Scripture Verse

He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Job 36:27–28

Introduction

portrait
Alfred H. Ackley (1887–1960)

Words & Mu­sic: Al­fred H. Ack­ley, in Ro­de­hea­ver’s Gos­pel Songs, by Ho­mer A. Ro­de­hea­ver & Charles H. Ga­bri­el (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Ro­de­hea­ver, 1922), num­ber 96 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Ack­ley,

Lyrics

God is good, He sends the rain;
For His glo­ry, we should not com­plain;
What He sends is al­ways best,
Stormy clouds and all the rest.

Refrain

What would we do with­out the clouds?
The clouds bring rain,
Scattering show­ers of bless­ing
Over hill and plain,
Bringing to us the har­vest
Of the gold­en grain;
What would we do with­out the clouds?
The clouds bring rain.

Verdant mea­dows, fruits and flow­ers,
Gather beau­ty from the fall­ing show­ers;
Clouds are sail­boats from above,
Laden with the gifts of love.

Refrain

Cloudless sky makes bar­ren land;
Parched and thirs­ty is the de­sert sand;
So would life be bar­ren, too,
If there were no clouds for you.

Refrain