Introduction
Tom Jones Didn’t It Rain Paul O Grady Show Sept 2010
“Didn’t It Rain” is a traditional American gospel spiritual that has been performed and recorded by many artists across the 20th century, including Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The song belongs to the gospel tradition rooted in African-American church music, and its lyrics recall the Biblical story of the Flood, using repetition and call-and-response phrasing typical of spirituals. Over time it became a staple for singers interested in rhythm-and-blues, soul, and gospel-influenced performance.
When Sir Tom Jones performed “Didn’t It Rain” on The Paul O’Grady Show in September 2010, the choice of material reflected a major phase of artistic reinvention in his later career. Rather than relying only on his famous 1960s pop hits, Jones had begun exploring the musical influences that shaped his voice in his youth in Wales—particularly blues, gospel, and American roots music. This direction would soon culminate in his album Praise & Blame (2010), produced by Ethan Johns, which focused heavily on spirituals, traditional songs, and stripped-down arrangements.
The television performance showed a different side of Jones compared with his earlier image as a Vegas-style entertainer. Backed by a simpler band arrangement and without elaborate orchestration, he delivered the song with a raw, expressive vocal style closer to gospel testimony than pop crooning. Critics and audiences noted how naturally his powerful baritone adapted to the spiritual, emphasizing emotional phrasing and rhythmic intensity rather than theatrical showmanship.
Appearing on a popular British daytime program also introduced this new musical direction to a wide television audience. The performance helped signal that, even after decades in the industry, Jones was not merely revisiting past successes but actively reconnecting with foundational influences.
In this context, “Didn’t It Rain” stands as more than a cover version. It represents a moment in which Tom Jones publicly re-centered his artistry around roots music, demonstrating the lasting connection between his voice and the gospel tradition that had inspired him since childhood.