After the great Mahalia Jackson, another superstar who could not only sing, but whose guitar playing was a major influence on Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, and therefore everybody since them. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, a town near Arkansas, near the Mississippi, to cotton-picking parents who also had musical talent and were heavily involved in the church. She became a big star in the 1940s and 50s, and these two song performances were recorded in May 1964 at a then disused railway station in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, the very place the Gibb brothers of the Bee Gees first grew up. It was part of an American blues and folk festival at the unusual venue, which included other performers, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Reverand Gary Davis, who is seen accompanying her in the second song. Tharpe hadn't planned to sing the gospel number Didn't It Rain, but due to the inevitable north-west weather, did so, and it went down a storm, as did the equally appropriate second song, which displays her poise and intensity. Her voice, charisma and guitar playing make her one of the most influential and under-rated musical talents of all time. And, as a minor personal note, somewhere in the rapt audience for this Manchester concert was my father. The two clips of the songs are followed by the first part of a documentary about her life, which should naturally lead on to further episodes.
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it flll my Lord didn't it rain
Oh it rained forty days
And it rained forty nights
There was no land no where in sight
God send the angel to spread the news
He haste his wings and away he flew
To the East to the West
To the North to the South
All day all night how it rained how it rained
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Some at the window some at the door
Some said Noah can't you take a little more
No no said Noah no no my friends
The nature got to keep you can't get in
I told you I told you a long time ago
You wouldn't hear me you disobey me
Lord send the angel a warning to you
It began to rain and now you are through
Well it rained forty days
Forty nights without stopping
Noah was glad
When the rain stopped dropping
Knock at the window knock at the door
Come on brother Noah
Can't you take any more
No no my brothers you are full of sin
God has the key you can't get in
Would you listen how it rained
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
Didn't it rain children
Talk about rain oh my Lord
Didn't it fall didn't it fall
Didn't it fall my Lord didn't it rain
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train
This train don't carry no gamblers, this train
This train don't carry no gamblers,
no whiskey drinkers, and no high flyers
This train carry no gamblers, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory,
don't carry nothing, but the righteous and the holy
This train bound for glory, this train
This train don't carry no liars, this train
This train don't carry no liars, this train
This train don't carry no liars,
no hypocrites and no high flyers
This train don't carry no liars, this train
This train is built for speed, boy, this train
This train is built for speed, now, this train
This train is built for speed,
fastest train you ever did see
Now, this train is built for speed, boy, this train
This train is solid black, oh, this train
This train is solid black, oh, this train
This train is solid black,
when you go there you don't come back
Oh, this train is built for glory, this train
This train don't fit no transportation on this train
This train don't fit no transportation on this train
This train, you know, don't fit no transportation,
no Jim Crow and no discrimination on
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train don't care if you white or black on this train
This train don't care if you white or black on this train
This train don't care if you white or black,
everybody's treated just like a man
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train is bound for glory,
don't carry nothing but the righteous an' a holy
This train is bound for glory, this train
This train,
This train,
This train
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