the rainbow connection?

Question

hi there, i love the song the rainbow connection, but could anyone tell me what that song means? I thought it was such a beautiful song, but I don't quite get the

Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same

part, so i would appreciate it if anyone could explain that to me, thanks!(:

Answer 1

In the work - Iliad and Odyssey -
Ulysses (sailor) was warned to not listen to the sweet, alluring voices of the sea sirens - who could lead a vessel astray, destroying it on the shoals, near shore. . .
This is what the lyrics in this song 'allude' to -

Imagination - and 'vision' - it's an intangible thing - the unseen 'muse' that guides all creative works. . .

Hope this helps - and this song is also one of my most favorites.

Answer 2

The Rainbow Connection Lyrics

Answer 3

This was written by songwriters Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher for The Muppet Movie, which came out on 1979. In the film, it is sung by Kermit The Frog as the Muppets set out to find adventure. Williams was in the movie.
The Carpenters recorded this in 1980, but decided not to release it. In 2001, Richard Carpenter included it on his album As Time Goes By. In the liner notes, he explained:
"As with 'Leave Yesterday Behind,' Karen's vocal on this track is a 'work lead'; the singers and orchestra were added in 1999. Fans, knowing of the track's existence, have been writing me for years, asking for it's release. I try to be accommodating."
This was used as the main theme for a Japanese TV show called Where Is Love?
The Brothers Cazimero recorded a Hawaiian language version with the Honolulu Boys Choir in the 1980s. The final verse is in English as a final affirmation of the song's message. Paul Williams wrote several songs that were recorded by The Carpenters, including "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days And Mondays." Williams also wrote "Evergreen," which won an Oscar when it was used in the 1976 movie A Star Is Born. He has acted in many TV shows and movies, and had a regular role on the soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful.
Justin Timberlake performed this on an episode of Saturday Night Live. In the skit, he sings it with a Kermit look-a-like puppet, who gets angry when Justin steps on him. Timberlake ends up attacking the puppeteer, who calls him a dirty name through the Kermit puppet. The line, "Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?" may be a reference to the well known nursery rhyme Winkin, Blinkin And Nod.
Sarah McLachlan sings a poignant version on the album For The Kids., proceeds of which are going to Canadian and American music education programs.


Kenny Loggins - Rainbow Connection Lyrics
Album: Return To Pooh Corner
Rainbow connection

Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side
Rainbow's are visions
They're only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some chose to
Believe it
But i know they're wrong wait and see

Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
And look what it's done so far
What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
What so we think we might see

Someday we'll find it
That rainbow connection
The lovers the dreamers and me

All of us under it's spell
We know that it's probably magic

Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that i'm supposed to be

Someday we'll find it
The rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me

Answer 4

It's a wistful song about searching for the unknown. The "sweet sound that calls the young sailors" is the sound of adventure, calling their names for an unknown journey, to venture into unknown territory. It's referencing a longing for discovery. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side".

Answer 5

This song speaks very strongly to, obviously, the dreamer in all of us, especially the dreamers who are dreaming the impossible dream.

And then there's that ominous line: "Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailor?" While there is a romantic image of ambitious sailors who feel a strong calling and love of the sea, theres another image -- that of the sirens calling ships to their dooms in shipwrecks.

Answer 6

Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side? Of course, the question that really needs answering here is " How many songs actually are about rainbows?" The only songs I can think of that feature rainbows are "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", "Sunshines, Lollipops and Rainbows" and that Cream song where the rainbow had a beard. Of the three only the first discusses what's on the other side.
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, rainbows have nothing to hide. I'm with you up to the part about them having nothing to hide. I've found that a lot of things have nothing to hide, particularly nonhuman things, and being visions or illusions have not much to do with it. In fact, you'd think an illusion would have more to hide than, say, a non-illusion.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it What are you talking about , the stuff about rainbows being visions, etc.? Who told you that?
I know they're wrong, wait and see... Wrong about what? Rainbows being illusions? Rainbows having nothing to hide? Trying to make sense of these lyrics have made me more confused than ever.
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection for lovers, for dreamers, and me... I like this line because it reminds of "Someday we will find/The cities of go-o-o-old." There was a song I could handle. You knew where you were with the Mysterious Cities of Gold. But this, I dunno. What the hell is a "rainbow connection"?
Who says that every wish is heard and answered when wished on the morning star? What? Wishes? Stars, now? I was confused enough when you just stuck to rainbows!
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it Finally, something we can agree on. Someone thought of, and someone believed the thing about wishing on stars. I'm with you now. Just as long as you don't talk about rainbows anymore.
Look what it's done so far...
Well, nothing, really. Some people think if you wish on a star it will come true. The songwriter seems to be of the belief that this supersition holds no value, and if he is correct, whether people wish on the star or not--it makes no difference.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing, and what do we think we might see? You know that guy who says "Keep watching the stars?", and calls everyone "stargazer" even if you're not? He's like that Care Bear who calls everyone "sportsfan." And I don't think he was actually a care bear per se. He was a raccoon or something. I forgot what I was talking about.
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection for lovers, for dreamers, and me... I still don't know what the Rainbow Connection is. Is it some kind of drug reference? Does it have to do with an isthmus in Columbia or something?
All of us under its spell--we know that it's probably magic. What's spell? I can't think of a single thing whose spell I'm under, and which I know is probably magic. This song isn't directed at me, I guess. Probably it is about drugs.
Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? When I was half-asleep I heard Kermit the Frog's voice singing this song. So, yes. Also: NEVER AGAIN.
I've heard them calling my name. TMI!!!!
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailor? I guess it depends on what "this" is. If it's the sound of a man sharpening a blade on his own teeth--then no. If it's the sound of a hooker saying "Hello sailor--" then yes.
The voice might be one and the same. As….?
I've heard it too many times to ignore it, it's something I'm supposed to be... What, a hooker?
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection for lovers, for dreamers, and me... Now I'm thinking maybe it's a song about sex.
Why are there so many songs about rainbows? Blah, blah. Haven't I gone over this?
That's part of what rainbows do *double take* Did I miss something here? What's part of what rainbows do, have songs about them? "Here's my resume. I'm a part-time vision, part-time illusion, and part-time thing that people write songs about. Except they don't."
Rainbows are memories--sweet dream reminders, what is it you'd like to do? Rainbows, by definition, are neither memories nor sweet dream reminders. But I'll let this go as "poetic license." What I'm really having trouble with is how this statement can be part of the same sentence as "what is it you'd like to do," and why are they asking me? Do they really want to know? Cause what I'd like to do is understand this song.
All of us watching and wishing we'd find it, I notice you're watching, too... Okay, I'm going to interpret this as basically meaning "Everyone's trying to figure out what they want to do, including you." This is true enough. I don't know what I want to do in life. Okay, I do. I want to watch Discovery Channel and drink Coke and make out with a dozen pretty lovers. But you don't get paid for that.
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection for lovers, for dreamers, and me... It's a song about drugs, sex and ambition.
Life's like a movie--write your own ending, Actually, a more accurate statement would be "Life's not like a movie because you can write your own ending."
Keep believing-Keep pretending we've done just what we set out to do Oh. Like a cat who falls and then starts licking its paw with an "I-meant-to-do-that" sort of way. You know what I mean. Actually, that's pretty good advice. Although it implies that whatever it is you did, you didn't actually mean to.
Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers, and you... Um.

Answer 7

Well, Mermer, nowadays rainbow is the cutesy reference to all things homosexual. Could be coincidence, but it could also be a reference to homosexual connection.