Rainwater was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Stella (née Miller) and Cicero Percy Rainwater, and grew up during the Great Depression. As a child, instead of listening to the Grand Ole Opry with his father, he took classical piano lessons, which ended after he lost part of his right thumb to a work accident as a teenager. He originally trained to be a veterinarian, but after some time in the Navy during World War II took up the guitar.
He became fascinated with Roy Acuff and started playing and writing songs. With his brothers, he played concerts around Virginia. He sometimes wore a buckskin jacket and headband. Rising guitarist Roy Clark worked with Rainwater and together they cut a few demos for 4 Star Records. Pop singer Teresa Brewer turned one of his compositions, "I Gotta Go Get My Baby", into a big hit. Others were overdubbed and released on budget record labels.
Rainwater got his big break in the music business when he performed on Arthur Godfrey's programs. He won first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on May 9, 1955. He had a regular role on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee for several years in Springfield, Missouri beginning in 1955. He signed with MGM Records and recorded a series of songs for the label, including peppy numbers like "Hot and Cold". Such songs were showcases for Rainwater's voice, and his energy and versatility led him to record rockabilly.
Rainwater was one of country's most noteworthy stars in the late 1950s, when his good looks and baritone voice made him popular. One of the first country songs he recorded was "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird", which he wrote. Released in 1957, the song became a big country-pop crossover hit, making Rainwater among the first country singers to appeal to a pop market. The song reached No. 3 on the country chart and 18 on the pop chart. It sold one million copies by 1957, and gave Rainwater his first gold record. During the song's success, Rainwater relocated to the New Jersey-New York area. "The Majesty of Love" (1957) was a duet with Connie Francis, which also sold over one million copies. His next single, "So You Think You Got Troubles", was a successful follow-up on the country charts, but not on the pop charts. His self-penned "Whole Lotta Woman" reached UK No. 1 for three weeks in April and May 1958. A second UK single, "I Dig You Baby", made No. 19 in June 1958. "Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You)" missed the UK Top Thirty chart, but returned him to the US Country chart.
Rainwater performed and toured throughout the rest of the 1950s. In 1959, he added three more gold records: "My Love Is Real", "My Brand Of Blues" and "Half Breed" (A cover version of a John D. Loudermilk song,) all sold in excess of one million records. In 1959, Rainwater recorded another Loudermilk song, "The Pale Faced Indian". His original version went unnoticed, but later efforts by Don Fardon and Paul Revere & The Raiders under the title "Indian Reservation" were hits. Marvin recorded a number of songs with his little sister Patty Rainwater who was almost 12 years his junior. They recorded songs like "Down In The Cellar" as well as some of Patty's compositions like "Because I'm A Dreamer" and "Two Fools In Love".
His voice began to give out, and he developed calluses on his vocal cords. As a result, Rainwater and MGM Records parted ways in 1960. He went into brief retirement to rest his voice and then recorded sporadically for Warwick Records (United Kingdom), although without any hits. In the 1960s, he recorded for a series of record labels including United Artists, Warner Bros. and Sonet; and started his own record company called Brave Records.
In the 1970s, Rainwater developed throat cancer, from which he slowly recovered, and moved to Aitkin, Minnesota. He appeared occasionally at rockabilly festivals in Europe and was still loved by many fans.
Rainwater was the 73rd inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
He died of heart failure on September 17, 2013, in Minneapolis. Marvin had five children. Jimmy and Judi by his first wife Charline; Wade, Lora Lee and Barbie by his second wife Barbara.
Rainwater's song "Gamblin' Man" was covered by Mike Ness on his 1999 album, Under the Influences. "So You Think You've Got Troubles" was covered by Harry Nilsson, as evidenced on his 1966 Spotlight on Nilsson compilation album. "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" was covered by Petula Clark in 1957 and by Steve Young on his 1969 album, Rock Salt & Nails. "Hot and Cold" was featured on Bob Dylan's radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour.
Gonna Find Me a Bluebird
Marvin Rainwater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let him sing me a song
'Cause my heart's been broken
Much too long
Gonna chase me a rainbow
Through a heaven of blue
'Cause I'm all through crying over you
There was a time my love was needed
My life completed, my dreams come true
Then came the time my life was haunted
My love unwanted, all for you
Gonna find me a bluebird
Let him sing me a song
'Cause my heart's been broken
Much too long
Gonna chase me a rainbow
through' a heaven of blue
'Cause I'm all through crying over you
Marvin Rainwater's "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" is a country classic that was released in 1957. The song is a tale of heartbreak and the desire to move on from a past love. Rainwater's lyrics express a yearning for a new beginning and a desire to seek out the beauty in life. The opening lines of the song, "Gonna find me a bluebird, let him sing me a song," demonstrate the desire to find beauty and happiness after experiencing heartbreak.
The use of the bluebird as a symbol of hope is significant because according to Native American folklore, bluebirds are considered symbols of happiness and hope. Rainwater's lyrics continue, "Cause my heart's been broken much too long, gonna chase me a rainbow through a heaven of blue." Here, he expresses his determination to find happiness and move on from the pain he's been experiencing.
The final verse, "There was a time my love was needed, my life completed, my dreams come true, then came the time my life was haunted, my love unwanted, all for you," is a powerful summary of the heartache and disappointment the singer has experienced. Despite this, he is resolved to move on and embrace a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Gonna find me a bluebird
I will search for a bird with blue feathers to sing a song for me
Let him sing me a song
I hope the bird sings me a cheerful and uplifting tune
'Cause my heart's been broken
My heart has been shattered and I need something to lift my spirits
Much too long
This heartache has lasted for an extended period of time
Gonna chase me a rainbow
I will pursue a rainbow and try to catch it
Through a heaven of blue
The blue sky is where the rainbow can be found
'Cause I'm all through crying over you
I'm finished shedding tears over the person who hurt me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN RAINWATER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind