She cites Dolly Parton, Madonna, Cher, and Barbra Streisand as some of her influences among others. Rossum offers that, "I was inspired to cut this album because I'm so frustrated listening to the radio these days. There is so little emotional honesty.” Her own songs are reflective of her inner thoughts, often about relationships and “getting hurt, wanting the other person back, not wanting to be the first person to go back.”
She joined Counting Crows, Augustana, and Michael Franti & Spearhead as a "special guest" for select performances of the "Traveling Circus and Medicine Show" tour in the summer of 2009. In 2010, Rossum sang a song called "Cruel One" on singer Alex Band's debut solo album We've All Been There. On the track she sings with Band and Chantal Kreviazuk. The song is available on the album's deluxe edition.
In November 2012, Rossum announced that her second album would be released on Warner Bros.. Sentimental Journey was released on January 29, 2013. Unlike Inside Out on which Rossum wrote the songs herself, Sentimental Journey is a collection of covers of classic songs that span the ‘20s to the ‘60s. Rossum selected these songs because "Classics, jazz, and standards really infused my childhood and so it felt quite natural to finally make this record.” Rossum designed the album as a musical calendar that takes the listener through an emotional journey over all the months of a year - “Each song needed to either lyrically or emotionally reflect the corresponding month.” Sentimental Journey peaked at 92 on the U.S. Charts. It also hit number one on the US Billboard Charts Top Jazz Albums.
Rossum does not consider herself an opera singer, but she has described herself as a light lyric soprano, though she admits her voice is still developing.
She currently stars on the Showtime dramedy Shameless, as Fiona Gallagher.
Rainy Days and Mondays
Emmy Rossum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I'd like to quit.
Nothing ever seems to fit.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Nothing is really wrong,
Feeling like I don't belong.
Walking 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.
What I feel has come and gone before.
No need to talk it out.
We know what it's all about.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
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.
We know what it's all about.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Emmy Rossum's "Rainy Days And Mondays" is a pure depiction of feeling low and out of place. It starts off with her talking to herself and feeling old, which could signify how there's nobody around to hear her out or understand her situation. The lyrics reveal that Emmy wants to quit something but doesn't elaborate on what it is. This may suggest how people can be affected emotionally despite having everything going right. She then goes on to say that nothing seems to fit, which indicates a feeling of unworthiness.
Emmy continues to describe her situation and talks about how she's hanging around with nothing to do but frown on rainy days and Mondays. The rain could be symbolic of sadness and loneliness, which she associates with Mondays even though it may not necessarily be the case. She identifies her emotions as "blues," which is a term used to describe a state of sadness and depression. Emmy feels like she doesn't belong and is like a lonely clown walking around with no purpose, which again can signify her feelings of inadequacy and a loss of identity.
However, she finds solace and comfort with someone who loves her, who may be the person she is directing her words to in the song. She finds it funny that being with that person is the only thing left to do when she feels low. Emmy accepts that these emotions have occurred before and that there is no need to talk about it. She reiterates how these days always get her down, which concludes the song with the same message as its beginning.
Line by Line Meaning
Talking to myself and feeling old.
I am alone and getting older, and it feels like there is nobody there to talk to or understand how I feel.
Sometimes I'd like to quit.
There are moments when I want to give up and stop trying to make things better, as it seems futile.
Nothing ever seems to fit.
No matter what I do or how hard I try, I can't seem to find my place or fit in where I belong.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
I am just lingering around with a downcast expression, as there isn't anything to do to occupy my mind or lift my spirits.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Rainy days and Mondays are always depressing and make me feel even worse than usual.
What I've got they used to call the blues.
The way I feel is what they called the blues in the past - sadness and melancholy for no particular reason.
Nothing is really wrong,
Feeling like I don't belong.
There isn't anything specifically wrong, but there is a general feeling of not fitting in or being accepted.
Walking around,
Some kind of lonely clown.
I am wandering aimlessly with a sense of isolation and the feeling that I am putting on a show or pretending to be someone I am not.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you.
It's strange, but I always end up with you during tough times like these.
Nice to know somebody loves me.
It's comforting to know that there is someone who cares for me and supports me, even when I am feeling down.
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do.
It's odd, but seeking out someone who loves me seems to be the only way to alleviate my sadness and loneliness.
Run and find the one who loves me.
I need to seek out someone who cares for me, as that seems to be the only way to feel better.
What I feel has come and gone before.
These feelings of sadness and loneliness aren't new; they have been felt before and will likely be felt again in the future.
No need to talk it out.
We know what it's all about.
There isn't any need to discuss how I feel, as we both understand that these feelings are just a part of life.
Hanging around,
Nothing to do but frown.
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
I am still here with nothing to do and a sad expression on my face, and rainy days and Mondays continue to exacerbate my existing feelings of melancholy and isolation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Anna Spencer, KATHRYN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind