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Rainbow Blues Lyrics
Through northern lights on back streets ---
I told the coachman, ``just drive me on,
Its the same old destination
But a different world to sing upon.
So he threw back his head and he counted.
I jumped out about five to nine.
And I waved at the stage door-keeper ---
Said, ``mister, get me to the stage on time.
Oh, but the rain wasnt made of water
And the snow didnt have a place in the sun
So I slipped behind a rainbow
And waited till the show had done.
I packed my ammunition.
Inside the crowd was shouting, ``encore,
But I had a most funny feeling ---
It wasnt me they were shouting for.
So when the tall dark lady smiled at me
I said, ``oh, baby let us go for a ride.
And we came upon two drinks or four
And popped them oh so neatly inside.
Oh, but the rain wasnt made of water
And the snow didnt have a place in the sun
So we slipped behind a rainbow
And lay there until we had done.
Let me pack you deep in my suitcase.
Oh, theres sure to be room for two ---
Or you can drive me to the airplane
But dont let me catch those rainbow blues.
I told the coachman, ``just drive me on,
Its the same old destination
But a different world to sing upon.
So he threw back his head and he counted.
I jumped out about five to nine.
And I waved at the stage door-keeper ---
Said, ``mister, get me to the stage on time.
And the snow didnt have a place in the sun
So I slipped behind a rainbow
And waited till the show had done.
Inside the crowd was shouting, ``encore,
But I had a most funny feeling ---
It wasnt me they were shouting for.
So when the tall dark lady smiled at me
I said, ``oh, baby let us go for a ride.
And we came upon two drinks or four
And popped them oh so neatly inside.
And the snow didnt have a place in the sun
So we slipped behind a rainbow
And lay there until we had done.
Oh, theres sure to be room for two ---
Or you can drive me to the airplane
But dont let me catch those rainbow blues.
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I think in this song Ian anderson is talking about performing live or touring. It soon becomes a routine. Different countries but they soon start to look the same.
I take from this song that when hes on stage he puts on a kind of mask, that perhaps an alter ego comes out which would make sense of-
But I had a most funny feeling --- It wasnt me they were shouting for.
Im not so sure of the chorus. But it's my favourite part of the song. He doesn't feel he fits inside this routine world where everything is organised and categorised. So he'll wait behind a rainbow til the show is done.
or maybe this song just embodies his loathing of the world.
^_^
just had a thought.
Oh, but the rain wasnt made of water And the snow didnt have a place in the sun So I slipped behind a rainbow And waited till the show had done
He is the snow and the sun is, maybe, the crowd or lights or the stage atmosphere. He can't survive himself like that. so he waits for the end of the show to come out of himself again.
This is far more direct. Anderson is singing about Jethro Tull being upstaged by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow at a gig. Blackmore, it should be noted, always wanted to be the Tull guitarist, but Martin Barre was a) a better guitarist b) had a smaller ego that wouldn't clash wish Anderson's and c) was well established within the band. Blackmore went on to cover this song with his awful Blackmore's Night band.
This theory has a hole in it. Blackmore's Rainbow wasn't formed until a year after this song was recorded.
The song clearly has something to do with Ian's disconnection from his stage persona, and possibly disconnection induced by mind-altering substances.
Rainbow Blues = Downer after LSD or bad trip, Other references old slang names for various drugs. Northern Lights, Rain, Dark Lady, Snow, Poppers after drink. Slipped behind a rainbow = out of your head.Singing from a different world = out of your head or away with the fairies. Packing you deep inside a suitcase = hiding it away.Or it could just be coincidental.