Colors can affect our feelings, influence our memory, and even make our hearts beat faster or slower. We not only see colors, but we also experience them.
Even in the world of music, colors have a strong impact. There are many songs dedicated to different colors, and it can be enjoyable to explore them one by one.
In this playlist, let’s dive into the 20 best songs about colors!
Contents
- 20 Songs About Colors
- 1. “Red” by Taylor Swift
- 2. “Blue” By LeAnn Rimes
- 3. “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
- 4. “Red Red Wine” by UB40
- 5. “Purple Rain” by Prince
- 6. “Pink Guitar” by Reba McEntire
- 7. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam
- 8. “Yellow” by Coldplay
- 9. “Black Velvet” By Alannah Myles
- 10. “Orange Skies” By Love
- 11. “Fields of Gold” by Sting
- 12. “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65
- 13. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
- 14. “Black And Yellow” By Wiz Khalifa
- 15. “Pink Sunglasses” By Miranda Lambert
- 16. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
- 17. “Men In Black” by Will Smith
- 18. “Lady in Red” by Chris DeBurgh
- 19. “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley
- 20. “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan
- Submit Your Song to This Playlist
- Listen on Other Music Streaming Platforms
20 Songs About Colors
1. “Red” by Taylor Swift
“Red” by Taylor Swift is an up-tempo song from her 2012 album of the same name. In this song, Taylor Swift uses colors to describe the emotions in a relationship. She expresses the difficulty of moving on from the intense love she once felt.
Taylor Swift sings, “Like the colors in autumn, so bright, just before they lose it all Losing him was blue, like I’d never known Missing him was dark gray, all alone.” The color “blue” signifies the sadness of losing him, and “dark gray” reflects the loneliness of missing him.
She also uses the color “red” to represent the intense love in the relationship, singing, “But moving on from him is impossible when I still see it all in my head, in burning red.”
2. “Blue” By LeAnn Rimes
“Blue” by LeAnn Rimes is a classic country song from her 1996 album of the same name. It marked the teenage singer’s remarkable entry into the country music scene, achieving significant crossover success when she was only 13 years old.
The song reached #3 on the Billboard charts and showcased Rimes’ extraordinary classic country vocals, which was particularly impressive given her young age.
In the song’s lyrics, Rimes almost yodels the word “Blue,” emphasizing the sorrowful mood of the song. The color blue is used to symbolize feeling down and sad, and that’s precisely the mood conveyed in the song. He sings, “Blue, Oh, so lonesome for you, Why can’t you be blue over me?”
3. “Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones, from their 1966 album “The Aftermath,” is a song that describes seeing a red door and wanting it to be painted black, symbolizing the singer’s desire to eliminate color and brightness from his life.
In the lyrics, the singer observes people around him going about their lives, but he must turn away because his own “darkness” remains. He mentions a line of cars painted black, representing a funeral procession or a symbol of death and loss. He sings, “I see a line of cars, And they’re all painted black.”
The singer contemplates looking inward and realizing that his heart, too, has turned black. He hopes that by painting everything black, he can somehow fade away and avoid confronting the painful reality, singing, “I see my red door, I must have it painted black. Maybe then, I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts.”
4. “Red Red Wine” by UB40
“Red Red Wine” by UB40 is a cover of Neil Diamond’s 1967 single, and it became a hit in 1983 as part of UB40’s album “Labour of Love.”
The song offered a fresh and infectious island sound, combining upbeat music with sorrowful lyrics, as the singer describes, “Red red wine goes to my head, makes me forget that I still need her so.”
In the lyrics, the wine’s effects on the singer’s emotions are evident, with the wine helping him forget the pain of still needing someone who is no longer with him, singing, “Red red wine, it’s up to you, all I can do, I’ve done, memories won’t go.”
The color “red” typically represents a deep and heartfelt love for someone. That’s why the singer uses the word “red” twice to emphasize his emotions.
5. “Purple Rain” by Prince
“Purple Rain” by Prince is a song that’s all about expressing regret and longing. As Prince sings, “I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain,” he conveys his sincere apology for any hurt he may have caused.
In the lyrics, Purple is used to convey a sad feeling in the song, but it’s also associated with strength and royalty, as he sings, “Purple rain, purple rain.”
Towards the end of the song, Prince acknowledges that times are changing and encourages everyone, including the person he’s singing to, to embrace something new. He suggests that they let him guide them to the “purple rain,” symbolizing a fresh start or a better future.
6. “Pink Guitar” by Reba McEntire
“Pink Guitar” by Reba McEntire, released in 2009, tells the story of a young girl with big musical dreams. As the lyrics go, “She saw it in the window, just a callin’ out her name. She mowed the grass, took out the trash and saved, saved, saved.”
The song narrates how she spotted a pink guitar in a store window and worked hard to save money for it, which shows her determination and passion for music. She sings, “She’s got a dream to be a star dressed in black like Johnny Cash, With a pink guitar.”
The pink guitar symbolizes her unique identity and aspirations, emphasizing her individuality and the path she chooses to follow in the world of music.
