Rain Rain Go Away

"Rain, Rain, Go Away" is a popular nursery rhyme with a history stretching back several centuries, linked to both significant historical events and the simple desire of children to play outdoors. The earliest known printed version appeared in James Howell's 1659 collection "Paroimiographia Proverbs, or, Old sayed savves & adages," as a proverb-like couplet: "Rain, rain go to Spain, / Fair weather come again." One widely discussed theory connects the rhyme's origin to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada in 1588, when the Spanish fleet of over 130 ships intended to invade England but was ultimately defeated not only by more agile English ships but also by severe storms that scattered the Armada—some historians suggest the line "Rain, rain go to Spain" could allude to the hope for clear skies during this conflict or commemorate the role of weather in the English victory. By the 17th century, a version similar to what we know today was recorded by diarist John Aubrey in 1687, who noted that children used it to "charm away rain" so they could play outside. The rhyme continued to evolve, and by the 19th century, folklorist James Orchard Halliwell collected a version in "The Nursery Rhymes of England" (1842) that included "Rain, rain, go away, / Come again another day; / Little Arthur wants to play," with other variations swapping "Arthur" for names like "Johnny" or "Tommy." The enduring appeal lies in its simple expression of a child's universal wish for sunshine to resume outdoor activities, with similar rain-banishing rhymes existing in various cultures worldwide.