This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Denny Carr / Larry Haack
Near a little old farming town
A farmer and his daughter
Worked a parched field
In the hot summer sun
As he cursed the dry weather
And the passing of his wife
His daughter said daddy
Now don’t worry none.
Mamma taught me a song
Last night in a dream
She said if I sing it
And only believe
When that scarecrow starts dancing
God will make it rain
So she sat in that field for two weeks straight
Singing dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Oh Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down
Her daddy said this ain’t right
The town folk are talking
I’m gonna burn that scarecrow
Down to the ground
As they both stood there watching
The flames grew higher
The wind started blowing
And the sky filled with clouds
Then it came down in buckets
And the fire died away
As that scarecrow danced
To mother natures ballet
That field turned to mud
And her daddy broke down
Put an end to disbelieving
And six months of drought
Singing dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down…Yeah
(Instrumental Break)
Oh dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Oh Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down…Yeah
Make the rain come down
Near a little old farming town
A farmer and his daughter
Worked a parched field
In the hot summer sun
As he cursed the dry weather
And the passing of his wife
His daughter said daddy
Now don’t worry none.
Mamma taught me a song
Last night in a dream
She said if I sing it
And only believe
When that scarecrow starts dancing
God will make it rain
So she sat in that field for two weeks straight
Singing dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Oh Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down
Her daddy said this ain’t right
The town folk are talking
I’m gonna burn that scarecrow
Down to the ground
As they both stood there watching
The flames grew higher
The wind started blowing
And the sky filled with clouds
Then it came down in buckets
And the fire died away
As that scarecrow danced
To mother natures ballet
That field turned to mud
And her daddy broke down
Put an end to disbelieving
And six months of drought
Singing dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down…Yeah
(Instrumental Break)
Oh dance scarecrow dance
This town’s all but dried up
Better get moving
Let’s scare up some clouds
Won’t you kick up a storm
If there’s any magic in you
Oh Dance scarecrow dance
Make the rain come down…Yeah
Make the rain come down
Lyrics submitted by darlin2272
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