7. “Black Betty” by Ram Jam
“Black Betty” by Ram Jam is a fast-paced and energetic rock single that was released in 1977 on their self-titled album. The song’s lyrics are exhilarating and make you want to stomp your feet and sing along, with the lines like “Whoa, Black Betty, bam-ba-lam, Black Betty had a child, bam-ba-lam.”
The origins of the song “Black Betty” are somewhat controversial. While some may interpret it as an ode to African-American women due to the line “Black Betty had a child,” the song’s true origins lie in darker history. In the American South, “Black Betty” was a term used to refer to the whip that was used to punish slaves and also the wagon used to transport prisoners.
8. “Yellow” by Coldplay
“Yellow” by Coldplay, released in 2000 on their album “Parachutes,” is a song that celebrates the color yellow in a positive light. The singer expresses love and admiration for someone, seeing the color yellow as a symbol of their happiness and the special moments they share.
In the lyrics, the singer mentions how everything seems to shine for the person he loves, comparing it to the stars. He wrote a song for this person, and it was called “Yellow,” signifying the brightness and warmth of their affection. He sings, “I wrote a song for you, And all the things you do, And it was called Yellow.”
The song is a declaration of deep love and devotion, with the singer acknowledging the beauty in his loved one’s skin and bones. The repetition of “Look how they shine for you” emphasizes the idea that the world seems to light up in yellow colour because of their love.
9. “Black Velvet” By Alannah Myles
The song “Black Velvet” by Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles, released on her self-titled 1989 album, serves as a tribute to the late music legend Elvis Presley. The song’s lyrics describe various stages of Presley’s life and his impact on music history.
In the lyrics, it describes a scene in Mississippi during a dry spell, where Jimmy Rogers’ music is playing on the Victrola, and Presley’s mother is dancing with him as a baby. It paints a picture of a Southern upbringing, with the sun setting “like molasses in the sky.”
In the following lines “Black velvet and that little boy’s smile, Black velvet with that slow southern style,” “Black velvet” refers to Elvis Presley’s iconic jet-black hair and the imagery it created. His hairstyle was a distinctive part of his appearance. It’s also a nod to his Southern heritage and his unique way of captivating audiences.
10. “Orange Skies” By Love
The song “Orange Skies” by the band Love, released in 1966 as part of the album “Da Capo,” uses the color orange to create warm and surreal imagery.
With lyrics like “Orange skies, Carnivals and cotton candy and you,” it describes falling in love during the summertime and associates the color orange with warmth, joy, and vibrancy, reminiscent of carnivals. It doesn’t necessarily refer to the literal color of the sky being orange. Instead, it symbolizes a feeling of happiness.
In the the song, “orange skies” represent a dreamy and romantic scenario where everything feels bright, much like the warm and inviting hues of an orange sunset. It’s a poetic way of expressing love that comes with it. The singer professes his love with lines such as “And I love you, too, You know I do.”
11. “Fields of Gold” by Sting
“Fields of Gold” by Sting, featured on his 1993 album “Ten Summoner’s Tales,” beautifully captures the emotions associated with the color gold. In the song, Sting uses evocative lyrics to express deep feelings of love and nostalgia.
The lyrics depict a timeless love, one that endures like the fields of barley swaying in the west wind. The singer reminisces about a summer when he and his lover walked together in fields of gold, symbolizing the warmth and comfort of their relationship, with lines like, “As we walk in fields of gold.”
Sting acknowledges the promises he’s made and some that he may have broken, but he swears that in the days ahead, they will continue to share their love, stating, “But I swear in the days still left, we’ll walk in fields of gold.”
12. “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65
“Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65, from their 1999 debut album “Europop,” is a dance-pop hit that gained widespread success. Despite its catchy dance beat, the song’s lyrics convey a sense of loneliness and isolation, with lines like, “And everything he sees is just blue, like him inside and outside.”
The song tells the story of a character who lives in a world entirely dominated by the color blue, with lyrics that emphasize his monochromatic existence, such as, “Blue his house with a blue little window.”
Although the song’s lively dance mix may make it seem upbeat, a closer look at the lyrics reveals a deeper theme, with lines like, “Blue are the feelings that live inside me,” reflecting how some people outwardly appear happy while concealing their inner loneliness and sadness, just like the character in the song.
13. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John, released in 1973, is a song that reflects on the singer’s desire to leave behind a glamorous but empty life and return to his roots. As he sings, “So goodbye yellow brick road, where the dogs of society howl.”
In the song, the singer questions when he will be able to escape the artificial world he’s in and get back to reality. He regrets not staying on the farm and heeding his father’s advice. He feels trapped and not truly himself in his current situation.
The reference to the “yellow brick road” is a nod to L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz,” symbolizing the pursuit of a dream or a better life. However, the singer decides to say goodbye to this illusion and the shallow world of the “dogs of society.”
14. “Black And Yellow” By Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa’s 2011 single “Black and Yellow,” featured on his album “Rolling Papers,” pays homage to his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by using the colors black and yellow.
