Wallinger recorded the first two World Party albums (Private Revolution and Goodbye Jumbo) practically single-handed. The former reached the US Top 40 and the single ‘Ship Of Fools’ broke into the Top 30 (it was hastily dropped by radio in his native Great Britain because of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster). Goodbye Jumbo took equal amounts of inspiration from the eco movement and the Beatles, and the highly catchy single ‘Message In The Box’ provided Wallinger with his first UK Top 40 hit.
Wallinger’s muse, a relaxed and melancholic take on mid-period Beatles, has not so much been updated as revitalized on his subsequent, sterling work, although a minor breakthrough was made with 1993’s Bang!, which featured Wallinger’s only UK Top 20 hit to date, ‘Is It Like Today’, and reached number 2 on the album charts. On Bang!, Wallinger was joined by Chris Sharrock (drums, ex-Icicle Works) and Dave Catlin-Birch (guitars/keyboards). Some of the reviews for 1997’s Egyptology were unnecessarily cruel (especially the New Musical Express). It was by his standards another good album, which, although still locked into the Beatles’ sound (this time circa 1968), featured some great moments, notably the gentle ‘She’s The One’ and the meatier ‘Curse Of The Mummy’s Tomb’. The former indirectly gave Wallinger a worthy chart-topping single, when Robbie Williams’ cover version reached the top of the UK singles chart in November 1999 (Williams’ songwriting partner Guy Chambers (b. 12 Jan 1963, England) was at one time a member of World Party).
The next World Party album, 2000’s Dumbing Up, retreated from the ambitions of Egyptology, and found Wallinger resorting to his pick ‘n’ mix style of songwriting. He is one of the best magpie songwriters around, and the strong influence of ELO, Bob Dylan (‘Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream’ in the shape of ‘Who Are You?’) and even Rare Bird (shades of ‘Sympathy’ in ‘All The Love That’s Wasted’) could be heard, in addition to strong memories of the Beatles’ ‘Dear Prudence’ and ‘Baby You’re A Rich Man’ in ‘Another 1000 Years’.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin.
When the Rainbow Comes
World Party Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clear the floor
Let's step out through the open door
Leave a not that says goodbye
Build a new house
Down by the sea
Get to the place we were meant to be
Up at the window
Search in the sky
Looking for the rainbow
And don't ask why
I wanna see the rainbow come
Hey!
We'll be leaving on all sides, hmmm!
When the rainbow comes
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la
La la la la
Mr. Postman look and see
If there's a message in your bag for me
Could be a bomb or it could be a letter
It don't matter it can only get better
Mr. Postman look anad see
If there's a message in your bag for me
You know it's been such a long long time
Since I could laugh at this world of mine
Slippin' and slidin' around in your head
It's be-bop-a-lula then baby you're dead
So c'mon make a bright new day
I need a prayer here
Need a blessing
Cast an eye back as you run
Turn around boy!
See the rainbow come
You'll be leaving on all sides
When the rainbow comes
When the rainbow comes
See the world from all sides
When the rainbow comes
When the rainbow comes
Hey!
The lyrics to World Party's song "When The Rainbow Comes" are written in a way that encourages the listener to embark on a journey towards something new and better. The song starts by inviting the listener to pack their bags and step out through the open door, leaving behind anything that is holding them back. The singer suggests that the listener should build a new house down by the sea where they will find the place they were meant to be. The lyrics then lead into a joyous chorus about looking for the rainbow and not asking why, as it is a symbol of hope and happiness. Ultimately, the song is about leaving behind the troubles of the past and moving towards a brighter future full of possibilities.
The lyrics to "When The Rainbow Comes" were written by Karl Wallinger, the founder of World Party. The song was released in 1993 and was part of their album "Bang!". The song was popular in the UK and the US, but it did not chart as well as their other songs. Despite this, the song gained popularity again after it was featured in the 1998 movie "The Big Lebowski".
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon pack your bags
Let us get ready for a new journey.
Clear the floor
Get everything out of the way that may distract you from your path.
Let's step out through the open door
Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you.
Leave a not that says goodbye
Say farewell to where you were and embrace the new chapter of your life.
Build a new house
Create a new home in a place that feels right.
Down by the sea
Find a location near a peaceful, calming body of water.
Get to the place we were meant to be
Arrive at the destination that suits us the best.
You'll know it when you smile
You'll instinctively feel content and pleased when you've arrived at the right place.
Up at the window
Look up towards the sky.
Search in the sky
Keep an eye out for an unusual, but familiar sight.
Looking for the rainbow
Searching for a sign of hope and beauty.
And don't ask why
Don't question the miraculous things that can happen in life.
I wanna see the rainbow come
Hoping and anticipating the arrival of the positive change we need.
We'll be leaving on all sides, hmmm!
Saying goodbye to all the obstacles and struggles we face.
Mr. Postman look and see
Checking if there's any news or communications headed our way.
If there's a message in your bag for me
Hoping that a message can bring new opportunities or excitement.
Could be a bomb or it could be a letter
Having faith that whether good or bad things come our way, we can handle it.
It don't matter it can only get better
Staying optimistic about the future no matter what happens.
You know it's been such a long long time
Feeling like it's been a while since the last bit of good news.
Since I could laugh at this world of mine
Yearning for positivity and good news in the present time.
Slippin' and slidin' around in your head
Feeling conflicted and confused about making the right decision.
It's be-bop-a-lula then baby you're dead
Urging yourself to get over unproductive worrying and take action.
So c'mon make a bright new day
Encouraging oneself to make a positive change in their life.
I need a prayer here
Seeking guidance from a higher power to push through hard times.
Need a blessing
Hoping for a special, positive outcome.
Cast an eye back as you run
Reflecting on the progress and accomplishments one has made.
Turn around boy!
Reminding oneself to look for hope and positivity in unexpected places.
See the rainbow come
Welcoming the arrival of good things coming one's way.
See the world from all sides
Perspective on life that helps to see both the good and bad sides of things.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KARL EDMOND DE VERE WALLINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind