Nothin’ to do but frown/
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.

Mental health is no joke. Watch this performance of The Carpenters playing Rainy Days and Mondays and see what a beautiful, strong, fun, talented woman Karen Carpenter is. In less than ten years she would be dead. She didn’t see herself the way others did. We see her as the beautiful singer and talented drummer with the beautiful voice. And she didn’t see that beauty in herself. She died at 32 of Anorexia.

This song is an introduction to depression or “the blues”. You know how Mondays always make you feel down even when technically you could be having a really good day? Depression is like that too. Only worse. For someone with depression, most days are rainy and Mondays. Speaking openly about depression wasn’t really done back then.

Karen’s voice is at times deep and her vibrato is elongated and slow and used minimally. Every note she chooses is perfect. And she does it while drumming! She is simply a stud. This is a live performance! She has great range and control.

Richard and the band really show their chops in this song. The introduction of a background harmonica to simulate a lazy, rainy Monday is a brilliant choice. The other thing to notice is how amazing and layered their harmonies are. The Carpenter’s harmonies are A-level, but they use them judiciously-as they have the best lead singer in the world.

Karen has the most beautiful voice- male or female- that I have ever heard. The Carpenters are continually under-supported by the critical music press for reasons that are suspicious at best. They belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Keeping them out is just ignorant.

The Rock Hall has a lot of things it needs to fix before it is taken seriously but The Carpenters are the most egregious omission. If there is room in the Hall for Nina Simone and Joan Baez, (both deserving) and all the hip hop artists, there is a place for The Carpenters. Rainy Days and Mondays demonstrates this.

More by The Carpenters. And Here. Watch the live performance above if you have not seen it.

Rainy Days & Mondays Lyrics

Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old
Sometimes I’d like to quit
Nothin’ ever seems to fit
Hangin’ around
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

What I’ve got they used to call the blues
Nothin’ is really wrong
Feelin’ like I don’t belong
Walkin’ around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

Funny, but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny, but it seems that it’s the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me (the one who loves me)

What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out (talk it out)
We know what it’s all about
Hangin’ around (hangin’ around)
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down

Funny, but it seems that it’s the only thing to do (only thing to do)
Run and find the one who loves me (ooh)

What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out (to talk it out)
We know what it’s all about
Hangin’ around (hangin’ around)
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Hangin’ around (hangin’ around)
Nothin’ to do but frown
Rainy days and Mondays always get
Me down

Written by Paul Williams & Roger Nichols