I Watch The Rain (Hi Lilli Hilo) - a song for Peter

For reasons not easy to divine, Peter always wants us to sing at our parties the oldie "Hi Lilli Hilo". The lyrics are sad but when I listened again to Leslie Caron's version, she sounded cheerful and totally missed the melancholia. One line which she did not sing is the evocative "I sit at my window and watch the rain". So I just had to write new lyrics based on this image of someone sitting and watching the rain. But, and there is always a but, a frustrated feeling of fettered fervour compelled me to take it one step further. So I composed a new melody for my lyrics. I remain ambiguous as to which version I prefer, but Petra and other valued consultants prefer the new melody. Unaccustomed to making difficult decisions, I am posting both so that you can decide for yourself. Here then are both versions of the song. The Hi Lilli Hilo version is dedicated to Peter and the one with the original tune to Doris. I Watch The Rain On rainy days I sit and stare Watching the street so bare Soothing sound of gentle rain Caressing touch on window pane Tenderness so hard to find In hearts of humankind You think I'm glad cause I'm smiling How little you know what's inside You think I'm happy because I laugh You can't see tears I hide The song I sing is a sad song My heart to no one belongs In spring and the autumn I watch the rain In summer I see blue skies In depths of the winter I watch the snow To know me Look in my eyes You think I'm glad cause I'm smiling How little you know what's inside You think I'm happy because I laugh You can't see tears I hide The song I sing is a sad song My heart to no one belongs When I'm reminiscing I watch the rain When dreaming I see blue skies In troughs of depression I watch the snow If you dare Look in my eyes