It has been years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa and met Joseph Shabalala, and the other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, in a recording studio in Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of their music sent by a DJ based in Los Angeles, Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of black South Africa into the Graceland album, a project regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World music
'60s Africa found the Zulu and Sotho beginning to incorporate the influences of African American R&B, jazz, and blues into their traditional, indigenous music. New styles such as township jazz, pennywhistle street music, Kwela, and marabi were formed. Eventually, these myriad styles coalesced to create a new hybrid pop music that came to be known as mbaqanga. Though mbaqanga employs the traditional instrumentation of Western pop (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals), the approach to song structure and rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic phrasing is uniquely African.
Recorded between 1981 and 1984, THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO is the first (and arguably the best) of a slew of South African pop recordings that soon followed. Characterized by insistent, rhythmically complex beats, elastic, burbling basslines, tight, ska-sounding guitar accompaniment, and thick, multi-part vocals, this music is as intriguing as it is appealing. Groups with such names as Udokotela Shange Namajaha and Amaswazi Emvelo serve up bright, infectious melodies and percussively insistent tracks that are clearly intended for dancing.
Rain Rain Beautiful Rain
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh rain, oh rain, beautiful rain
Don't disturb me, beautiful rain
Oh come, never come, oh come, never come
Oh come to me beautiful rain
Rain.
Rain, rain, rain, rain
rain, rain, rain, rain
Beautiful rain
Oh come, never come, oh come, never come
Oh come to me beautiful rain
When the sun says good night to the mountain
I am dreaming of the sun
Say good night
When the sun says good night to the mountain
I am dreaming of the sun
Say good night
When the sun goes down, the birds on the trees
Are singing sweet for the night
When the sun says good night to the mountain
I am dreaming of the sun
Say good night.
When the sun goes down, the birds on the trees
Are singing sweet for the night
When the sun says good night to the mountain
I am dreaming of the sun
Say good night
Rain.
Rain, rain, rain, rain
Beautiful rain
Rain, rain, rain, rain
Beautiful rain
Oh come, never come, oh come, never come
Oh come to me beautiful rain.
Enjoy singing with your choir!
The song "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain" by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a beautiful piece with a simple melody that captures the beauty of rain. The lyrics of the song emphasize the beauty and power of rain, how it can be a source of life-giving nourishment, and how it can bring peace and healing to individuals. The song uses repetition of the phrase "beautiful rain" to emphasize the importance of this natural phenomenon.
The singer implores the rain not to disturb him, but to come to him. This could be interpreted as a personal prayer for peace and comfort, with the singer asking for the rain to bring relief from their troubles. Later in the song, the lyrics shift to focus on the sun saying goodnight to the mountain and the birds singing sweetly for the night. This imagery highlights the cyclical nature of day and night, as well as the interconnectedness of all things in the natural world.
Overall, "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain" is a lyrical poem that celebrates the beauty of rain and the healing power it has over human soul.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh rain, oh rain
Expressing a desire for rain
Oh rain, oh rain, beautiful rain
Expressing appreciation for the beauty of rain
Don't disturb me, beautiful rain
Asking the rain not to disrupt current activities
Oh come, never come, oh come, never come
Paradoxical statement expressing both desire and caution for rain
Oh come to me beautiful rain
Final plea for rain to come
Rain.
Simple exclamation of rain
Rain, rain, rain, rain
Repetition of excitement for rain
Beautiful rain
Emphasis on the beauty of rain
When the sun says good night to the mountain
Reference to the end of the day
I am dreaming of the sun
Desire for sunlight and warmth
Say good night
Acknowledgement of the end of the day
When the sun goes down, the birds on the trees
Observation of nature and its patterns
Are singing sweet for the night
Description of birdsong during the night
Rain.
Reiteration of the importance of rain
Rain, rain, rain, rain
Continuation of excitement for rain
Oh come, never come, oh come, never come
Repeated paradoxical statement expressing desire for rain with caution
Oh come to me beautiful rain.
Final plea for rain
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOSEPH SHABALALA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ireneypsilanti6180
It's raining tonight. We're going through a pandemic. I'm so grateful for the sound of the rain this very second.
@artorre8883
Yes. Finally in San Francisco Bay Area.
@davidbalderstone318
We sang this in our community choir. Loved performing such a beautiful song.
@TheRadMan
Love this. I heard it first some 30 years ago and never forgotten, so glad to find it here on youtube it's exactly how I remember it!
@maijashelley9318
We had beautiful rain here today. I had to go out and walk around in it. It made me think of this beautiful song. Thank you.
@jam6718
My wife introduced me to Ladysmith back in 1997/98 and we saw them perform at Glastonbury a couple of years later.
@Gypsyxo0127
I bet when God hears them sing, it makes him cry with joyโค
@max1mum_vel0c1ty9
I listened to this and the next day it rained, i came back to comment.
This is a beautiful song, much love
@terrylafreniere693
This group most beautiful blend of their voices!
@DaveGOPBoy
Just WOW... Their message and music could bring about WORLD PEACE if the world would only listen! I remember seeing/hearing them for the first time on Saturday Night Live in 1986, singing this beautiful song (Paul Simon was hosting and musical guest, promoting "Graceland"....). I was SPELLBOUND then, am SPELLBOUND now. Gentlemen, thank you for being proof that God works through music... He works through YOU. God bless you ALL!!