About the song
There’s a certain magic to songs that capture a feeling, a moment in time, a universal experience. And when those songs are performed live, with all the raw energy and emotion of the artist on full display, that magic multiplies tenfold. Today, we’re taking a trip back in time to revisit one such performance: B.J. Thomas singing his iconic hit “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Now, for those of us of a certain vintage, The Ed Sullivan Show needs no introduction. It was the stage for popular culture, where legends were made and musical icons were born. From The Beatles to Elvis, Motown to the British Invasion, if you wanted to reach the heart of America, you went on Ed Sullivan. And on that legendary stage, in the midst of a career that spanned decades and touched millions, B.J. Thomas delivered a performance of “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” that has endured in the annals of musical history.
This wasn’t just any song, mind you. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” penned by the legendary duo Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was already a phenomenon. Featured in the iconic film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the song had topped the charts, won an Academy Award, and become the soundtrack to a generation. It was a song that spoke of resilience, of optimism in the face of adversity, of finding joy even when life throws you curveballs. And B.J. Thomas, with his smooth, soulful voice, was the perfect vessel to deliver its message.
His performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was a masterclass in understated elegance. There were no flashy pyrotechnics, no elaborate dance routines, just a man, his microphone, and a song that resonated with millions. Thomas’s voice, warm and inviting, filled the studio, drawing the audience into the song’s message of hope and perseverance. You could feel the emotion in every note, the sincerity in every word.
So, let’s settle in, turn back the clock, and relive this unforgettable moment in music history. As we watch B.J. Thomas grace the stage of The Ed Sullivan Show and pour his heart into “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” let’s remember the power of music to transport us, to inspire us, and to connect us to something larger than ourselves.
Video
Lyrics
Raindrops are falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling
So I just did me some talking to the sun
And I said I didn’t like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling
But there’s one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won’t defeat me, it won’t be long
Till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying’s not for me
‘Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me
It won’t be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying’s not for me
‘Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because I’m free
Nothing’s worrying me
