The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
When there's lightning, you know it always brings me down
'Cause it's free and I see that it's me
Who's lost and never found
I cry out for magic, I feel it dancing in the light
It was cold, I lost my hold
To the shadows of the night
No sign of the morning coming
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
A rainbow in the dark
Do your demons, do they ever let you go?
When you've tried, do they hide, deep inside
Is it someone that you know
You're just a picture, you're an image caught in time
We're a lie, you and I
We're words without a rhyme
There's no sign of the morning coming
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark, yeah
When I see lightning, you know it always brings me down
'Cause it's free and I see that it's me
Who's lost and never found
Feel the magic, I feel it floating in the air
But it's fear, and you'll hear
It calling you beware
Look out
There's no sight of the morning coming
There's no sight of the day
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow
Like a rainbow in the dark, yeah
You're a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark
No sign of the morning
You're a rainbow in the dark
'Cause it's free and I see that it's me
Who's lost and never found
I cry out for magic, I feel it dancing in the light
It was cold, I lost my hold
To the shadows of the night
No sign of the morning coming
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
A rainbow in the dark
Do your demons, do they ever let you go?
When you've tried, do they hide, deep inside
Is it someone that you know
You're just a picture, you're an image caught in time
We're a lie, you and I
We're words without a rhyme
There's no sign of the morning coming
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark, yeah
When I see lightning, you know it always brings me down
'Cause it's free and I see that it's me
Who's lost and never found
Feel the magic, I feel it floating in the air
But it's fear, and you'll hear
It calling you beware
Look out
There's no sight of the morning coming
There's no sight of the day
You've been left on your own
Like a rainbow
Like a rainbow in the dark, yeah
You're a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark
No sign of the morning
You're a rainbow in the dark
Lyrics submitted by zekey baby
Rainbow in the Dark Lyrics as written by Ronnie James Dio Jimmy Bain
Lyrics © VINCENT APPICE D/B/A APPICE MUSIC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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About rejection. Whoever said abandonent, I agree with them. Scientifically, a rainbow cannot exist without sunlight so a rainbow in the dark is impossible. It's about lonliness.
rainbow + dark + nothingness. thus it's Dio's ode of solitude.
A very poetic song about abandonment, typical of Dio's excellent writing style.
I thought that at first to, but really if you think about it, what could be more lost than a rainbow in the dark, there are no rainbows when its dark, therefore you must really be lost. And common, RJ Dio is hardcore.
This song is not about being gay or anything of that sort. Dio was simply finding a dramatic image and a rainbow coming out of pitch black would be very dramatic. Thats Dio's style. Plus, in the early 80s, the rainbow was most likely not popularly associated with homosexuality. Anyways, good song, bland lyrics, but they are delivered extremely well, which makes up for the lack of much depth.
@ExcessAurora I think you are a dipshitted assheaded stupidified fuckjuice. Is that bland enough for you
I think is a song about the feelings caused by depression and how lost you feel when you're depressed. It's a very personal interpretation, because I've felt that way and currently I'm also experiencing those feelings. A good way to describe how really I feel... is "like a rainbow in the dark". If you read closer, some of the lyrics are pretty descriptive:
"I cry out for magic, I feel it dancing in the light"
"There's no sign of the morning coming You've been left on your own Like a rainbow in the dark A rainbow in the dark"
"Do your demons, do they ever let you go When you've tried, do they hide, deep inside Is it someone that you know"
"You're just a picture, just an image caught in time" Yes, because you can't even recognize yourself. You've faded and now you feel empty, you aren't the same anymore.
"Feel the magic, feel it floating in the air But it's fear, and you'll hear It calling you beware"
"No sign of the morning You're a rainbow in the dark"
@iskra Brave words. Not everybody can be that open in such vulnerable situations. Wherever you are and whoever you are, thank you and keep on.
could it be about ritchie blackmore ????
This song blows the doors off of "Holy Diver" if you ask me. The keyboard riff is very simple but provides a great dark atmospher, Vivian Cambell pulls off some great riffs and solos, and well Dio's voice is awesome as always.
I'm not sure the song is really about anything in particular, but at least it's pretty well written.
@Muzzy I agree, this song recks Holy Diver
i think rainbow in the dark simply means his solitude and the ray of hope he have seen in this rainbow!!...it's kind of popy but its great!!! and it's not as shallow as excessaurora thinks look carefully at the lyrics.. and the melody is awesome!
i think it has to do with abandonment and trying to finding hope