The song features vocals from Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue and was premiered on Beats 1.
colours
The Avalanches Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Wonderful, wonderful colours)
(Oh, colours)
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Over sea, under stone
No one wants to be alone
Everybody's going somewhere
After dark and the bars are slow
Where do all the mermaids go?
Everybody's got there somewhere
Everybody knows it's somewhere
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
The Avalanches's song "Colours" is a buoyant and synthesizer-heavy pop song that speaks to the ups and downs of love. The repeating chorus that says, "After the tears, true love can start / Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart" implies that heartbreak and tears are almost prerequisites to finding true love. The lyrics also speak to a desire to feel a sense of belonging and togetherness, as exemplified by the lines "No one wants to be alone / Everybody's going somewhere."
The second half of the song takes a surreal turn, mentioning the mythical figure of mermaids as a symbol of playfulness, freedom, and unconventional beauty. The unnamed narrator expresses a desire to join them and learn to love them in a "neon way," perhaps hinting at a desire for a different kind of love that is less conventional and more flashy. The song's lyrics offer a hopeful message that true love is possible even after heartbreak and that everyone can find their own special place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
After the tears, true love can start
Love can blossom after a stormy period of sadness
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
Pain is a sign of love and passion
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I'm here to enjoy the good times and have fun
I wanna join you in the urban surf
I want to be a part of the vibrant city life
And learn to love you in a neon way
To love without fear and embrace the bright colors of life
Over sea, under stone
Exploring both the surface and the depths of life
No one wants to be alone
We all seek companionship and love
Everybody's going somewhere
We're all moving forward in life
After dark and the bars are slow
Life still goes on after the party ends
Where do all the mermaids go?
Where do people seeking magical experiences turn to?
Everybody's got there somewhere
Everyone has their own special place in life
Everybody knows it's somewhere
We all know that special place is out there waiting for us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBBIE CHATER, TONY DI BLASI, JONATHAN DONAHUE, ROBERT CHATER, ANTHONY DI BLASI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kadakuotaku2688
Lyrics
[Intro]
(Colours, colours)
(Wonderful, wonderful colours)
(Oh, colours!)
[Repeated Chorus: Reversed Sample]
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
[Interlude: Jonathan Donahue]
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
[Verse: Jonathan Donahue]
Over sea, under stone
No-one wants to be alone
Everybody's going somewhere
After dark and the bars are slow
Where do all the mermaids go?
Everybody's got there somewhere
Everybody knows it's somewhere
[Repeated Chorus: Reversed Sample]
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
@tuf_1041
The lyrics are:
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Over sea, under stone
No one wants to be alone
Everybody's going somewhere
After dark and the bars are slow
Where do all the mermaids go?
Everybody's got there somewhere
Everybody knows it's somewhere
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
@michaelbudnik5409
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Hey mermaids, I'm only here in the sun to play
I wanna join you in the urban surf
And learn to love you in a neon way
Over sea, under stone
No one wants to be alone
Everybody's going somewhere
After dark and the bars are slow
Where do all the mermaids go?
Everybody's got there somewhere
Everybody knows it's somewhere
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must be a heart
After the tears, true love can start
Where there's a heartache, there must
@InternationalBoardsOfPigeons
The backmasked vocals are very hypnotic.
@TheAlphazeta09
It sounds like the universe whispering into your ear :)
@ghoulish6125
These guys and Dilla know how to sample the shit out of a song
@roshiancetcreepy3962
Dont forget breakbot and justice
@seth5394
do NOT forget about justice
@goofygoober4901
this song is so gorgeous it makes me want to cry
@lenn9o9n
I just did.
@TheNeilDarby
Psychedelic music is best music.
@pro0706
to each their own
@cheekymonkey3929
The deathless face of the unborn mind.it matters✌