Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. A one-of-a-kind pioneer of 20th-century music, Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with her gospel recordings that were a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll accompaniment. As the first recording artist to impact the music charts with her spiritual recordings, Tharpe became the first superstar of gospel music and also became known as "the original soul sister." She was a treasured early influence on iconic figures such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Johnny Cash.^[2]

Willing to cross the line between sacred and secular by performing her inspirational music of 'light' in the 'darkness' of the nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her, Tharpe's witty, idiosyncratic style also left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists, such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds. While she offended some conservative churchgoers with her forays into the world of pop music, she never left gospel music.

Tharpe's 1944 hit "Down By The Riverside" was selected for the American Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2004, stating that it captured her "spirited guitar playing" and "unique vocal style" which were an influence on early rhythm and blues performers, as well as gospel, jazz and rock artists.^[3] Tharpe has been called the Godmother of Rock n' Roll.

Comment: It rained alright. Sister Rosetta--a genuine 6-string virtuoso--died broke (all too often the fate of many musicians) & was buried in an ummarked grave in Philly. She beat everyone at the guitar. She frequently blew the roof off the house. There are a lot of these oldtime blues gospel rockabilly precursor musicmakers who were invisible founders of the popular music of today & yesterday. Rosetta Tharpe might've been the foremost of the bunch. Rest now sweetheart, your legacy lives on.

 On 7th May 1964 The disused Wilbraham Road Rail Station took on a new role for one day when Granada TV's Blues & Gospel Train came to the station incoming from Manchester Central.

  The Programme Included:

  Cousin Joe Pheasant
  Sister Rosetta Tharpe
  Muddy Waters
  Otis Spann,
  Willie Smith,
  Rev. Gary Davis
  Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

As so often is the case with esp. blues, gospel, traditonal etc. the artist improvises lyrics. But here's a competent version of the piece in question:

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

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

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 angel got the key and 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

--traditional gospel