☔ About the Song
When Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head debuted in 1969, the world was full of angst — Vietnam, protests, chaos — and Burt Bacharach and Hal David responded with… this: a carefree, jazzy tune about not letting the bad stuff stick. It’s cheeky, disarmingly upbeat, and impossible to hate.
B.J. Thomas recorded it for the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, where Paul Newman famously cycles around grinning like a fool — easily one of cinema’s most charming scenes. The song went on to win an Oscar and top the Billboard charts, proving that sometimes, all you need is a little sunshine and a stubbornly good attitude.
It’s not pretending life’s perfect — it’s saying “yeah, things go wrong, but I’m still singing.” Which, let’s be honest, is exactly the uke philosophy.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords:C – G7 – Am – D7 – F – C7.
- Verse: C – G7 – Am – D7 – F – C – G7 – C.
- Bridge: F – C7 – F – C7 – D7 – G7 – C.
- Strumming pattern: Bounce, don’t bash. Try Down–Down–Up–Up–Down-Up with a gentle swing (~100 bpm).
- Tone: Play near the neck for warmth; this tune should sound like a smile, not a shout.
- Dynamics: Keep the verses light and the chorus playful — a gentle lift, not a shout.
- Optional move: Use Cmaj7 (0002) on “Cryin’s not for me” — gives it that Bacharach sophistication.
- Bonus touch: End with a cheeky little whistle or soft hum — totally in spirit.
🧠 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- Burt Bacharach originally wanted Ray Stevens to sing it, but he turned it down. His loss — B.J. Thomas took it all the way to #1.
- Thomas had a bad cold during recording — the producers liked the slightly raspy tone so much they kept that take.
- It won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1970 and stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
- The film scene with Paul Newman on a bicycle was shot after the song was written, specifically to fit it — not the other way round.
🌈 Final Word
Play Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head like it’s your personal life philosophy.
Keep it bouncy, light, and just a little cheeky — the uke’s perfect for that half-smile optimism.
If someone listening doesn’t start tapping their foot by the second verse, play it again — louder and sunnier.
