Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall (Bob Dylan)

Subject: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From:
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 02:37 PM

I have been trying to find the lyric's for this song all over the net - I'm sure it's by Pete Seeger - but none of his discographys list it. There is even a line for it in your searcher, but it is empty. Can anybody help me? Thanks! Allison

Subject: Lyr Add: A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL (Bob Dylan)
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 03:08 PM

A HARD RAIN'S A-GONNA FALL
Bob Dylan (from Freewheelin')

Oh, where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains.
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways.
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests.
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans.
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it.
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'.
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'.
I saw a white ladder all covered with water.
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken.
I saw guns and sharp swords in the hands of young children,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
And what did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'.
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world.
Heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'.
Heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'.
Heard one person starve. I heard many people laughin'.
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter.
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley,
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, who did you meet, my blue-eyed son?
Who did you meet, my darling young one?
I met a young child beside a dead pony.
I met a white man who walked a black dog.
I met a young woman whose body was burning.
I met a young girl. She gave me a rainbow.
I met one man who was wounded in love.
I met another man who was wounded with hatred,
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Oh, what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
Oh, what'll you do now, my darling young one?
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'.
I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding their waters,
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty prison,
Where the executioner's face is always well hidden,
Where hunger is ugly, where souls are forgotten,
Where black is the color, where none is the number,
And I'll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it,
And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it,
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin',
But I'll know my song well before I start singin',
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard,
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.

V

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 16-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 03:16 PM

It's in the Database; the "Digitrad and Forum Search" facility on the main Forum page found it straight away.  I don't know why it didn't work for you, but these mysterious things do happen...

A hard rain's a-gonna fall.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 03:17 PM

Thanks Steve...BUT DEAR GUEST......Let me give you an excellent site that has all the Dylan lyrics without the assorted junk you get on Bob's site.

BOB DYLAN SONG LYRICS

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 03:05 AM

Having looked at the website recommended by catspaw49, I see whoever compiled the site is claiming a lot of traditional songs and tunes as being written by Bob Dylan. Very silly or very naughty, Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 03:18 AM

Just looked on Bob's official site, here he only claims the arrangements are his. Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: Amergin
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 03:30 AM

Zander, I noticed that, too...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 04:57 AM

Then I'm sure you're also aware that the "arrangement" thing is a recent development of sorts as Bob or his agents originally attributed much to him that was distinctly trad in origin or stolen directly. Same thing went on with Woody and others too. We've run a bunch of threads "discussing" this issue.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:12 AM

Spaw, to your knowledge has there ever been a thread that has attempted to quantify who has been the biggest, i.e. most doucumented, purloiner of songs? I realize it would likely be subjective.

Ellen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:41 AM

That's a good question and probably a good thread even if we have run it before. The subject of who stole what and how much has come up in threads where the title doesn't reflect the bulk of the discussion and that's a typical Mudcat "happening." Thread creep is a way of life here.....I mean, look at this thread!!!(:<))

Most people would probably say its Woody and Woody would probably have agreed. Not the exact quote, but Woody said that he stole tunes from everybody and wherever he could! A lot of Dylan's stuff was a little more surrepticious, or at least seems that way to an awful lot of people. We have these discussions as to whether that was Bob's doing or someone else's and that leads to long harangues about copyright law and yada, yada, yada..........I think we had one period where it seemed the subject was coming up on every thread for awhile!!!

Whatever the case, both men were excellent wordsmiths. Guthrie wrote about his times and current events in a manner and style that was straightforward and to the point. Dylan wrote about his times too, but often in symbolic terms which were very popular then. A lot of Bob's later stuff is better to me in that respect, although I don't mind the symbolism either. I guess at times Woody let the symbolism of the event or circumstance speak for itself and told the tale straight out and Bob was more comfortable with the parable relating to some event/circumstance.

Look at this song here...Hard Rain. What you and I think its about may be far different, but its a wonderful piece of writing. On the other hand, we both would know exactly what "1913" or "Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" is about but that doesn't deter them from being powerful songs also.

Start a thread and see what you get on the subject. We've got lots of newer members that I'm sure would like to have a shot at the subject!!!!

Spaw

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:45 PM

Bob Dylans songs stand up on their own credit, he has no need to claim songs from the tradition. Likewise the tradition has no need to claim songs from Bob Dylan. The great folklorist Ewan MacColl was known to have collected his own songs from traditional sources, but I dont think this would apply to Bob. Blessings on you all, Dave

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 09:16 PM

Nevertheless Dylan has on numerous occasions taken both tunes and lyrics fron tradition without acknowledging his sources.  MacColl did the same, but was rather more honest about it; perhaps because it didn't occur to him that there might be serious money involved.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 09:37 PM

Its hard to ascribe motive or affix blame in Dylan's case.....whether it was Bob or his publisher/recording company/other handlers, but the fact is it did happen and as Malcolm so well says, others were somewhat more honest about it. Dylan's songs do stand on their own merits, as do others including Woody, but Dylan admitted far less "borrowing" at times.

Here's a site worth reading and as the author says: The borrowing might have been unknowing, a conscious tribute, or occasionally plain, outright theft. Its a fun read in any case.......CLICK HERE.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 09:48 PM

'Spaw is right, of course.  Dylan's work (early on, at any rate) is of fundamental importance in the development of contemporary "folk" music, and I don't think that anyone would want to deny him that.  A lot of people, though, because they haven't been told, may perhaps assume that he made it all up by himself.  Credit where it's due, basically.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hard Rain's a Gonna FAll
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 04:33 PM

A few mistakes (or changes) in the DT from the Dylan website:

Verse 2 line 4: Should be I saw a highway of diamonds with nobody on it (not of golden).
Verse 3, line 7, left out: Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'.
Verse 4, line 8: I met another man who was wounded with hatred (not in hatred)