I Don’t Need it to Rain - The Copenhagen Tapes

(Note: This is not the same song as the one released on
"Live at the Troubadour 1969."

After a two-minute intro by upright bass player guest Niels Henning,
Tim free-form vocalizes for the remaining twenty minutes,
using his voice in the manner of a jazz saxophone player.

Selected verses from his stream of consciousness are show below.)

I don’t need it to rain anymore
I hate to hear the rain falling
I don’t need it to rain anymore

But when that sun is shining bright
And I open up my window
And let the breeze roll in
Cools my darling’s side of the bed
Makes me glad I’m alive

I love to feel that morning sun
Beating on my back
Singing out a little melody
How I hate to hear that rain clouds are gonna come around
Floating over my head

Open up that window darling
And let that little breeze float in
Don’t you talk mistakes honey
Can’t you feel the rays
Day’s gonna be different, never, never

4:20
I don’t worry, please don’t worry
I got a place to call
If I don’t make it in the city life
I’m just gonna go back home
And start again

5:15
High heels and black silk stockings
Black silk stockings
My undercover queen
You been stepping round
With every stepping stud in town
(Speed, spangled Hollywood dance
Something gonna be close every time)
But when it rains outside
I’m gonna take your jive back away
I don’t need it to rain no more

6:45
If you fall I’m tired of your jive
I’m gonna go back home
Where the living is easy
Where the living is easy
Where the living is easy

7:30
At a quarter to three
Getting ready to close
Give me another drink please
Open up that window Joe
Cigarette smoke is choking me

There’s some joker at the jukebox
With a handful of dimes
Keeps playing the same old melody
Brother please help me stay up please
Play another tune tonight

I don’t need it to rain no more
I don’t need it to rain no more
I don’t need it to rain no more

9:45
Train is at the station
(It’s time to pull) away
I’ve got a ticket in my hand
I’ve been stuck so long
(It’s not what I want)
I want to get home to my lady

Keep my heart wound up in a plastic bag
Hanging out in the rain
Every time I try it’s so hard to find your smile
Why do you always (talk) baby

10:40
This old world ain’t gonna change
There ain’t no decent way to get along
Every time a good man comes up to be seen
Somebody’s gonna smash him down
Smash him down
Smash him down

12.25
(This old world ain’t gonna change
It’s raining all the time)
The only real thing is this man’s pride
Hear that melody sing
And everything in between
Whether he wants to understand me or not
Just wastes my precious time

Compliments roll off my back
Like water off a duck
And you hatred only hits me in my heart

17:55
They keep us in a hotel all week long
And don’t give us no place to play
Just like the music in a little cuckoo clock
Puts the hand on the hour
And expect us to play
Just too bad, you gotta go on
I think I’ve found it now
The reason for my life

I like to make love at night
And sleep late in the morning
Let that sun shine all day long

18:55
(Nothing like no sun up in the sky in the country)
To make a Southern boy feel lonesome
All your Betties are black and brown
And there’s just no rum for me around
So I think I’ll just have to back off for a piece

I’m just so happy just for a little while
If you wanna know what’s going on
It’s simply from me to you
From my heart to your eyes
I bleed for you and pay

That’s the rule they made it
The rule you gotta break it down
And start all over again
If you are right or wrong
Only time is gonna prove it
So live your life day to day

Don’t let it rain in the morning
When the sun is shining

Tim Buckley - Tim Buckley Music ASCAP

Released 1999 Strange Fruit (UK) - “Once I Was”
Again in 2000 Pinnacle (UK) - “The Copenhagen Tapes”

Running time 21:22