The composition Only Happy When It Rains (“Happy only when it rains”) is considered by many to be the hallmark of the rock band Garbage. Decide for yourself whether you agree with this statement or not, but one cannot but admit that it is one of the most famous tracks of this group.
Let’s remember how the song was written and what Only Happy When It Rains is about.
Story of creation and meaning
They say the musicians composed it by improvising on acoustic guitars. The title of the song was borrowed from Happy When It Rains, which was released in 1987 by the Scottish band The Jesus and Mary Chain. Actually, the entire text was written on the basis of the phrase “I’m only happy when it rains”.
The members of Garbage have repeatedly spoken about Only Happy When It Rains. Steve Marker explained the meaning of the song this way:
In fact, we’re just laughing at ourselves… We’re laughing at the ever-troubled alternative rock, the inability to keep our feelings to ourselves, and the fact that we write such dark songs
Addicted to Noise, 1995
In the same vein, drummer Butch Vig spoke about the main idea of the composition:
Only Happy When It Rains is about what happened to grunge and all the angst that dominates the American alternative rock scene. In our case, this is self-flagellation. We need to laugh at ourselves because we are incredibly obsessed with songs and lyrics, which fills us with self-hatred.
NME, 1996
Shirley Manson explained the essence of the song Only Happy When It Rains more romantically:
It’s about striving for love and realizing that life will always get in the way… This is a song for people who know what it’s like to live on the dark side. It’s about devotion, but of a different kind. Devotion to truth and freedom… and to hell with the possible consequences.
Raw, 1995
In addition, Shirley once said that Only Happy When It Rains is an example of the peculiar humor of the Scots, who tend to make fun of themselves.
Release and achievements
The song was released as a single from the Garbage album in September 1998. It spent twenty weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 but did not rise above number 55. On the UK Singles Chart Only Happy When It Rains reached number 29.
Rolling Stone Magazine and MTV ranked Only Happy When It Rains #69 on their 100 Greatest Pop Songs of All Time.
Music video
The music video for Only Happy When It Rains – Garbage was directed by Samuel Bayer.
Deleted video by copyright..
Cover versions
Only Happy When It Rains has been recorded by many artists. Let’s hear how Metallica played the song.
Interesting Facts
- Video clips for Only Happy When It Rains and Stupid Girl were filmed simultaneously in January 1996 in Los Angeles.
- The song is included in the computer game Guitar Hero 5.
- Only Happy When It Rains is featured in the Terms of Endearment episode of The X-Files.
Only Happy When It Rains Lyrics
I’m only happy when it rains
I’m only happy when it’s complicated
And though I know you can’t appreciate it
I’m only happy when it rains
You know I love it when the news is bad
Why does it feel so good to feel so sad?
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
I feel good when things are going wrong
I only listen to sad, sad songs
I’m only happy when it rains
I only smile in the dark
My only comfort is the night gone black
I didn’t accidentally tell you that
I’m only happy when it rains?
You’ll get the message by the time I’m through
When I complain about me and you
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down
Pour your misery down on me
You can keep me company
As long as you don’t care
I’m only happy when it rains
Do you want to hear about my new obsession?
I’m riding high upon a deep depression
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Pour some misery down on me
Garbage Lyrics Alternative
I’m only happy when it rains
I’m only happy when it’s hard
And even though I know you can’t understand it
I’m only happy when it rains
You know I love it when the news is bad
Why do I feel so good when I’m so sad?
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour out your suffering
Take out your misery on me
Pour out your suffering
Take out your misery on me
I’m only happy when it rains
I feel good when things go wrong
I only listen to sad, sad songs
I’m only happy when it rains
I only smile in the dark
I’m only comfortable when the night is black
I didn’t accidentally tell you that
Am I happy only when it rains?
You’ll understand everything by the time I’m done
When I complain about myself and you
I’m only happy when it rains
Pour out your suffering
Pour out your suffering
Take out your misery on me
Pour out your suffering
Pour out your suffering
Take out your misery on me
Pour out your suffering
Pour out your suffering
Take out your misery on me
You can keep me company
As long as you don’t care
I’m only happy when it rains
Do you want to hear about my new obsession?
I revel in deep depression
I’m only happy when it rains
Take out your misery on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Take out your misery on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Take out your misery on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Take out your misery on me
I’m only happy when it rains
Take out your misery on me
Take out your misery on me
Take out your misery on me
Take out your misery on me
