“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by John Farnham

“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” was one of the first biggest and most-notable hits that John Farnham, an Australian musician, ever scored in his long, illustrious career. 

But of course it is actually an American tune, written for a specific movie. However, the reason that Raindrops has proven so universally popular is because of its general applicability. 

Or put otherwise, the lyrics don’t read like they fit into a specific film – or even narrative per se. Indeed as far as the titular “raindrops” go, what they represent is a concept akin to the various challenges and discontents in the vocalist’s life. 

Thus ‘raindrops falling on his head’ is synonymous with him feeling depressed, if you will.  Moreover the fact that they “keep” doing so further indicates that the hard-life existence is not giving him any breaks. 

Verily to some extent, the lyrics come off as if he is addressing fate, i.e. the very flow of the universe, itself. And what he is saying is that he does not appreciate the hand that life has dealt him.

And with that in mind, of course he does not have any control over the universe. Or put differently, he doesn’t know when or even if his fortunes will change. 

Narrator is not going to give up

But the one thing he does have control over, as your quintessential positivity thinker would assert, is his own outlook on life. As such even though he does have “the blues”, he is not going to let this depression “defeat him”. 

And whereas he obviously has reasons to feel resigned, he is not going to let himself be overcome with saddening emotions. Nor is he going to continue to bicker about “raindrops”, as he realizes that doing so is not going to actually stop them from falling. 

Or stated in a different fashion, complaining about problems doesn’t make them disappear.

So by the time the song concludes the vocalist adopts a more-positive disposition, rather asserting that he is not going to let any misfortunes worry him.

In the end

So conclusively, we can say that this song is a classic in the field of positive thinking. 

The circumstances surrounding the singer’s life are woefully less than ideal. And whereas such does worry him at first (since there appears to be no relief in sight). by the end of the day he’s rather like ‘I’m going to best out of circumstances’, not vice versa. 

But that’s a message that readers will never be able to pick up on listening to snippets of “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” in commercials or not paying attention to the lyrics in their entirety.

Who wrote “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”?

The writers of this song are Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David (1921-2012), who were regular songwriting partners. 

And they composed this tune to be featured on a highly-regarded Western film known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969).

The original performer of this song, back in 1969, was B. J. Thomas. The tune was a very big hit, winning a Best Original Song Academy Award for instance. 

And overall it proved to be one of those classic American tunes that like everyone is familiar with, even to this day.

One of the reasons for the above is that the song has maintained an unwavering presence in pop media. 

Popular Covers of “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”

Moreover it has been covered by some of the greatest names in American music history, such as Peggy Lee (1970), Dionne Warrick (1970), Dean Martin (1970) and the Four Tops (1970).

Also Phil Collins’ Genesis, an English act, dropped their own version in 1974. Technically, Genesis’ version wasn’t really a cover. They rather sampled it in their song titled “In the Cage”.

John Farnham’s “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”

John Farnham’s rendition came out in 1969 as the second single from his third studio album, “Looking Through a Tear” (1970). 

Howard Gable, a New Zealander, produced the track, and it ended up being a big hit in the Land Down Under. 

That is to say that it topped both of Australia’s main music charts at the time, which were the Kent Music Report and Go-Set.

And the labels that put the track out are Columbia Records and EMI.

John Farnham

As far as long-standing Australian pop musicians go, most readers may be more familiar with Kylie Minogue. But John Farnham, who has been in the game since 1964, is arguably just as popular, particularly as far as natives of Oceania are concerned. 

For instance, he has won nearly 20 ARIA Awards just between 1987 and 2003 and in 2003 was also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame. 

He was also officially dubbed the King of Pop by the aforementioned Go-Set for five years straight, from 1969 to 1973. 

Additionally, he has been further enshrined for all visitors of the Melbourne Docklands to see, via a statue situated in the popular Australian city. 

But that being said, Farnham never really blew up internationally. For instance, it appears that he only managed to chart in the US once, with his 1986 track “You’re the Voice“, which barely made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 87.