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Leon Russell — It's a Hard Rain Gonna Fall
Album: and The Shelter People
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 312









Released: 1971
Length: 4:55
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Tell me where have you been, my blue-eyed son?
Where have you been, my darling young one?
I've stumbled up on the side of twelve misty mountains,
I've walked and I've crawled over six crooked highways,
I've stepped out in the middle of seven sad forests,
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans,
But I tell ya it's hard, yeah it's hard, well it's hard,
Oh it's hard, girl
It's a hard rain's gonna fall.

Tell me what did you see, my blue-eyed son?
What did you see, my darling young one?
I saw a black branch dripping with blood all around it,
I saw a room full of men with their hammers bleedin',
I saw a white ladder all covered with water,
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken,
Well it's hard, yes it's hard, yes it's hard,
Oh yeah,
It's a hard rain's gonna fall.

Tell me what did you hear, my blue-eyed son?
What did you hear, my darling young one?
I heard one hundred drummers, hands that were blazin',
Ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin',
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin',
I heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter,
Well it's hard, yes it's hard, yes it's hard,
Oh it's hard yeah,
It's a hard rain's gonna fall.

Well what'll you do now, my blue-eyed son?
What'll you do now, my darling young one?
Well I'll walk to the depths of the deepest black forest,
Where the people are many and their hands are all empty,
Where the pellets of poison are flooding the waters,
But I'll know my song well and I sure won't forget it
'Cos it's hard, yes it's hard, well it's hard,
Oh yeah
It's a hard rain's gonna fall.

Wah-hoo
Wah-hoo
Wah-hoo
Wah-hoo
Comments (42)add comment
So lame....
Many many moons ago I liked this a lot. Now it seems kinda awful. It completely fails to capture the tone of the song, robbing it of its meaning.
To each their own...this cover of a CLASSIC is a 9 (Leon was (IS!!) the shit....Long Live RP and keep on playing Leon!!
Awful cover...
really?

If you enjoy this song, the lyrics, and the genesis of the lyrics, check out my friend Lloyd Timberlake's web site on creating a sustainable environment:

 Hard Rain Project   https://www.hardrainproject.com/no_shelter 

....and his beautiful book of the same name. (all done with Dylan's permission)

That Dos Equis "Most Interesting Man in the World" guy has nothing on Lloyd. He is an incredibly well-travelled and accomplished individual!

Love Leon - great album!!
Good shit man.   
 chordcloud wrote:
Paul_in_Australia wrote:
I think Dylan wrote this on the assumption that the Cuban Missile crisis would cause military conflict that would end the World. Inspite of the serious context, I prefer Bryan Ferry's version to Leon Russell's, as the poppy coverage and driving beat of Ferry's version create a 'sweet and sour' blend of the bleakness of the lyrics juxtaposed with the upbeat treatment. My overall preference is for his Bobness's version, then Ferry's, with this version a distant third. This sounds unremarkable and disposable and adds nothing to the original. Why bother?
It's interesting though, how each of these versions of the song reflect the political and social climate in which they were released. Dylan's tense, the-end-is-nigh stance, then this drug use hippie version followed by Bryan Ferry's upbeat interpretation, anticipating the pop-filled 80s. They are all interesting, but Dylan's original will probably always remain the definitive. A least you can dance to Bryan Ferry!

 
great that we are offered Dylan, Ferry and strong Leon Russell in fabulous mixed batches here on RP  : )

Love 
I think Leon had one of the most distinctive voices in Rock & Roll. This whole album is classic.  Miss you, Leon.
He ain't got no voice, but he uses what what he's got to perfection. Keep this one in rotation, sez me.
amen, brother....love that leon!  8

 
ejsamuel wrote:
man that takes me back - more from this album please.
 


 Buzzardcheater wrote:
More from my favorite Leons:  Russell, Redbone, and Kings of.....

