Early in their recording and airwave career, Lovin' Spoonful members termed their approach "good-time music". Unlike many pop groups of the day, the Lovin' Spoonful played all the instruments on their records, and aside from a few covers, wrote all their own material.
His group The Lovin' Spoonful played a major role in the mid-'60s rock revolution, but what leader, singer and songwriter Sebastian had in mind was actually a counter-revolution. "We were grateful to the Beatles for reminding us our rock & roll roots," John explains, "but we wanted to cut out the English middlemen, so to speak, and get down to making this new music as an 'American' band."
This the Lovin' Spoonful did like nobody before or since, putting their first seven singles into the Top 10. This was unprecedented, and utterly unthinkable at the height of Beatlemania. At first they'd taken older material from blues, country, folk and jug band sources - what we now term "roots music" - and made it sound modern. Then, in a series of original songs composed and sung by John Sebastian, they did the reverse, creating thoroughly modern music that sounded like it contained the entire history of American music. Which it did.
He embarked on a moderately successful solo career after leaving the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968. Sebastian was popular among the rock festival circuits. He had a memorable, albeit unscheduled appearance at Woodstock, appearing after Country Joe McDonald's set, playing songs such as "I Had A Dream," "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" and "Younger Generation" which he dedicated to a newborn baby at the festival. Documentary remarks by festival organizers revealed that Sebastian was under the influence at the time, hence his spontaneity and casual, unplanned set. Sebastian also returned for Woodstock '94, playing harmonica for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sebastian released his eponymous LP John B. Sebastian in 1970, which featured him accompanied by various L.A. musicians.
Sebastian played harmonica with The Doors on the song Roadhouse Blues under the pseudonym G. Puglese to avoid problems with his contract, which was featured on Morrison Hotel album, also played on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album Alive, She Cried and on seven songs on Live In Detroit. He is also credited with playing harmonica on Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Déjà Vu" from the album of the same name.
He had been involved in music for films (most notably Francis Ford Coppola's "You're A Big Boy Now" and Woody Allen's "What's Up Tiger Lily") and Broadway, but when producers of a TV show called "Welcome Back Kotter" commissioned a theme song in 1976, Sebastian's "Welcome Back" became a chart-topping solo record.
Thankfully John's induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 hasn't slowed him down. Whether the stage is at Carnegie Hall or a folk festival in some far-flung locale, John is still out there spreading his gospel of American roots music. He is the subject of the current PBS special "Do You Believe In Magic: The Music of John Sebastian," and a new album of duets with David Grisman was released in 2007. He has also lent his music in support of social, environmental and animal rights causes. Recently he joined a delegation of songwriters (including Lamont Dozier, Allen and Marilyn Bergman, and Mike Stoller) in Washington, DC to campaign on behalf of the National Music Publisher's Association.
Perhaps because it has been the product of heart and soul and history, the oldest song in the Sebastian catalog is as fresh and vital as the song he's about to write tomorrow. That's why you still hear his music everywhere - in movies, on television, in cover versions and samples - and why it's always welcome. John is also a welcome media presence; his commentary, insights and anecdotes and stories are regularly featured in print, radio, TV and film documentary projects. John Sebastian is not only a master musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
Rainbows All Over Your Blues
John Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You´ve been lookin´all down in the mouth
and down at your shoes
Well, baby, I came to give you the news
I´ll paint rainbows all over your blues
I heard you been spending
a lot of your time up in your room
the dark side of the moon
You don´t talk to nonody
if they don´t talk to you
So Buddy and me came here
to sing you a tune
"I give up" is all you´ve really got to say
It´s time to find a new life style
Cause this really ain´t the way
Let´s go for a bounce
on my trampoline
I can show you the prettiest mountains
that you´ve ever seen
You better run to your closet
and fish out your blue suede shoes
I´ll paint rainbows all over your blues
John Sebastian's song Rainbows All Over Your Blues is a comforting ballad directed towards someone who appears to be quite unhappy. The singer depicts themself as an empathetic friend who has noticed the other individual's struggles and wants to intervene by painting "rainbows" over their "blues." The lyrics start out by describing how the singer has been waiting to speak to the other person, who has appeared incredibly down: "I been waiting my time just to talk to you / You´ve been lookin´all down in the mouth and down at your shoes." The obvious sadness the person wears on their face is alluded to with these lines, and the tone of the song is immediately established.
The lyrics continue with the singer expressing their willingness to help the person feel better by saying, "I´ll paint rainbows all over your blues." This line is just one expression of the reassurance and optimism the singer uses throughout the song. The chorus of the song is especially uplifting, with the singer saying that they and their friend are going to show the person a better way of life: "Let´s go for a bounce on my trampoline /I can show you the prettiest mountains that you´ve ever seen." By doing so, the singer aims to persuade the person to come out of their shell and start interacting with the world again.
Overall, Rainbows All Over Your Blues is an inspirational song from John Sebastian that encourages a hopeful outlook on life, even when it appears as though all hope is lost. Its message is one of compassion and support, which serves as an excellent reminder that we need one another when times are tough.
Line by Line Meaning
I been waiting my time just to talk to you
I have been patiently waiting for the right opportunity to have a conversation with you
You´ve been lookin´all down in the mouth and down at your shoes
You appear to be sad and dejected, with your head down and eyes focused on the ground
Well, baby, I came to give you the news
I have some information or announcement that I want to share with you, possibly to cheer you up
I´ll paint rainbows all over your blues
I want to provide you with joy and happiness to replace any sadness or negativity you might be feeling
I heard you been spending a lot of your time up in your room
I am aware that you have been isolating yourself and staying indoors frequently
And at night you been watchin´ the dark side of the moon
You seem to be engaging in introspective or contemplative activities, such as listening to Pink Floyd's album 'Dark Side of the Moon'
You don´t talk to nonody if they don´t talk to you
You seem to be uninterested or unwilling to interact with others unless they initiate a conversation with you
So Buddy and me came here to sing you a tune
My friend and I have come to your location to perform a musical piece for you
"I give up" is all you´ve really got to say
Your current attitude is one of hopelessness and resignation
It´s time to find a new life style
You need to consider making changes to your daily routine or habits to improve your well-being
Cause this really ain´t the way
The path you are currently on is not leading to happiness or fulfillment
Let´s go for a bounce on my trampoline
I want to engage in a fun activity with you, like jumping on my trampoline, to elevate your mood
I can show you the prettiest mountains that you´ve ever seen
I have a desire to share with you the beauty of nature and take you on a memorable adventure
You better run to your closet and fish out your blue suede shoes
I encourage you to find your old blue suede shoes and dress up, signaling that it's time to leave sadness behind and embrace happiness
I´ll paint rainbows all over your blues
Once again, I want to bring joy and positivity into your life, washing away all of your sadness and negativity
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.