Too Much Rain
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- Album This song officially appears on the Chaos and Creation in the Backyard Official album.
- Timeline This song has been written (or started being written) in 2004 (Paul McCartney was 62 years old)
Song facts
“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
Last updated on January 17, 2021
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
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (Special Edition)
Official album
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Japanese edition)
Official album • Released in 2005
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Official album • Released in 2005
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2016
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Official album • Released in 2016
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (Limited Edition - Gold LP)
Official album • Released in 2018
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Bootlegs
Chronicles in the Backyard Disc 3
Unofficial album • Released in 2006
4:16 • Radio show
- Recording :
- Jul 28, 2005
- Studio :
- Abbey Road Studio 2
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2015
3:24 • Studio version • A
- Paul McCartney :
- Bosendorfer grand piano, Epiphone casino electric guitar, Fender stratocaster electric guitar, Hofner bass, Ludwig drums, Maracas, Martin 12 string guitar, Martin d28 acoustic guitar, Schmidt autoharp, Vocals
- Nigel Godrich :
- Producer
- Darrell Thorp :
- Engineer
- Dan Grech-Marguerat :
- Production assistant
- Session Recording:
- September 2004
- Studio :
- AIR Studios Lyndhurst, London, UK
Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon
Give Us That Knowing Wink - Official Rarities - Ultimate Archive Collection
Unofficial album • Released in 2016
3:54 • Studio version • [live 7-28-05]
Latest concerts where Too Much Rain has been played
Jul 27, 2005 • United Kingdom • London • Abbey Road Studios • Radio show