Gone the Rainbow

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of profound grief and resignation, centered on the departure of 'Johnny' for war. The narrator sits on 'Buttermilk Hill,' overwhelmed to the point that 'every tear would turn a mill,' a hyperbolic image emphasizing the depth of her sorrow. This initial scene establishes a tone of desolate sadness, a quiet moment of overwhelming loss before the narrative unfolds. The central tension arises from the narrator's conflicting actions and emotions. She laments Johnny's departure, yet she actively equipped him for battle by selling her possessions – 'flax' and 'wheel' – to buy him a 'sword of steel.' This act suggests a complex mix of love, duty, and perhaps a desperate hope that providing the means for his fight will somehow ensure his return or survival, even as she acknowledges he is 'gone for a soldier.' The most striking element is the juxtaposition of the nonsensical, almost childlike chorus with the somber verses. The repeated 'Shule, shule, shule-a-roo' and the peculiar imagery of Sally Babby Beal 'come bibble in the boo shy Lorey' create a disorienting effect. This could represent a mind struggling to process trauma, retreating into a place of pure sound and abstract imagery, or it might be a traditional folk element meant to evoke a sense of timeless, cyclical sorrow, contrasting with the specific tragedy of war. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw emotional portrayal and the subtle, unsettling craft. The contrast between the mundane reality of loss and the surreal chorus leaves a lingering impression of a world turned upside down. The final verse, with 'gone the rainbow, gone the dove,' solidifies the sense of lost peace and innocence, making Johnny's absence a profound, all-encompassing void.