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Words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1962 as “Rain Song” then in 1964 as “What Have They Done to the Rain” by Schroder Music Company, renewed 1990. a.k.a. “Rain Song” and “Just a Little Rain.” People now think of this as a song about acid rain, but it was originally written as part of a campaign to stop aboveground nuclear testing, which was putting strontium-90 in the air, where it was washed down by the rain, got into the soil and thence to the grass, which was eaten by cows. When children drank the cow’s milk the strontium-90, chemically similar to calcium but radioactive, was deposited in their bones. Mothers saved their children’s baby teeth and sent them in to be tested by scientists who indeed found elevated levels of strontium-90 in their teeth. A year after this song was written, President Kennedy signed the treaty against aboveground testing.

We are reminded of this song today when it is raining and more rain coming. We need the rain as it has been dry and there is a drought in this area. In so many places the people our earth needs rain. We listen to the rain hitting our metal roof on the porch and think back to when we first heard this song. It was when Anne came back to town for a visit telling us all about the Ban the Bomb March she had been on, and her and others sitting outside during an air raid drill. Anne and her brother attended one of our Sunday afternoon neighborhood sing-a-longs and Anne borrowed Peters guitar and sang this song.

Malvina Reynolds wrote this song in 1962 and nothing has really changed. The big boys who were responsible for the above ground testing of nuclear testing are now involved with more destruction of the planet and its people all in the name of their real god, $$$$$. Don’t let them fool you. When, for god sakes when will we be able to get rid of the big boys as they continue to destroy and put the earth and its people in jeopardy? Somehow in all of this they will fail. They will be brought down hopefully never to rise again from the ashes of the old world.

Source: What have they done to the rain? and from the ashes of the old. | furbirdsqueerly