# Lists or repetitions of colours in songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 20, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743 "2002-08-20T14:27:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sol.una](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@sol.una](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sol.una)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/1 "2002-08-20T14:27:23Z")
I’m looking for pop or rock songs whose lyrics contain lists or repetitions of colours. So far I’ve got a miserable two examples: “Tangerine, tangerine” from (you guessed?) “Tangerine” by Led Zeppelin and (much better) “Pink, pink, pink, pink (moon)” from (you guessed again?) “Pink Moon” by Nick Drake. Does anyone have anymore? Two colours is a minimum, but three is where useful starts. I need a few of these songs for a running gag in my next novel. Oh, here’s the crunch: 1981 or earlier. Good luck and thanks, fellow-posters. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/2 "2002-08-20T14:32:01Z")
Welcome aboard. Please read the forum descriptions. This one’s off to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/3 "2002-08-20T15:02:40Z")
Red, gold and green" in Karma Cameleon, by Boy George Oh, 1981 or before. Forget that one then. That rainbow song…“Red and yellow and orange and green…” Ok, forget that too. Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” has a lyric “…olours on the street…red, white and blue…” ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/4 "2002-08-20T15:02:51Z")
Red, gold and green" in Karma Cameleon, by Boy George Oh, 1981 or before. Forget that one then. That rainbow song…“Red and yellow and orange and green…” Ok, forget that too. Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” has a lyric “…colours on the street…red, white and blue…” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/5 "2002-08-20T15:10:45Z")
“Joseph’s Coat” from the musical **Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat** : _Joseph & Female Ensemble:_ I look handsome, I look smart I am a walking work of art Such a dazzling coat of many colors How I love my coat of many colors _Narrator, Joseph, Ensemble & Children:_ It was red and yellow and green and brown And scarlet and black and ocher and peach And ruby and olive and violet and fawn And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve And cream and crimson and silver and rose And azure and lemon and russet and grey And purple and white and pink and orange And red and yellow and green and brown Scarlet and black and ocher and peach And ruby and olive and violet and fawn And lilac and gold and chocolate and mauve And cream and crimson and silver and rose And azure and lemon and russet and grey And purple and white and pink and orange And blue Fenris ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/6 "2002-08-20T15:16:28Z")
“Blue, blue, my love is blue.” – Love is Blue. BTW, you need to get permission beforehand to use any song lyrics in a novel (if people can figure out what song the lyrics come from, you need permission). If you don’t have the proper clearances from all the songwriters, you cannot use their songs, and your novel will never be published. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/7 "2002-08-20T15:59:12Z")
“Wear Your Love Live Heaven” - Donovan ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/8 "2002-08-20T16:08:17Z")
“Red, Red Wine” - Neil Diamond, don’t know the year “Green, Green Grass of Home” - Elvis, so definitely before 1981 ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/9 "2002-08-20T16:17:17Z")
:smack: That’s “Wear Your Love **Like** Heaven” and come to think of it, also by Donovan is “Colours”, where he uses descriptions of colors to convey emotions, which sounds like it might be particularly useful for your application, subject to **Reality Chuck’s** caveat, of course. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/10 "2002-08-20T19:28:25Z")
They call me **mellow yellow** - also by Donovan. **Red** red I want red - Sammy Hagar ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/11 "2002-08-20T19:31:08Z")
Back in Black - AC/DC ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/12 "2002-08-20T20:28:27Z")
Hey! Pay attention, folks! Dude asked for a minimum of 2! _Sweet Baby James_…“deep greens and blues are the colors I choose…” There is a song on **The Clouds** album _Collage_ that lists several colors, but I don’t remember the song title. And who can forget “…decorations of red on a green Christmas Tree, but I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas” (wish I could!) Thats enough from me. * * * She said she loved me like a brother. She’s from Arkansas, hence the Joy! ---
**Author:** ![No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/no_me_ayudes_compadre/32/5224_2.png) [@No\_Me\_Ayudes\_Compadre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Me_Ayudes_Compadre)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/13 "2002-08-20T20:40:26Z")
“Blue, blue, electric blue…” - David Bowie, _Sound and Vision_ “Sunbonnet blue and a yellow straw hat…” - Billie Holliday, _Sunbonnet Blue_ “I’m black, I’m pink, I’m Rinso white…” - Soundtrack, _Hair_ “Your shoes are green, your dress is red, and your wiggy head is powder blue…” - Alvin Robinson, _Down Home Girl_ “Oh Red… Sing them blues…” - Howlin’ Wolf, _Oh Red_ “Sipping cocktails in the blue, red and grey…” - The Who, _Blue Red and Grey_ “Fly and find the new green bough, return like the white dove…” - Queen, _The Prophet’s Song_ “Licorice tattoo turned a gunmetal blue…” - Tom Waits, _Burma Shave_ “Blue, blue, I got a tale to tell you, I’m blue” - Bessie Smith, _Blue Blues_ “If you was white, you’d be alright, if you was brown, stick around, but as you’s black, oh, brother, get back, get back, get back” - Big Bill Broonzy, _Black, Brown and White_ “My red hot mama, my red hot mama” - Elmore James, _Fine Little Mama_ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/14 "2002-08-20T20:52:58Z")
How about “She’s a Rainbow” by the Rolling Stones? > [@](#): > > Have you seen her dressed in blue? > See the sky in front of you > And her face is lik a sail > Speck of white so fair and pale > Have you seen a lady fairer? > > Have you seen her all in gold? > Like a queen in days of old > She shoots her colors all around > Like a sunset going down > Have you seen a lady fairer? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/15 "2002-08-20T20:54:49Z")
Wasn’t there a “My Green Tangerine” from the 60’s? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/16 "2002-08-20T21:59:27Z")
Another _Hair_ song, _Walking in Space_ > [@](#): > > … > > Red black > Blue brown > Yellow crimson > Green orange > Purple pink > Violet white > White white > White white > White white > > All the clouds are cumuloft > Walking in space > Oh my God your skin is soft > I love your face > > … etc. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2002, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/17 "2002-08-20T22:01:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Wasn’t there a “My Green Tangerine” from the 60’s? **Tamborine.** “Now listen while I playayayayay… my green tamborine.” ---
**Author:** ![sol.una](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@sol.una](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sol.una)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/18 "2002-08-21T10:28:44Z")
Just a quick thanks to everyone for suggestions so far. Very helpful, colourful folks. And apologies to Aro for not being able to help with the ‘What these novels have in common’ thread. ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/19 "2002-08-21T10:57:35Z")
Temptation by New Order? Can’t remember if it was released in 1981 or 1982. "Oh you’ve got green eyes oh you’ve got grey eyes oh you’ve got blue eyes oh you’ve got green eyes oh you’ve got blue eyes oh you’ve got grey eyes" -fh ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2002, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743/20 "2002-08-21T11:19:47Z")
The only thing I can think of from my collection is “Finland red, Egypt white, Germany black” from the song **Finland red, Egypt white, Germany black** by **The Sisterhood / The Sisters of Mercy**. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-or-repetitions-of-colours-in-songs/124743.md?page=2)