If Only We’d’a Had A Rain

If Only We'd'a Had A Rain

The dust would blow in a dark cloud
That long season had been so dry
I'd pray with desperate strong hope
While staring at a cloudless sky

Then clouds might on horizon show
Teasing us we might get some wet
We’d been prayin' for a good rain
We were playing shower roulette

Annie mostly kept her chin up
Until the old well ran plumb dry
When that rain moved on to the east
It pained me fierce seein' her cry

Dry ranchin' life just ain’t easy
For women it was hard as hell
If only we'd'a had us a good rain
We might'a made it through that spell

At first I tried encouragement
Promisin' things would get better
When we'd get us a real good rain
Try picture things to be wetter

I tried making some light of things
Saying at least it ain’t a flood
As soon as we get us a rain
Why, we'll be dancin’ in the mud

But then a gambler rode in town
The week that her roses had died
We never got that blasted rain
The stage took away my dear bride

We'd be thrivin' in the tall grass
Maybe swillin' down some champagne
Annie'd shore nuff still be right here
If only we'd'a had a rain

by Rik "Yonder" Goodell
© 2025 All rights reserved

This painting, by Jack Sorenson, looks to me like a cowboy praying that "wet" will get over this way.

For more of this highly acclaimed artist's work, go to his website:

"Under Western Skies" by Jack Sorenson