I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Written：Joseph Mccarthy/Harry Carroll
At the end of the rainbow there's happiness,
And to find it often I've tried,
But my life is a race, just a wild goose chase,
And my dreams have all been denied.
Why have I always been a failure?
What can the reason be?
I wonder if the world's to blame,
I wonder if it could be me.
Chorus:
I'm always chasing rainbows,
Watching clouds drifting by,
My schemes are just like all my dreams,
Ending in the sky.
Some fellows look and find the sunshine,
I always look and find the rain.
Some fellows make a winning sometime,
But I never even make a gain, believe me,
I'm always chasing rainbows,
Waiting to find a little bluebird in vain
The poet Wordsworth wrote, "My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky," and doesn't everyone love a rainbow? Recently, when I was with my grandchildren, there was a spectacular double rainbow, which almost became a triple. They marvelled at it, just as Wordsworth had done as a child.
I reminded the children about the pot of gold at the rainbow's end. It's a myth of course, but with a sensible warning, as in the song lyrics (above) that greedily chasing after something that doesn't exist can be a waste of time and result in disaster.
The song has a melody adapted from Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin. It has been recorded by many artists, but was made famous by Judy Garland in the 1941 film "Ziegfeld Girl". There's a poignancy to her later recording, as I believe she may never have found her 'little bluebird.'
Writing prompts:
- Write about rainbows.
- Do you ever feel that your life is "a race, just a wild goose chase." Set a timer for six minutes and write about how that feels.
- Do you still marvel at nature's wonders as children do? Think of an example and write about it.
- Why is it that some people look and find the sunshine, while others find the rain? Are you a glass half full or empty type of person? If the latter, make a list of things you could do to change that.
A race, just a wild goose chase …..
ReplyDeleteHe pottered around the house, comfortable in his solitude, but feeling a little lonely occasionally.
As he sat down with his mid-morning cup of tea, he took a little time to look back over his life and
consider things he might have done better.
There was no doubt that, as a young man, eager for promotion and “getting on up that corporate
ladder” he sacrificed part of his family life. Those late nights at the office when he could have been
helping put the children to bed. Those bedtime stories he never read. Recently, his granddaughter
said to him “grandad – did you read this story to Mummy?” And he had to admit that he didn’t.
The weekends where, instead of taking his boy to football, he just “had to nip in to work to get those
figures …..”.
He smiles, sadly. Yes – he had a very nice house, he was able to take the family away for a good
holiday in the summer, but, ultimately, was it all really worth it? After 40 years of slog, including the
inevitable divorce when his passion for work outweighed that for his wife of 25 years, all he received
was an email from the head of H.R. saying “wishing you a happy retirement”. That’s how much he
was valued.
He was always chasing that mythical pot of gold at the end of the corporate rainbow and, of course,
was never going to find it. Oh, he has a million memories. He saw places of wonder, met interesting
people, but neglected many who loved him and now counts himself lucky that his children are still
close – as it would have been all to easy to have lost them by the way too.
A wild goose chase for promotion and riches …… far better to have a happy family and be there to
watch the children growing up.
He thinks of something he read a few weeks ago – “you can always recover assets and money. You
can never recover time”. “So true” he thinks, switching on the radio and letting his music transport
him back to happier times in his life.
by Dave