<SONG_DETAILS> [GENRE: Piedmont blues, ragtime blues, acoustic country blues] [ERA: 1920s to 1930s pre war country blues] [INSTRUMENTATION: fingerpicked acoustic guitar, warm resonator guitar, light jug percussion] [MOOD: rain soaked front porch warmth and communal storytelling] [TEMPO: 125 BPM, lively syncopated ragtime bounce] [KEY: E major, warm open tonal center] [VOCALS: male mid tenor vocals, warm raspy conversational delivery, humane and playful energy] [EXCLUSIONS: no electric amplification, replace with acoustic guitar texture; no heavy drum production, replace with sparse hand percussion] </SONG_DETAILS> [Verse 1] Rain came sideways through the boards last night, Rain came sideways through the boards last night, Woke me and the old rain barrel arguing with the light. [Verse 2] I set my boots beside it, set my hat upon the chair, I set my boots beside it, set my hat upon the chair, Then I heard that barrel testify: “There’s water everywhere.” [Verse 3] My neighbor owed me thirty, said the cotton wouldn’t grow, My neighbor owed me thirty, said the cotton wouldn’t grow, I said, “Pay me when the creek gets low; till then, let kindness flow.” [Verse 4] A stray dog found my doorway, shivering and thin, A stray dog found my doorway, shivering and thin, I gave him half my biscuit and he stood there like my kin. [Verse 5] By morning all the rooftops shone, the red clay turned to gold, By morning all the rooftops shone, the red clay turned to gold, That rain barrel kept my secrets and my neighbor kept his soul. [Chorus] Rain barrel witness, rolling round and round, Tell me what you heard last night, If the whole world loses water, We’ll pass the cup around. [Verse 6] Sun came out laughing, put a penny on the rail, Sun came out laughing, put a penny on the rail, I’ve seen a poor man feed a friend and call that dinner in the mail. [Chorus] Rain barrel witness, rolling round and round, Tell me what you heard last night, If the whole world loses water, We’ll pass the cup around. [Outro]
