430. Ain't Gonna Rain No More
This is perhaps a chant of Negro origin. See White's note on
the version in ANFS 281-2, which is our A text. It is rather
widely known: among Southern Negroes (JAFL xxiv 277, 374),
as a dance song in Texas (TNFS 107-8) and Nebraska (ASb 141),
and Finger heard it sung in Patagonia (FB 163. by an American
Negro). The fragments of meaning that have attached themselves
to the key refrain vary, as will be seen from our Nortli Carolina
texts. See ]\Irs. Steely 217-18 (i935)-
A. 'It Ain't er Gwine ter Rain.' Reported by H. H. Hanchey of Durham
in 1919 as heard some four years before that. Said to be a "song sung
bv slaves when they went back to work after a rainy day." Previously
printed, ANFS 208. The contributor notes that "it was said to be a
sign of' dry weather to see a rabbit sitting in the fence corner."
1 It ain't er gwine ter rain, it ain't er gwine ter rain,
It ain't er gwine ter rain no mo' ;
It rained last night an' de night befo'.^
2 Rabbit settin' in de jamb ob de fence.
It ain't er gwine ter rain no mo'.
He's settin' thar for de like- ob sense,
It ain't er gwine ter rain no mo'.
B
"Tain't Gon' Rain an' 'Tain't Gon' Snow.' Contributed in 1922 or there-
abouts by Jennie Belvin, Durham.
1 'Tain't gon' rain and 'tain't gon' .snow,
'Tain't gon' rain no mo'.
'Tain't gon' rain and 'tain't gon' snow,
'Tain't gon' rain no mo".
2 Rabbit settin' behind the pine,
'Tain't gon' rain no mo'.
One eye out an' the other'n blind.
Ain't gon' rain no mo'.
' One expects a repetition of the refrain line after line 3. but the
manuscript does not give it.
- For "lack," of course.
5l8 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
3 What does the blackbird say to the crow ?
'Tain't gon' to rain no mo'.
It ain't gon' to rain no mo'.
'Tain't gon' to rain no mo'.
"Tain't A-Going to Rain No More.' Reported in 1923 by Clara Hearnc
of Pittsboro, Chatbam county.
1 'T ain't goin' rain, 't ain't goin' snow,
'T ain't goin' rain no more.
2 Rabbit sittin' behind the pine.
One eye out and the other blind.
'T ain't gwine rain no more.
3 Red bug hauling, seed tick a-mauling ;
'T ain't gwine rain no more.
4 How do you know, an' who said so?
'T ain't gwine rain no more.
D
"T ain't Goin' to Rain No More.' Obtained from Carl G. Knox, Dur-
bam, some time in tbe period 1922-24. Witb tbe tune. Here a human
figure takes tbe place of tbe rabbit.
1 Old Aunt Dinah behind the pine —
'T ain't goin' a rain no more —
One eye out and the other one blind —
'T ain't goin' a rain no more.
2 Big boy, little boy, picking up sticks —
'T ain't goin' a rain no more —
Big boy, little boy, picking up sticks —
'T ain't goin' a rain no more.
3 Little boy, big boy, picking up sticks —
'T is goin' a rain some more —
Little boy, big boy, picking up sticks —
'T is goin' a rain some more.
E
'Ain't Gonna Rain No Mo'.' From Miss Mamie Mansfield of Durbam,
June 1922. Tbis attaches entirely new matter to the refrain. It sounds
as if it might be a play-party song. Compare ANFS 268.
I got a husband, a sweetheart too.
Ain't gwine a rain no mo'.
Hu.sband don't love me, sweetheart do.
Ain't gwine a rain no mo'.
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430
Ain't Gonna Rain No More
'It Ain't er Gwine ter Rain.' Sung by H. H. Hanchey of Durham, in 1919.
The recording did supply the repetition of the refrain line mentioned as missing
in the manuscript; Cf. Ill 517 footnote. For additional texts cf. EAS 10:
BT 277; APRS 322-8.
F-399
It ain't gwine ter rain, it ain't gwine ter rain, It
ain't gwine ter rain no mo'; It rained last night an' de mo'.
night be - fo', It ain't gwine to rain no
For melodic relationship cf. ***SoA 97; OPS iii 370.
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: d. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2) =
aai (4,4).
'Tain't Gon' Rain an' 'Tain't Gon' Snow.' Sung by Miss Jennie Belvin,
Durham, about 1922.
F-400
'Taint gon - na rain and 'taint gon - na snow,
'Taint gon - na rain no mo',
'Taint gon' rain and it ain't gon' snow,
'Taint gon - na rain no mo'.
For melodic relationship cf. **BT 277 (measures 1-4) ; *ASb 141 and
TNFS 107, measures 3-4 in both.
Scale: Hexatonic (4), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abed (2,2,2,2).
'T* Ain't Goin' To Rain No Mo.' Sung by Carl G. Knox, Durham, between
1922 and 1924. The tune is identical with that of 'Polly-Wolly-Doodle.' Cf.
SoA 97, also OPS III 370, No. 557.
F-4OI
Old Aunt Di - nah be hind the phlis:
'Taint gon' to rain no mo' — One eye out and the
oth - er one blind — 'Taint gon' to rain no mo'.
For melodic relationship cf. *TNFS 107, measure 5 only.
Scale: Hexatonic (6), plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: abac (2,2,2,2)
= aai (4,4).