Why are there so many songs about rainbows
What's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide

So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see

Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it
Look what it's done so far

What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
What do we think we might see?

All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic

Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
It may be one and the same

I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm supposed to be

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la



Lyrics submitted by ChrissyTina

Track duration: 03:22


Rainbow Connection song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    My Interpretation:I honestly haven't seen this movie, but, I just found this song last night and it gets to me. Made me cry and such, but it's because I can relate.

    Like I know, songs are open to personal interpretation, and mine is that the lyrics are someone wanting to find others like himself - dreamers and lovers. Not something to do with the afterlife. I think he's saying that because one person did believe some of the tales, that it carried on for ages and people all over the world get some hope and are willing to dream of them too, and he admires how far one little hope can go.

    When he speaks of the voices talking to you when half asleep, it's a common thing in reality to hear, not a metaphor for anything to me - since I HAVE heard these before. It could be, that some have a belief of these voices to be something mystical and go on a journey to discover what it could be and begin dreaming - with the voice being likened to a siren luring a sailor, with us as the sailors.

    The 'rainbow connection' is what I believe everyone who is willing to dream and have hope in these dreams has in them in connection to each other. So he wants to find others with this connection.

    More thoughts, but I'll stop my rambling!
    Flag VauIton October 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think the lyrics should be taken too seriously, just Kermit singing a bit half-dreamily. A bit like "Over The Rainbow".
    Flag vincentliuon February 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Kermit is saying he doesn't believe in believing. That others who do are wrong because dreams don't really come true. But he's saying this more to himself than to anyone else. He's trying to convince himself not to wish for something more, because he has in the past and was left disappointed and sad.

    But the more he tries to protest, the less he can. In the end the power to dream is too great, and even if it leaves him hurt again in the end, he has to keep believing in a better tomorrow. He has to believe he has a place in this world and that he'll find it.

    I love this song because we've all been there. We all know what it's like to want to give up hope, but we can't. Kermit is very much an Every Man, or frog...as the case may be.
    Flag speakingintongueson December 11, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:You know, there's something about the Muppets that just makes ya wanna stand up and scream ''YAAAAAAAY!'' and flail your little green arms around. But seriously, this song has made me shed tears and sing from the heart on many occasions. And I've always wondered, ''Why ARE there so many songs about rainbows? What IS on the other side?'' Well, this is my theory:

    Why are there so many songs about rainbows?
    And what's on the other side? - My thoughts: This is an innocent question.

    Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
    And rainbows have nothing to hide - My thoughts: This is the answer for those who think too hard about every little thing and don't have fun with their imagination.

    So we've been told and some choose to believe it
    I know they're wrong, wait and see
    Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
    The lovers, the dreamers, and me - My thoughts: Basically, Kermit knows to look beyond the rainbow and dream.

    Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
    When wished on the morning star?
    Somebody thought of that and someone believed it
    Look what it's done so far

    What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
    What do we think we might see?

    All of us under its spell
    We know that it's probably magic - My thoughts: Everyone decides to conform to common beliefs. But one person decided to be different. Soon, people started to follow the non-conforming and realized the beauty of dreaming outside of the lines.

    Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
    I've heard them calling my name
    Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
    It may be one and the same

    I've heard it too many times to ignore it
    It's something that I'm supposed to be - My thoughts: I believe that the voices being heard are the sounds of adventure. You've all seen The Muppet Movie, right? All the Muppets setting out on an adventure to follow their dreams, you know? Well, that could be what the voices represent, like how aventure calls sailors to the sea.Kermit hearing the voices is probably his heart letting him know that he needs to get up outta the swamp and start on his aventures. It's ''something I'm supposed to be''.

    Well, this is my first post and I hope I made it a little easier for... Just One Person. (A true Muppet fan would understand this reference) :)
    Flag DespicMikon June 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:previous comment continued.... (i inadvertently submitted it before I was done)

    What's on the other side? "the other side" = the afterlife

    What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
    What do we think we might see?

    = God, Heaven, or whatever's on "the other side", or at least, the questions we ask ourselves about such matters.

    star gazing means gazing to "the heavens" = thinking about the afterworld

    Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
    I've heard them calling my name

    the voices = angels? or, unanswered questions about the unknown that has concerned humankind throughout its existence?

    Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
    It may be one and the same

    the sweet sound = sailors' legends about singing mermaids or sirens may actually be about
    angels or other beings from the afterlife, beckoning them.

    Many years ago I was watching the TV show "Picket Fences", and in one of its episodes, this song was sung at someone's funeral.

