead vocalist there is surely John Thompson. I don't know about the other voices.

"I found this 52 minute video, 'Hey Rain - The songs and stories of Bill Scott', which opens with his story of the song's origin. I assume it's him singing in the soundtrack." The video identifies the singer as Dave de Hugard. The woman talking & walking with Bill Scott at the beginning of the video is Margaret Fagan.