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Released in 2005

Too Much Rain

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on January 17, 2021

Album This song officially appears on the Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2005

Timeline This song was written, or began to be written, in 2004, when Paul McCartney was 62 years old)

Master album

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related interview

“Too Much Rain” is a track from Paul McCartney’s 2005 album “Chaos And Creation In The Backyard“. From an interview with Gary Crowley:

Too Much Rain comes next. Where did this song come from?

The actual inspiration for Too Much Rain is Charlie Chaplin’s song Smile. Which he wrote: not many people know he wrote it, you normally think of him as a comedian, but I was always amazed to hear he’d written that you know, beautiful song. Good old Charlie wrote it. I think it was for a film, you know Modern Times, or something was it? It’s a great song and the idea of Smile (sings) Smile even though your heart is breaking Smile when your heart is breaking do do. That’s a nick, a direct pinch from that so it’s ‘Laugh when your eyes are burning  Smile when you’re doing this and Sigh when  you’re that’.. So it was really that it was Hints for feeling horrible, you know when you’re really down this song could get you up. You know remind you as the Smile song does to just sort of push through it, feel good cos it’ll be alright. So that was that. And er I think also in some way I know I was thinking of my missus Heather who’s had lots of rough times in her life, and the chorus just sort of says ‘It’s not right in one life, Too much rain’ . So that was kind of inspiration and you know I’m never that specific I would never say that’s exactly what its about and it then widens out and its for everyone who’s had just too much in their lives to cope with. And that applies to an awful lot of people. But that was it, it was really just a sort of helpful song.

Paul McCartney – from 2005 UK promotional-only interview CD, recorded July 2005 at Air Studios in London

Paul about the bass part on “Too Much Rain“:

The lead bass-like openings of “Too Much Rain” and “This Never Happened Before” allude to your famous use of sub-hooks on tracks like “Come Together.” Were you aware of that concept back then?

A: I was, yeah. I love the sub-hook. It’s something I’m very proud of: having been lucky enough to be involved in some great records and to come up with a cool riff like “Come Together” or “Silly Love Songs,” which supports the chords and the melody, while becoming an actual hook.

Paul McCartney – interview with Bass Player, October 2005

Lyrics

Laugh when your eyes are burning

Smile when your heart is filled with pain

Sigh as you brush away your sorrow

Make a vow

That it's not going to happen again

It's not right, in one life

Too much rain

You know the wheels keep turning

Why do the tears run down your face

We used to hide away our feelings

But for now

Tell yourself it won't happen again

It's not right, in one life

Too much rain

It's too much for anyone

Too hard for anyone

Who wants, a happy and peaceful life

You've got to learn to laugh

Smile when you're spinning round and round

Sigh as you think about tomorrow

Make a vow

That you're going to be happy again

It's all right, in your life

No more rain

It's too much for anyone

Too hard, for anyone

Who wants, a happy and peaceful life

You've got to learn to laugh

Officially appears on

Bootlegs

Live performances

“Too Much Rain” has been played in 1 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Too Much Rain” has been played

  • Sold On Song

    Jul 27, 2005 • United Kingdom • London • Abbey Road Studios • Radio show

Going further

The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

"Too Much Rain" is one of the songs featured in the book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present," published in 2021. The book explores Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, his time with the Beatles, Wings, and his solo career. It pairs the lyrics of 154 of his songs with his first-person commentary on the circumstances of their creation, the inspirations behind them, and his current thoughts on them.

Shop on Amazon

Paul McCartney writing

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Michael Johnson • 6 years ago

No other song in my life has ever helped me in any situation, except this one. I've never been fully affected by a song's lyrics, but when I finally went to a bad place and life finally caught up to me after 50 years, I accidentally found this song. Strangely, even as a Paul McCartney fan, I'd given up on Paul after Press in 1986 and sporadically purchased his music since then - Flaming Pie and Flowers In The Dirt being the only two albums I really listened to.

But in early 2018 life finally crumbled around me for the first time and I stumbled on this song accidentally going through my music collection and, with no explanation, played it because of the title. Since then life has improved and this song remains one of the reasons why I'm still alive. And I've made my amends with Paul and his music and began intense playing sessions of albums I had missed since Flaming Pie and now realize I've been terribly wrong all these years by giving up on Paul. Some of the greatest songs I've heard come from post-Flaming Pie. And, in addition to that, I have all of those amazing songs post-Beatles I've always loved and listened to.

If I met Paul in person I'd have to thank him for the soundtrack to my life as a child up through my teens and now thank you for pulling me out of the worst time of my life.

"Too Much Rain" is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I rank it up there with "Imagine", "Hey Jude", "Eleanor Rigby", "A Day In A Life", "Here, There and Everywhere" - among others.

The PaulMcCartney Project • 6 years ago

Hi Michael, thanks for this testimony - that's the beauty of McCartney's songs, to follow you through life's lows & highs !! Thanks.

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