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Rainbow Connection Confusion

I woke up one morning with Kermit the Frog's voice in my head singing

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows /
And what's on the other side?"

        I wasn't sure if I dreamed it or not. As the day wore on, my doubt increased, and the words faded from my memory as dreams tend to do. I had to write "songs about rainbows" on my hand just to remember it.

        Several questions arose from this incident, questions which I will now attempt to answer, aided by Internet research. Here's a quick list of the questions I want answered:

1. Is there a song like that?
2. Where do I know it from?
3. Who wrote it?
4. What were they on?
5. What are the rest of the lyrics?
6. What's the Kermit the Frog connection?
7. What "songs about rainbows"?

        At Clara's Songs, I found out that the song was called "Rainbow Connection," was written by Paul Williams and sung by Kermit the Frog. It would seem that I had heard him sing it before, which is why he haunted my dreams. However, I don't remember this incident.

        No information was given as to what Paul Williams was on.

        As to the rest of the words. I found the lyrics at this page. Unfortunately, the lyrics only raised more questions. With my remaining space this week I will attempt to make sense of it all.

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.

        You're welcome.

        I guess.

 

- Laura