He went on with the ending, and he didn’t naturally love it, but he did eventually go for it. Bacharach heard it, he was directing and stopped and looked at me for what felt like about ten minutes. When I did it, everyone in the control room went nuts. The third time we went through, (I thought), “I am just going to do something on the end," and I just let it come to me. I had to sing with the programmers as tight as I could. It was just an awesome thing to be part of. We had like one hundred people in there, and of course Bacharach was directing and everything. That little nuance was something magic.īT: It was a little something. He said, “B.J., after you do the song precisely how I’ve written it, if you have room to do something, you can do it.” So, it didn’t really happen until the “meeeee” at the end.īH: By the way, I think that made a difference in the song. Bacharach if I could do my thing on the song. I guess I am a little bit of a writer.īH: Well, Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song, but whoever the powers-that- be (were, they) wanted Ray Stevens to record it first.īT: They did! By the way, I didn’t mess with their script. I always felt like I was composing a little bit. I’ve always felt like I was a composer because I felt like I brought a little something to the song that the writer didn’t think of. And I wouldn’t drastically change any melodies, but I would do a little something which just came by way of emotion. Over the years, I’ve always felt I haven’t done the writing I should have done and that is something I am working very hard on now. First, thanks very much for those remarks. That was not the original plan, right?īJ Thomas: It wasn’t. I don’t believe "Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head" is the same song without you. This is the second time in 250 episodes that we’re interviewing the artist. We only interview the songwriters (for this series). In a conversation with Bart Herbison of Nashville Songwriters Association International, Thomas talked about the creative chances he took when recording the song, how he connected to its emotion, and the famous singer-songwriter who first turned it down.īart Herbison: I just have to tell you B.J., you are one of my favorite artists of all time…When you hold the microphone, there’s just some magic, and I just want to thank you for all the years of music from all the fans. The singer recorded the Burt Bacharach/Hal David composition for the classic 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," making movie and pop music history in one fell swoop. Thomas didn't write "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head." He did, however, define it. The soundtrack was appropriate for the film as it too was subversive.Watch Video: Story Behind the Song: 'Raindrops Keep Fallin'ī.J. The combination of Newman and Redford, with an Oscar winning script, and especially Bacharach’s unconventional score for the film led the film to becoming the biggest box office hit of 1969. The song was the breakout hit from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the revisionist Western. BJ Thomas was the next to be offered the song, and he took it, puzzled that anyone would turn down a song that was going to be featured in a Paul Newman film. Bacharach initially offered the song to Ray Stevens, who was known for novelty hits, but Stevens passed on it because he didn’t understand the song. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It can also be an anthem to living worry free despite the challenges of the world. It is about remaining positive in spite of the negative things that you are facing, a song particularly important in the face of some of the coming challenges of the 1970s. The lyrics reflect an optimism about life. I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining 'Cause, I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining It won't be long 'till happiness steps up to greet meīut that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep fallin' Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep fallingĪnd I said I didn't like the way he got things done It begins with some cheerful ukulele strumming, then jumps right into lyrics that sound like a nursery rhyme:Īnd just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” is so odd that it's almost a novelty song.
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