These colors are significant because they are the official colors of Pittsburgh and are associated with the city’s sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates, as well as the city’s flag and seal. As Khalifa raps, “Reppin’ my town, when you see me you know everything, Black and yellow, Black and yellow.”
In the song, Khalifa proudly represents Pittsburgh and its vibrant culture. He mentions his black and yellow-themed car, which he uses as a symbol of his success and local pride, with lyrics like, “Uh, black stripe, yellow paint, Them niggas scared of it, but them hoes ain’t.”
The song’s lyrics celebrate his achievements, from his luxurious car to his diamond jewelry, while emphasizing that he’s repping his town to the fullest.
15. “Pink Sunglasses” By Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert’s song “Pink Sunglasses,” from her album “The Weight of These Wings,” explores the themes of positive perception and self-expression, with lyrics like, “In my pink sunglasses, always makes the world look a little bit better.”
The color pink is used symbolically to represent femininity, happiness, and warmth, and in the song, the pink sunglasses become a metaphorical shield against negativity, making the world appear a little brighter and more positive when worn, with lines such as, “In my pink sunglasses, you can try ’em anytime you need a change of the weather.”
The lyrics playfully describe how the narrator wears her pink sunglasses whenever she reads the newspaper or faces the challenges of daily life, singing, “I put ’em on to keep it positive, don’t mean to tell you how to feel.” These sunglasses seem to work like magic, helping her maintain a positive attitude and see the world in a better light.
16. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
“Black or White” by Michael Jackson, released in 1991 as part of the album Dangerous, carries a message of racial harmony, world peace, and equality.
The song emphasizes that a person’s skin color doesn’t matter, and it encourages acceptance and unity. Jackson sings, “But, if you’re thinkin’ about my baby, It don’t matter if you’re black or white,” highlighting the irrelevance of skin color.
In the lyrics, Jackson sings about his belief in miracles and how it doesn’t matter if someone is black or white. He talks about speaking out for equality and against discrimination.
Jackson expresses his fatigue with division and prejudice and affirms that he won’t be defined by his race, singing, “I’m not going to spend my life being a color.”
17. “Men In Black” by Will Smith
“Men In Black” by Will Smith, released in 1997, became a global phenomenon and served as the theme song for the blockbuster film of the same name.
The song is featured on Smith’s debut solo album, “Big Willie Style,” with lyrics that go, “Woo, here come the Men In Black, It’s the MIB’s, uh, here come the MIB’s, Here come the Men In Black (Men In Black), They won’t let you remember, Nah, nah, nah.”
In the song, Will Smith raps about the mysterious and secretive organization known as the Men In Black (MIB). These individuals are the “good guys” who dress in black suits and black Ray-Bans, and they are responsible for dealing with potential alien sightings and extraterrestrial threats.
18. “Lady in Red” by Chris DeBurgh
“Lady in Red” by Chris DeBurgh, released in 1986 as part of the album Into the Light, is a timeless and romantic ballad. The song is inspired by DeBurgh’s wife, whom he met early in his career when she came to see him perform at a hotel, often wearing red clothing that caught his attention. When he saw her in the iconic red dress, he fell deeply in love.
The lyrics describe how he has never seen her looking so lovely, and how many men are captivated by her beauty and wanting to dance with her, “The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek, There’s nobody here, it’s just you and me.”
The song expresses the intense and complete love he feels for the lady in red, and how he’ll never forget the way she looked that night, with lines like, “I never will forget the way you look tonight…The lady in red, the lady in red, I love you…”
19. “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley
“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley portrays a somber and lonely Yuletide season. The song depicts the singer spending Christmas alone, feeling the absence of a loved one who may have left or is away. Elvis Presley’s melancholic vocals capture the depth of his loneliness during a season traditionally associated with joy.
The lyrics express how the decorations of red on a green Christmas tree won’t bring the same happiness without the presence of the loved one. The mention of “blue snowflakes” and “blue memories” emphasizes the emotional pain and longing.
The song’s slow and mournful melody, accompanied by blues chords, reinforces the overall feeling of sadness, as Presley sings, “And when those blue snowflakes start falling, That’s when those blue memories start calling.”
20. “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan
“Mellow Yellow” by Donovan, released in 1966 on the album Mellow Yellow, is a psychedelic and enigmatic song. At first listen, the lyrics may seem puzzling, filled with groovy phrases.
The song’s meaning has been subject to various interpretations over the years, but Donovan clarified that “Mellow Yellow” is about embracing a laid-back attitude, which he associates with the sunny color yellow.
The lyrics playfully express his affection for saffron, suggesting a reciprocal affection from saffron towards him. The repeated refrain, “They call me mellow yellow,” emphasizes the idea of being relaxed and carefree.
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Serena Whitfield is the founder of PlaylistCurator.org. She’s a musician who writes songs for bands. She studied music at the University of Oxford and graduated with distinction. With her expertise, she knows how to review songs and understand what makes good and bad music. Every playlist on our platform is approved by her before publishing to maintain top-notch quality. If you want her to check out your song and maybe get featured on our playlist, submit your song for Serena to evaluate.