A riddle about the rain is:
Q: What falls down but never gets hurt?
A: Rain.
The riddle has been cited in print since at least 1962.
3 November 1962, Courier-Post (Camden, NJ), “Fun Time—The Riddle Box” by A. Leokum, pg. 19, col. 3:
What falls down but never gets hurt?
Rain.
6 September 1973, Nashua (NH) Telegraph, “Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 3, col. 1:
Q: What falls down but never gets hurt?
A: Rain.
Leslie Sartelle, East Pepperell, Mass.
1 March 1986, Rockford (IL) Register Star, “Just FOr Laughs,” Pennywhistle Press, pg. 15, col. 1:
Question: What falls down but never gets hurt?
Answer: Rain.
Joan Hastings, 11
Seaford, Del.
24 February 1989, News Journal (Mansfield, OH), “Fun Time—The Riddle Box,” pg. 9-C, col. 7:
What falls down but never gets hurt?
Rain.
Twitter
Greg Carney
@gregcarneyFU
What falls down, but never gets hurt? ....... RAIN!
1:00 AM - 9 Sep 2009
Twitter
Young Queen
@Milan_Jayy
rt @SharieRealNice RT @iGotHa_Squirtin What falls down but never gets hurt? ×× The Rain ..
11:05 PM - 17 Jan 2010
Twitter
Dafnee ✈️
@leah_dafne
Q: What falls down but is never injured?
A: The Rain
#MMKMaymay
2:17 AM - 25 Mar 2017
Twitter
Fito
@Bluesnowconez15
What falls down but never gets hurt?
The rain!
3:35 PM - 11 Aug 2017 from Palestine, TX
3 September 2017, The Daily Telegraph (Surry Hills, New South Wales), “Laugh Till Your Face Hurts,” pg. 3:
Q: What falls but never gets hurt?
A: The rain!
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See another 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.