Colors
J.J. Johnson & Nat Adderley Lyrics
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It's all black and white
It ain't real clear is that you there?"
He said "Yeah, I was eleven
Times were tough back in '35
That's me and uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
A cotton farm, in a great depression
If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
Oh and this one here was taken over seas
In the middle of hell in 1943
In the winter time, you can almost see my breath
That was my tail gunner ole Johnny Magee
He was a high school teacher from New Orleans
And he had my back right through the day we left
If it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should've seen it in color
This one is my favorite one
This is me and grandma in the summer sun
All dressed up the day we said our vows
You can't tell it here but it was hot that June
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
And just look at that smile I was so proud
That's the story of my life right there in black and white
And if it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color
A picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should have seen it in color
You should have seen it in color
Yeah, a picture's worth a thousand words
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
You should have seen it in color"
The song "Colors" by J.J. Johnson & Nat Adderley tells the story of a grandfather showing his grandson old black and white photographs of his life. The first picture is of the grandfather and his uncle on a cotton farm in the Great Depression. The grandfather explains that they were just trying to survive during tough times. The second picture is of the grandfather and his tail gunner in WWII. The grandfather reminisces about the bond he had with his fellow soldier and how they relied on each other to survive the war. The third and last picture is of the grandfather and his wife on their wedding day. He describes how happy he was that day and how the colors of the summer sun and his wife's eyes could not be captured in black and white.
The lyrics are a poignant reminder of the value of memories and the importance of understanding the context in which they were formed. Black and white photographs may not capture the full spectrum of life but they are still worth remembering. The song suggests that photographs can only tell part of the story and we need to dig deeper to truly understand the experiences of those who came before us. The lyrics also highlight that the true beauty of our lives comes from the colors that we experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I said grandpa what's this picture here
The singer is asking his grandpa about a picture.
It's all black and white
The photo is in black and white.
It ain't real clear is that you there?
The singer cannot recognize his grandpa in the photo.
He said yeah, I was eleven
The grandpa confirms that he is in the photo and was only eleven years old at the time.
Times were tough back in '35
The grandpa is referring to the year 1935 and mentioning that it was a difficult time.
That's me and uncle Joe just tryin' to survive
The grandpa and his uncle Joe were struggling to get by during this difficult time.
A cotton farm, in a great depression
The grandpa was living on a cotton farm during the Great Depression.
If it looks like we were scared to death
The grandpa is referring to a different photo where he and someone else appear scared.
Like a couple of kids just trying to save each other
They were probably comforting each other through a difficult situation.
You should've seen it in color
The photo would have conveyed a more vivid impression if it had been in color.
Oh and this one here was taken over seas
The grandpa is referring to another photo taken overseas.
In the middle of hell in 1943
The grandpa was in a dangerous and difficult situation during World War II.
In the winter time, you can almost see my breath
It was very cold when the photo was taken.
That was my tail gunner ole Johnny Magee
The grandpa is referring to someone who served with him as a tail gunner in the war.
He was a high school teacher from New Orleans
Johnny Magee was a high school teacher from New Orleans.
And he had my back right through the day we left
Johnny Magee was a supportive and trustworthy colleague.
This one is my favorite one
The grandpa is talking about his favorite photo.
This is me and grandma in the summer sun
The photo shows the grandpa and his grandma enjoying the summer weather.
All dressed up the day we said our vows
The photo was taken on the day the grandpa and his grandma got married.
You can't tell it here but it was hot that June
Although they are both dressed up, it was a very hot day in June.
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
The grandpa is describing the colors in the photo.
And just look at that smile I was so proud
The grandpa is proud and happy in the photo.
That's the story of my life right there in black and white
The grandpa is using the photo as a representation of his life story.
Yeah a pictures worth a thousand words
Photos have a lot of meaning and can tell a story.
But you can't see what those shades of gray keep covered
The black and white photo may not reveal all the details and emotions captured in the original moment.
You should have seen it in color
The photo would have had more depth and impact if it had been in color.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind