Rainbows

Song Meaning

The narrator grapples with the elusive nature of hope and happiness, symbolized by "rainbows." The lyrics present a world where life continues relentlessly, yet the vision of these colorful arcs feels distant and perhaps unreal. There's a tangible sense of striving to hold onto something beautiful, a desire for things to align perfectly, even as the source of this vision remains uncertain. This pursuit is framed by a tension between external reality and internal perception. The "rainbows" are described as "Goin' 'round my head" and linked to "things I've read," suggesting they might be constructs of imagination or learned ideals rather than direct experiences. The narrator questions their authenticity: "Is it real or make believe?" This internal debate highlights a struggle to reconcile a hopeful outlook with a potentially mundane or even sorrowful reality, leading to the plea, "If I'm dreaming, please don't wake me." The most striking aspect is the recurring motif of "colours." These "colours fall" and form a "pastel glory," painting a picture of gentle, perhaps fragile, beauty. Yet, this imagery is directly contrasted with the potential for "weep," indicating that even if these visions are real, they don't necessarily erase underlying sadness. The lyrics suggest that the very act of seeing these colors, whether real or imagined, is what the narrator desperately wants to hold onto, to maintain a sense of order and beauty in a world that is "never ending." The effectiveness lies in this delicate balance between yearning and doubt. The repeated phrases and the simple, almost childlike imagery of "fairy story" and "pastel glory" create a sense of vulnerability. The narrator isn't claiming to have found happiness, but rather to be desperately trying to grasp the *idea* of it, making the desire itself the central, poignant theme.