The Meaning Behind “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves and How a Personal Message Became a Universal Song of Endurance

“Rainbow” closes Kacey Musgraves’ excellent 2018 album, Golden Hour. Within its minimalist production sits Musgraves finding her way through the darkness of life’s most challenging moments. It began as a personal message, then became a hymn for her grandmother. Finally, “Rainbow” reached a further destination: in the hearts of anyone looking for a gorgeous and medicinal ballad to cure their despair.

A Self-Help Ballad

“Rainbow” began as a note-to-self encouragement for the country singer. But, according to Musgraves, it’s become something more universal than what she’d initially intended.

“It turned into a song as a little message to myself, and then ended up being a song for anybody with any kind of weight on their shoulders,” she said.

When it rains, it pours,
But you didn’t even notice.
It ain’t raining anymore,
It’s hard to breathe when all you know is.

Co-written with Natalie Hemby and Shane McAnally, the deluge metaphor continues, and here, Musgraves keeps fighting to survive the emotional storm.

The struggle of staying above the rising waterline.

This is Musgraves on the other side of despair, telling herself it gets better.

Well, the sky has finally opened,
The rain and wind stopped blowing,
But you’re stuck out in the same ole storm again.
You hold tight to your umbrella,
Well, darling, I’m just trying to tell ya.
That there’s always been a rainbow,
Hanging over your head.

Tie Up the Boat, Take Off Your Coat

Musgraves’ song was also the final one her grandmother heard. “Rainbow” was performed at her grandmother’s funeral, which gives the following verse a different reading, a kind of old wisdom one only gains over a lifetime.

If you could see what I see,
You’d be blinded by the colors.
Yellow, red, and orange, and green,
And at least a million others.

So tie up the boat, take off your coat,
And take a look around.

Recorded live in the studio with production by Musgraves, Ian Fitchuk, and Daniel Tashian, “Rainbow” gives listeners a glimpse of an artist exposed, alone at the piano, trying to convince herself to keep going.

Photo by Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns