# Baby Boomers Crying to 1971 Soft Rock

> Three 1971 soft rock songs made baby boomers cry by the radio.
- Title: Baby Boomers Crying to 1971 Soft Rock · American Songwriter
- Summary: Three 1971 soft rock songs made baby boomers cry by the radio. Three soft rock songs from 1971 resonated deeply with baby boomers, causing tears by radio.
- Keywords: carole king, carpenters, carly simon, 1971, soft rock, billboard hot 100, adult contemporary chart, music, culture, Baby, Boomers, Crying
- Source: American Songwriter — https://americansongwriter.com/3-soft-rock-songs-from-1971-that-had-baby-boomers-crying-by-the-radio
- Author: Em Casalena
- Published: 2026-10-08T22:15:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: carole king, carpenters, carly simon, 1971, soft rock, billboard hot 100, adult contemporary chart, music, culture
## Carole King's 'So Far Away'
Carole King's 'So Far Away' from 'Tapestry' peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

> So far away, I reached for you and there you stood / Holding you again could only do me good / How I wish I could / But you’re so far away.
## The Carpenters' 'Rainy Days And Mondays'
The Carpenters' 'Rainy Days And Mondays' peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1971.

> Talkin' to myself and feelin' old / Sometimes I'd like to quit / Nothin' ever seems to fit.
## Carly Simon's 'That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be'
Carly Simon's 'That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be' reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 10 on the Adult Contemporary and Cash Box Top 100 charts in 1971.

> My friends from college, they’re all married now / They have their houses and their lawns / They have their silent noons / Tearful nights, angry dawns.
## Key takeaway

Three soft rock songs from 1971 resonated deeply with baby boomers, causing tears by radio.