Rain Rain Go Away

“Rain Rain Go Away” is a short children’s rhyme. As with many nursery rhymes the origin and meaning of this rhyme is open for debate, but one theory dates it back to the reign of Elizabeth I of England. The invasion of the Spanish Armada was, in part, defeated by the stormy weather (which scattered the Armada fleet).

Original lyrics

Rain rain go away,

Come again another day.

Little Johnny wants to play;

Rain, rain, go to Spain,

Never show your face again!

There are several longer versions, the most common of which is:

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again another day.

Rain, rain, go away.

Come again some other day.

Little Arthur wants to play,

In the meadow by the hay.

Rain, rain, go to Spain,

Never show your face again.

Rain, rain, pour down,

But not a drop on our town.

Rain on the green grass,

and rain on the tree,

And rain on the housetop,

but not on me.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again on washing day.

Rain, rain, go to Germany,

And remain there permanently.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come on Martha’s wedding day.

Additional Verses:

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again another day,

If you don’t, I will say,

Rain, rain go away.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again some other day,

We want to go outside and play,

Come again some other day.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again some other day,

If you don’t, I don’t care,

I’ll pull down your underwear!