{#Dancingbanana}
 
I agree. WE need more Leons on RP.

fauxtoes wrote:
wow. that was just awful. blech.

wh wh wh what??? {#Beat}


wow.  that was just awful. blech.
It's been a long, long time since I last heard this tune.  We listened to Leon Russell almost nonstop during my sophomore year in college.  He was playing the college circuit around that time. 
More from my favorite Leons:  Russell, Redbone, and Kings of.....

{#Dancingbanana}
Fresh interpretation.
Dylan, the inimitable protest poet. Nice cover, too. 8
Never heard this one before, much to my discredit. Blistering cover. Nice work.
man that takes me back - more from this album please.
Loves it. Saw him in Houston. Got busted for recording him. ha...cool!
In that case, this is more proof that Americans don't understand irony. macolyte wrote:
I couldn't disagree more. This is Leon Russell at his best, finding the essence and ironies in songs covered and his own, and rocking them.
Yeah, now this is more like it.
Paul_in_Australia wrote:
I think Dylan wrote this on the assumption that the Cuban Missile crisis would cause military conflict that would end the World. Inspite of the serious context, I prefer Bryan Ferry's version to Leon Russell's, as the poppy coverage and driving beat of Ferry's version create a 'sweet and sour' blend of the bleakness of the lyrics juxtaposed with the upbeat treatment. My overall preference is for his Bobness's version, then Ferry's, with this version a distant third. This sounds unremarkable and disposable and adds nothing to the original. Why bother?
It's interesting though, how each of these versions of the song reflect the political and social climate in which they were released. Dylan's tense, the-end-is-nigh stance, then this drug use hippie version followed by Bryan Ferry's upbeat interpretation, anticipating the pop-filled 80s. They are all interesting, but Dylan's original will probably always remain the definitive. A least you can dance to Bryan Ferry!
I think Dylan wrote this on the assumption that the Cuban Missile crisis would cause military conflict that would end the World. Inspite of the serious context, I prefer Bryan Ferry's version to Leon Russell's, as the poppy coverage and driving beat of Ferry's version create a 'sweet and sour' blend of the bleakness of the lyrics juxtaposed with the upbeat treatment. My overall preference is for his Bobness's version, then Ferry's, with this version a distant third. This sounds unremarkable and disposable and adds nothing to the original. Why bother?
Its a hahd rayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen gonna fall. . .
Another stranger in a strange land.
Bleyfusz wrote:
I find it real odd when a clone of Dr. John covers an iconic song of the early Bob Dylan. If it only would be the original. Dr. John, I mean, not version of the song (which i would also pleased to hear, on the other hand).
Wha? anyway, nice cover.
I find it real odd when a clone of Dr. John covers an iconic song of the early Bob Dylan. If it only would be the original. Dr. John, I mean, not version of the song (which i would also pleased to hear, on the other hand).
Wow...it's been a while since you've played this! I'm a fan, please don't wait so long to whip it out again.
Nice! Love it.
Verge wrote:
Horrible cover, please spare us...
I couldn't disagree more. This is Leon Russell at his best, finding the essence and ironies in songs covered and his own, and rocking them.
I love Leon. From producing \"This Diamond Ring\" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys, to all his great covers and originals. How about playing \"Elvis and Marilyn\" from Americana.
Differnt than Dylan for sure but still a good version. Leon Russell is a musical genious. From Frank Sinatra to Joe Cocker to George Harrison to the Stones to his own work.
Originally Posted by beachedge_bill: One of my very favorite Dylan songs - done by Dylan. Very dark and evocative images that just get washed over in this sing-song version. Don't get me wrong, I really like Leon, but I'd rather here Out in the Woods, or Cajun Love Song, or Baby Jane, or ...
I agree. Leon's style just doesn't seem to fit this song.
One of my very favorite Dylan songs - done by Dylan. Very dark and evocative images that just get washed over in this sing-song version. Don\'t get me wrong, I really like Leon, but I\'d rather here Out in the Woods, or Cajun Love Song, or Baby Jane, or ...
Haven\'t heard Leon for awhile, I enjoyed this song, Maybe more is in order.
I like hearing almost any Leon. This is good but there are many better.
This one is a yawn for me. A song in search of a more interesting melody.