In addition to his own albums, Eaglesmith frequently collaborated with the late Willie P. Bennett, a past member of Eaglesmith's band, who had to step down after a heart attack in spring 2007. Eaglesmith's fans are known as Fredheads because of the similarities to deadheads. He has appeared in several movies, including "The Gift" and "50 Odd Dollars." His band is known as The Flying Squirrels or The Flathead Noodlers. Both bands have the same lineup, but play different styles. The Flathead Noodlers play bluegrass, while the Flying Squirrels play more folk and rock. An early incarnation of the band was known as The Smokin' Losers. When Fred does solo appearances he bills himself as Fred J. Eaglesmith. In addition to the songs, a typical Fred Eaglesmith show includes several lengthy between-song comic monologues by Fred. Topics in the past have included stories about crossing the U.S./Canada border, Newfoundlanders, and some friends from an Indian reserve. Eaglesmith is the owner and president of A Major Label, which publishes his records.
Current band members
* Fred J. Eaglesmith - Guitars, Vocals
* Matt Simpson - Acoustic guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
* Kori Heppner - Drums
* Luke Stackhouse - Bass, Vocals
Former members
* Willie P. Bennett - Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals
* David Essig - Mandolin, Guitar
* Kevin Komatsu - Drums
* Roger Marin Jr. - Pedal Steel, Guitar, Vocals
* Ralph Schipper - Bass
* Jude Waldman - Drums
* Dan Walsh - Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
* Skip Wamsteeker - Drums
* Washboard Hank - Washboard, Dobro
* Darcy Yates - Bass
Discography
* Fred Eaglesmith (1980)
* The Boy That Just Went Wrong (1983)
* Indiana Road (1987)
* There Ain't No Easy Road (1991)
* Things Is Changin' (1993)
* Paradise Motel (1994)
* Drive-In Movie (1995)
* Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline (1997)
* 50 Odd Dollars (1999)
* Live: Ralph's Last Show (2001)
* Falling Stars and Broken Hearts (2002)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 1' (2002)
* Balin (2003)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 2' (2004)
* Dusty (2004)
* Milly's Cafe (2006)
* Tinderbox (2008)
www.fredeaglesmith.com
RAINBOW
Fred Eaglesmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your rainbow breaks in two
And all those stars come crashing to the ground
What are you supposed to do
When your pot of gold is fool's gold
And you're the only fool left around
What are you supposed to do
When the one you're counting on
What are you supposed to do
When your rainbow breaks in two
Now all you're left with is a half
What are you supposed to say
When the one who's going away
Turns out her ticket was for two
How can you carry on
When you've been stolen from
By the very one who said she'd be true
And all your setting suns
Turns out that they weren't done
They were coming up in someone else's world
What are you supposed to do
When your rainbows break in two
And all your favourite colours went to her
Pick up half a rainbow
Throw it over your shoulder
Tell her you're glad
That it's finally over
And find another rainbow
You can hook up to
That's what you're supposed to do
Yeah, pick up half a rainbow
Throw it over your shoulder
Tell her you're glad
That it's finally over
And find another rainbow
You can hook up to
That's what you're supposed to do
The song "Rainbow" by Fred Eaglesmith is about the aftermath of a broken relationship. It speaks to the feelings of betrayal, disappointment, and confusion that one experiences when someone they trusted and relied on suddenly abandons them. The opening lines "What are you supposed to do when your rainbow breaks in two and all those stars come crashing to the ground" paint an evocative picture of the emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing.
The singer is left feeling lost and uncertain, unsure of what to do next. They feel cheated and foolish for having placed their trust in someone who ultimately let them down. The imagery of the pot of gold being fool's gold and the setting suns rising in someone else's world underscores the sense of disillusionment and betrayal that the singer is experiencing.
The chorus of the song provides a ray of hope by urging the listener to pick up half a rainbow, throw it over their shoulder, and find another rainbow to hook up to. The song ends on a note of resilience, encouraging the listener to keep moving forward and to believe that they will find happiness again.
Line by Line Meaning
What are you supposed to do
Asking for advice or guidance on what steps to take next
When your rainbow breaks in two
When your hopes and dreams are shattered
And all those stars come crashing to the ground
When everything you believed in has fallen apart
When your pot of gold is fool's gold
When what you hoped would bring you happiness turns out to be worthless
And you're the only fool left around
When you are the only one left to blame for your mistakes
When the one you're counting on
When the person you rely on the most
Turns out she just can't do the math
Isn't capable of fulfilling your expectations
Now all you're left with is a half
All that remains is a fragmented, incomplete situation
What are you supposed to say
Asking for advice or guidance on what to communicate
When the one who's going away
When the person who meant everything to you is leaving
Turns out her ticket was for two
When you realize you never mattered as much to her as she did to you
How can you carry on
Asking how to continue when everything you had is lost
When you've been stolen from
When someone you trusted has taken advantage of you
By the very one who said she'd be true
By the person who promised to always be honest and faithful
And all your setting suns
All the things you thought were finished and gone
Turns out that they weren't done
When those things resurface, reopening old wounds
They were coming up in someone else's world
And now they belong to someone else entirely
When your rainbows break in two
When everything you hoped for is torn apart
And all your favorite colors went to her
When everything important to you is lost to someone else
Pick up half a rainbow
To salvage what remains after loss
Throw it over your shoulder
To symbolize letting go of what no longer serves you
Tell her you're glad
To communicate that you are relieved it's over
That it's finally over
Acknowledging that the relationship is truly done
And find another rainbow
To seek a new path forward and new hope
You can hook up to
To find something worth pursuing, and that brings value to your life
That's what you're supposed to do
To find a new direction with optimism and hope
Yeah, pick up half a rainbow
To represent taking action to salvage a situation
Throw it over your shoulder
To symbolize letting go of the past that holds you back
Tell her you're glad
To communicate that you are happy with the decision made
That it's finally over
Acknowledging that closure is important
And find another rainbow
To continue seeking hope for a better future
You can hook up to
To find something worth pursuing, and that brings value to your life
That's what you're supposed to do
To learn from your experiences and keep moving forward, no matter the obstacle
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tim Duffin
on John Deere B
"The original B" s/b "The original paint"
"Then I saw I saw the mirror" s/b "Then I saw them narrow"