I'm surprised no one has mentioned my take on it yet. I had always assumed it was a song about drug use. The color film presents the world as beautiful and focuses attention on the specific but simple beauties like the "green of summer" and makes you think "all the world is a sunny day." "Don't take my Kodachrome away" isn't so much about addiction as it is not to take away the only thing that makes life beautiful and bearable, hence the desperation in the coda.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned my take on it yet. I had always assumed it was a song about drug use. The color film presents the world as beautiful and focuses attention on the specific but simple beauties like the "green of summer" and makes you think "all the world is a sunny day." "Don't take my Kodachrome away" isn't so much about addiction as it is not to take away the only thing that makes life beautiful and bearable, hence the desperation in the coda.