Songs about Colors (A Musical Rainbow of Inspiration)

These eight songs about colors will inspire adults and kids alike. More than merely a collection of melodies that mention a particular color, this list includes songs that are meaningful and uplifting. I hope these colorful songs will bring you some joy, particularly when trying to make sense of chaotic times or when you need a boost in spirit. Here is an inspiring rainbow playlist for a musical way to appreciate the colorful world that surrounds us.

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Yellow

Yellow by Coldplay

“Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah they were all yellow”

The color yellow represents happiness and friendship as well as caution or sickness. My quest to find the best songs about colors started with the top photo and this song. When I came across this field of yellow flowers, set alight by the setting sun, Yellow by Coldplay popped into my head and floated around in there for days. I love the idea of all the stars shining just for us. After all, every single one of us is made of stardust.

Green

It’s Not Easy Being Green by Kermit the Frog

“When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder? (Why wonder?)
I’m green and it’ll do fine
It’s beautiful
And I think it’s what I want to be”

Green reminds us of nature, freshness, and money. This wonderful song about the color green is all about accepting ourselves for who we were born to be. It’s Not Easy Being Green is a tune that children will love, especially when they see their Muppet friend, Kermit, singing it.

Blue

We Dream by Morgan Evans

“We dream to escape, we dream to let go
To feel what it’s like walking streets of gold
Turn grey skies blue, turn hope into truth
Yeah, somedays, sometimes all you can do is
Dream from small towns of big city lights
Turn a heartbreak into love at first sight
When we look at the world and we don’t like what we see
We close our eyes and we dream”

Blue is the world’s favorite color. It makes sense, then, that songs about the color blue, blue eyes, and blue skies are quite popular. There’s even a whole music genre dedicated to this color, the Blues. This color is often associated with melancholy. Even the character, Sadness, in Disney*Pixar’s Inside Out was blue in color. We Dream by Morgan Evans, however, is an upbeat song that focuses on positive thinking and dreaming of a better tomorrow.

Purple

Purple Rain by Prince

“Honey, I know, I know
I know times are changing
It’s time we all reach out
For something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can’t seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain”

Purple is a regal color, often associated with wealth and wisdom. Released in 1984 by beloved pop star Prince, the lyrics quoted above from Purple Rain continue to ring true today. If you’re as enamored by the Purple One as I am, take a virtual tour of Prince’s Paisley Park recording studio and home.

Pink

Pink Moon by Nick Drake

“Saw it written and I saw it say
Pink moon is on its way
And none of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get ye all”

Typically considered a feminine color, pink was not always the official girly color. But it is a softer version of its spicy big sister, red.

I am particularly partial to Pink Moon by Nick Drake not only because pink is my favorite color, but also because this is the song to which my husband and I danced our first dance at our wedding.

A Pink Moon is a supermoon that appears in the sky every April. Because the distance between the Earth and the moon is shorter than usual at this time, this full moon appears incredibly bright and large in the night’s sky. Despite its colorful name, however, the moon is not pink. It’s so-named because it’s the first full moon each spring when pink flowers like phlox bloom.

Red

Fire It Up by Modest Mouse

“Fire it up, fire it up
When we fix the carburetor
Then we’ll push off once again
In an hour or so later
It honestly was beautifully bold
Like trying to save an ice cube from the cold
Even if we had been sure enough, it’s true, we really didn’t know
Even if we knew which way to head, but, still, we probably wouldn’t go
Well, we always, well, we always
Had it all, had it all”

Most songs about red focus on romantic love (The Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh), violence (Red Rain by Peter Gabriel), lust (Little Red Corvette by Prince) or alcohol (Red Red Wine by UB40).

I chose a song about fire instead, Fire It Up by Modest Mouse. The driving beat makes this a particularly fun jogging song! Meanwhile, the overall message is about recognizing the blessings in our lives.

Orange

Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch

“And I had a dream
I stood beneath an orange sky
With my sister standing by
With my sister standing by
I said Sister, here is what I know now
Here is what I know now, goes like this
In your love, my salvation lies
In your love, my salvation lies”

Frank Sinatra declared orange the happiest color, and I tend to agree with him. Probably because orange doesn’t rhyme with anything, however, songs about orange are harder to come by than some other colors.

Despite being such a cheerful hue, the best-known song about this color, Orange Crush by R.E.M., is all about Agent Orange. This is a toxic chemical compound used as a weapon during the Vietnam War.

Thankfully, Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch is much more positive, with lyrics about finding salvation in the love of our metaphoric brothers and sisters.

Brown

Ice Cream, Sarah McLachlan

“Your love
Is better than chocolate
Better than anything else that I’ve tried
Oh, love is better than chocolate
Everyone here knows how to cry”

When all the colors of the rainbow are combined, brown is the rich result. It’s a grounded and earthy color that is often overlooked.

Brown in songs almost always refers to eye or skin color, as is the case with the famous Van Morison song, Brown Eyed Girl, and Brown Sugar (what racist and misogynist lyrics!) by The Rolling Stones.

I am including a song about chocolate, a shade of brown, instead. Ice Cream by Sarah McLachlan is a sweet melody all about the value of love.

Color Scavenger Hunt

I love seeking out colors in nature when I’m hiking trails or out for a run through my neighborhood. I encourage you to do the same!

You can embark on a family color scavenger hunt, asking children to point out different colors as you explore. It’s fun to take photos of every color of the rainbow with a smartphone or instant camera. Or, kids can collect small items like rocks, shells, blades of grass, and wildflowers representing each hue.

Get outdoors with your kids! Read our tips for connecting kids with nature on vacation and take a look at this nature scavenger hunt printable from our friends at Stuffed Suitcase.

Learn More

Enjoy more beautiful colors in nature at the Carlsbad Flower Fields in Southern California.

Explore the best outdoor free music festivals in the U.S.

Mix things up with these fun backyard activities for kids.

Discover who was the original singer of the song, New York, New York.

Save these Songs about Colors

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What are your favorite songs about colors? Do you have a rainbow playlist? Let us know in the comments below!

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