Billy Steinberg originally wrote True Colors about his own mother. Tom Kelly altered the first verse and the duo submitted the song to Cyndi Lauper. Other songs they wrote for Cyndi Lauper include "I Drove All Night" and "Unconditional Love", the latter of which went on to be covered by Susanna Hoffs
True Colors also became a legend of its own in the gay community. Lauper embarked on a 2007 annual True Colors Tour 2007 with several other acts including Deborah Harry and Erasure. The tour was for the Human Rights Campaign to promote human rights in the US and beyond. A second True Colors tour is currently underway in the US.[citation needed]
The song has been used in many advertisements, including;
* Dove "Campaign for Real Beauty"
* Kodak - Used in "Show Your True Colors" campaign; also as the pre-show film for "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience"
* Peugeot "The Drive of your Life" / 406 sedan
* Aer Lingus "Appearances"
* Marks & Spencer
* Sky+ HD
True Colors
Cindy Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be discouraged
Oh, I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
But I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors, true colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
Show me a smile then
Don't be unhappy, can't remember when
I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You can call me up
Because you know I'll be there
And I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
And don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors, true colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
Can't remember when I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there
And I see your true colors shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let it show
Your true colors, true colors
True colors are shining through
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors, true colors
Are beautiful like a rainbow
Cindy Lauper's song "True Colors" is a heartwarming message of love and acceptance, urging listeners to embrace their unique selves and express their true colors with pride. The opening lines of the song, "You with the sad eyes, don't be discouraged," set the tone for the song's message of hope and encouragement. The singer acknowledges the difficulties of navigating a world full of people and the tendency to lose sight of one's true self. But she affirms that she sees the person's true colors shining through and loves them for who they are. The chorus repeats the message to not be afraid to show one's true colors, as they are beautiful like a rainbow.
The lyrics are simple yet powerful, offering a message that resonates with many people who struggle with self-doubt and feeling like they don't fit in. The song's message of accepting oneself and others has made it an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as a popular choice for graduation ceremonies and inspirational events. The song encourages listeners to find the courage to be themselves and to support others in doing the same.
Line by Line Meaning
You with the sad eyes
Talking to someone who looks sad.
Don't be discouraged
Don’t lose hope.
Oh, I realize
The singer understands how hard it is to stay optimistic in tough times.
It's hard to take courage
It’s hard to be brave and face your fears.
In a world full of people
In a world with a lot of people around us.
You can lose sight of it all
We can sometimes lose sight of our true selves and our values.
And the darkness inside you
The sadness and depression that you may be feeling.
Can make you feel so small
These negative feelings can make you feel helpless and insignificant.
But I see your true colors shining through
The singer sees the real and true version of the other person.
I see your true colors and that's why I love you
The singer loves and appreciates the other person for who they are, with all their flaws and strengths.
So don't be afraid to let them show
Don’t be afraid to be yourself and show your true colors to others.
Your true colors, true colors
Your personality and values, and who you truly are.
Are beautiful like a rainbow
Your true colors are unique and special, just like the colors of a rainbow.
Show me a smile then
The singer asks the sad person to smile and show happiness.
Can't remember when I last saw you laughing
The singer has not seen the sad person happy and laughing in a long time.
If this world makes you crazy
If the world and its problems make you feel overwhelmed.
And you've taken all you can bear
If you feel like you cannot handle any more problems or pain.
You call me up
The singer invites the sad person to reach out to them for support.
Because you know I'll be there
Because the singer will always be there to listen and support the other person.
I see your true colors shining through
The singer sees the other person’s true self and values.
And that's why I love you
The singer loves the other person for who they are.
So don't be afraid to let it show
Don’t be afraid to show your true self to others.
True colors, true colors
Your personality and values, and who you truly are.
True colors are shining through
Your true self is becoming more visible and clear to others.
Are beautiful like a rainbow
Your true self is unique and special, just like the colors of a rainbow.
Contributed by Skyler C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@spiritworker903
Cyndi, thank you for blessing the world with this song.
@annahmartinez4219
Spiritworker she sees straight threw BS you n America
@jameshutchison2218
Which one represents death again?
@moonhope7816
This song because of the black clothes the line like a rainbow is referring to heaven
@Helmut83
Well, she didn't write it, so it's Billy Steinberg whom you should be thanking.
@popland1977
@@Helmut83 That's very true, although his original version was more of a power ballad, Cyndi's arrangement gave it some extra magic
@ckdub1888
My mums favourite song. She’s battling pancreatic cancer right now. Times running out for her. It’s so hard for me to listen to it. I can’t imagine how I’ll feel when she is actually gone. I’ll be a broken man. I already am tbh but her strength is inspiring. Love you mum
@user-jn1wm3tb8v
Stay strong Conor.You can do this.Do it for her,so that her legacy isn't gone.
@niriaantonio9097
I am so sorry for you and your mom! Be strong everything will be alright 🙏❤️
@1229jrogers
My prayers and love are with you and your family. I lost my Dad 8 years ago to pancreatic cancer, he struggled and was in a lot of pain. Bless you!!❤