    More recently, my 4-yr-old was watching a kid's show, and the same actor/singer who sung at the "Picket Fences" funeral appeared as a guest singer, and sang the same song. One of the puppet-type characters asked: "What about me? Can I find the Rainbow connection too?" and the singer replied "Oh sure you too! I didn't mean just me. Everybody will find the connection!" It kinda creeped me out but I didn't say anything.

    But it shouldn't creep me out. death is a part of nature and life. questions about the afterlife is something relevant to everyone.




    Flag mliem411on April 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't mean to sound morbid, but this song is about death and the afterlife. But in a positive way.

    Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection
    The lovers, the dreamers, and me

    The Rainbow Connection = death.
    Someday we'll find it, the lovers, the dreamers, and me. = death is inevitable for all

    Have you been half-asleep and have you heard voices?
    I've heard them calling my name
    Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
    It may be one and the same

    Flag mliem411on April 29, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing"- People continue to pursue their ambition and wishes for personal prosperity. "What do we think we might see?" But people cannot see what results from such greed.
    "All of us under its spell"- Most of humanity is under its "spell" which tells us that it is okay to be ambitious and strive for personal prosperity despite its aftermath.
    "We know that probably it is magic"- Even when Humans see its aftermath they just accept it as something they do not have control over as if it is "magic."

    The third stanza warns people not to fall into such lie; it alludes to the book "Ulysses."
    "Have you been half asleep or have you heard the voices"- It refers to people who are easily gullible and easily tempted to the lies of the world.
    " I've heard them calling my name" - The author himself has experienced such temptation.
    "Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailer"- the temptation is hard to resist because it is sweet and calls the "young sailer" who is a conflicted individual.
    "The voice might be one and the same"- the "voice" or the temptation might seem like something else that is not so bad.
    "I've heard it too many times to ignore it"- In modern day society such temptations are hard to ignore, and the artist is very conflicted due to them.
    "It's something that I'm supposed to be"- The artist believes he has to meet up to such societal expectations, which accompanies many temptations.

    The last chorus once again turns to the believers who still cling on to their beliefs despite the temptations.



    Flag townoh1on June 28, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:This is the most brilliant song I've heard, mainly because of the artist's allusion to modern day Christianity. Many might disagree with my interpretation, but this is the only interpretation that fits every lyric together.

    First of all, according to the Hebrew Bible, Genesis chapter9, after the flood, the "Rainbow" was a solemn "promise" made by God to Noah. In a modern sense, the rainbow or the "promise" is the Bible. So lets keep in mind that the Rainbow is the Bible.

    So coming back to the lyrics: "why are there so many songs about rainbow" - There are numerous songs about God and the Hebrew Bible.
    "Rainbows are visions but only illusions, rainbows have nothing to hide" - It is saying that the "Rainbow" shows a way, but it is only an illusion, which means it is short lasting; there is only little time left for people to accept God and be saved, and people should believe since the Bible has "nothing to hide."
    "so we've been told and some choose to believe it"- In modern day America, Christianity prevails but only some choose to truely believe it; most take the Bible metaphorically or are pseudo-Christians.
    " I know they are wrong wait and see" - the artist himself is a true believer and he awaits the final judgement.

    The chorus is the artist's personal message to all the remaining believers on Earth.
    "Someday we'll find it the rainbow connection"- The rainbow connection is the fulfillment of God's promises shown in the Bible.
    " The lovers, the dreamers and me"- Refers to the characteristic of a Christian; they love, they dream. "Me" is the uniqueness of individuals, sort of like the different colors of the Rainbow.

    The second stanza goes on to criticize modern day atheists or non-believers.
    "who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star"- It is no use wishing upon a star or an "idol" in biblical sense, when it is for personal ambition.
    "Somebody thought of that and someone believed it Look what it's done so far"- the Artist laments the disaster such "idolatry" has done to humanity to satisfy one's wish or ambition through war, poverty, and slavery.

    "What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing"- People continue to pursue their ambition and wishes for personal prosperity. "What do we think we might see?" But people cannot see what results from such greed.
    "All of us under its spell"- Most of humanity is under its "spell" which tells us that it is okay to be ambitious and strive for personal prosperity despite its aft
    Flagged townoh1on June 28, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Does he make religious allusions in this song?

    "Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
    When wished on the morning star?
    Somebody thought of that and someone believed it
    Look what it's done so far "
    Flag funkboyon October 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:irisheyes4683

    I'll support you when those songs are out.

    Love the song so much!
    Flag bear_hug20on July 09, 2008   Link

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