“Rain Song” sings the praises of one of John Darnielle’s peers and includes the unique rhyme of “hibachi” and “Callaci.”

Track: “Rain Song”
Album: Bitter Melon Farm (1999)

In 1994, a label called Union Pole Records released 700 copies of I Present This, a compilation album of eight songs. It features six bands I’m not aware of, “Rain Song” by the Mountain Goats, and “Waitress” by Refrigerator. You can buy a copy online. In the interest of disclosure, I haven’t, and I have found it impossible to otherwise hear “Waitress.”

Refrigerator matters in this context because it is Allen Callaci’s band. “Rain Song” exists solely to tell the listener that John Darnielle wishes he could sing like Allen Callaci. This is either funny because John Darnielle knew this would be on a compilation with the same guy or it’s funny because someone decided they had to go together. Either way works.

Allen Callaci comes up a few times through the liner notes and expanded universe of the Mountain Goats. He sings the final verses on “Lonesome Surprise.” He does have a unique voice. It’s worth looking up some Refrigerator albums, if for no other reason than to hear what John Darnielle heard in his voice.

“Rain Song” really is that simple. “Drop by drop // gallon by gallon // brother if I could sing // if I could sing like Allen” is as straightforward as John Darnielle gets. The liner notes on the reissue say as much again as John Darnielle says this song “takes it’s ball and goes home” after establishing that Allen Callaci is a great singer.

A full fourth of the song is John Darnielle’s intro. He describes either the morning or evening of January 24, 1994 and the lack of a title for “Rain Song.” The whole song is a reminder that John Darnielle has heroes and that small moments matter, so despite the straightforwardness of the message, it’s a worthy piece of the whole.