"Raining on the Rock" is a song written and performed by Australian singer-songwriter John Williamson. The title is in reference to

Uluru Uluru (; pjt, Uluṟu ), also known as Ayers Rock ( ) and officially Gazette#Gazette as a verb, gazetted as UluruAyers Rock, is a large sandstone geological formation, formation in the centre of Australia. It is in the southern part of the ...

with references in the song to

Albert Namatjira Albert Namatjira (born Elea Namatjira; 28 July 1902 – 8 August 1959) was an Arrernte painter from the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia, widely considered one of the greatest and most influential Australian artists. As a pioneer of cont ...

and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). The song was released in January 1987 as the second single from Williamson's sixth studio album ''

Mallee Boy ''Mallee Boy'' is the sixth studio album by Australian country music artist John Williamson. The album was released in November 1986 and peaked at number 9 on the Kent Music Report; becoming Williamson's first top ten album. At the inaugural AR ...

''. In 2011, Williamson was asked which song is he most proud of and he said ""Raining on the Rock". I'm not necessarily the most proud of it but it's a song that probably means a lot to me because it's about the heart of the country and I think the rock represents that. The ancient nature of the country that was here before any of us is the one thing that can draw us all together, putting religion, politics and race aside." In 2014, Chris Johnston from

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

called "Raining on the Rock" one of the best songs on John Williamson's best albums. It's also been references as an unofficial Australian anthem.

Track listing

1998 version

In 1998, Williamson re-recorded "Raining on the Rock" with

Warren H Williams Warren Hedley Williams (born 27 December 1963) is an Aboriginal Australian singer, musician and songwriter from Hermannsburg in Central Australia. As of 2013 he worked as a broadcaster on CAAMA Radio in Alice Springs. Early life Williams was ...

, for Williams' second studio album ''Country Friends and Me''. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 1998 The 12th Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAS) was held on 20 October 1998 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. Presenters, including Democrats deputy l ...

, Williamson and Williams performed the song. The song was nominated for

ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release The ARIA Music Award for Best Indigenous Release was an award presented at the annual ARIA Music Awards. It was presented from 1987 through to 1998. Originally titled Best Indigenous Record in 1987. It was renamed Best Aboriginal/Islander Release i ...

The song was nominated for vocal collaboration of the year at the 1999

Country Music Awards of Australia The Country Music Awards of Australia also known as the Golden Guitar Awards (originally named Australasian Country Music Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales ...

, where the duo again performed the track in front of 6,000 fans where they received a standing ovation. At the 1998

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA), also known as the NT Indigenous Music Awards from 2004 to 2008, are music awards presented to recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians in ...

, the song won Single Release of the Year.

Release history

Other versions

* In 2007,

Felicity Urquhart Felicity Ann Urquhart (born 4 May 1976) is an Australian country and western music singer-songwriter, and a TV and radio presenter. Her single "Big Black Cloud", co-written with Randy Scruggs, reached No. 1 on Country Tracks National Top&nb ...

covered the song on the album, ''The Great Australian Songbook Volume 2'' * In 2011, The Wayfarers covered the song on their album ''Waltzing Matilda'' * In 2013 Neil Ward covered the song on his album,''Raining on the Rock - 18 Aussie Bush Folk Ballads''

References

{{John Williamson (singer) 1986 songs 1987 singles 1998 singles John Williamson (singer) songs Australian folk songs Australian patriotic songs Festival Records singles Uluru