Harman Patil (Editor)

Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
B-side
  
"Freedom's Star"

Recorded
  
1963

Length
  
2:43

Released
  
1964

Genre
  
Folk, calypso

Label
  
Philips

"Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)" was a folk music single, the debut recording by the Serendipity Singers in 1964. The song was written by rockabilly singer songwriter Ersel Hickey. The lyrics were based on the English nursery rhyme "There Was a Crooked Man", with a calypso music based melody. It reached #2 on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1964. "Don't Let the Rain Come Down" topped the 17 April 1964 WLS Silver Dollar Survey, in the middle of Beatlemania. It was released on their debut album, The Serendipity Singers. The single's Philips catalog code was 40175.

The song was also covered by Ronnie Hilton, whose version was a hit in the UK, peaking at #21 in 1964.

In a "My Music, Folk Rewind" video, the group's nine members appear as three groups of three, with each group singing its particular verse. All nine members sing in each repetition of the chorus.

References

Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man) Wikipedia