Ever sat by a swamp with a banjo? Probably not. But when a green piece of felt does it, something weird happens. You stop seeing a puppet and start seeing yourself. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle.
The kermit the frog rainbow song lyrics—officially titled "The Rainbow Connection"—weren’t just meant to be a catchy tune for kids. They were designed to be an anthem for the rest of us. The ones who are still looking for "it," whatever "it" happens to be.
Why are there so many songs about rainbows?
It’s the question that starts the whole journey. Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher, the geniuses behind the song, actually struggled with this. They felt like they had written themselves into a corner.
Think about it. Rainbows are literally just light hitting water at an angle. They’re "visions" and "only illusions." If you’re a cynical adult, you’d say rainbows have nothing to hide because there’s nothing there. It’s just physics.
But Kermit doesn't buy that.
Jim Henson was very specific about the opening of The Muppet Movie (1979). He wanted Kermit alone. Just a frog, a swamp, and a banjo. He told Williams and Ascher that the song needed to be Kermit’s "I Am" moment. It’s the song that explains why he’d ever leave home to go to Hollywood in the first place.
Interestingly, the songwriters looked at "When You Wish Upon a Star" for inspiration. They wanted that same sense of quiet, cosmic longing.
The lyrics that almost didn't happen
The phrase "the rainbow connection" wasn't some planned poetic masterstroke. Williams and Ascher were stuck on the chorus while sitting at dinner with Williams' wife, Kate Clinton. They were explaining the theme of the song to her—how rainbows connect the heaven and the earth—and then it just clicked.
"The rainbow connection."
It’s a bridge between the physical world and the world of dreams.
"Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on the morning star?"
That's Paul Williams' favorite line. Why? Because it’s about the power of thought. It’s about the fact that somebody, somewhere, decided that wishing on a star was a thing you could do. And because people believed it, it became "real" in its own way.
Why the lyrics feel a little... creepy?
Have you ever really listened to the bridge?
“Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I’ve heard them calling my name.”
If you read that without the pretty music, it sounds like the start of a horror movie. Or a breakdown. But in the context of the song, it’s about that "siren song" of your own potential. It’s that nagging feeling in the back of your head that you’re supposed to be doing something more.
Kermit compares these voices to the ones that "called the young sailors." It’s dangerous. It’s risky. Leaving the swamp is a bad idea for a small frog. But the "sweet sounds" are too much to ignore.
The chart-topping success of a puppet
Believe it or not, this song was a legitimate pop hit. It reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. It stayed in the Top 40 for seven weeks. That’s huge for a movie soundtrack, let alone one sung by a frog.
It even got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. It lost to "It Goes Like It Goes" from Norma Rae, which—let’s be real—hardly anyone remembers today. But "The Rainbow Connection"? It’s everywhere.
- Willie Nelson covered it (and it’s beautiful).
- Sarah McLachlan gave it a haunting spin.
- Gwen Stefani, The Chicks, and even Ed Helms on The Office have tackled it.
In 2020, the Library of Congress even added it to the National Recording Registry. They basically said, "Yeah, this is one of the sounds that defines America." Not bad for a song written at a kitchen table.
The "Morning Star" and other theories
Because the internet loves a rabbit hole, there are some wild theories about the lyrics. Since "Morning Star" is a name sometimes used for Lucifer, some people have tried to argue the song has dark undertones.
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It doesn't.
Paul Williams has been pretty open about his spirituality. He’s a member of the Science of Mind, which is all about the idea that our thoughts create our reality. When Kermit sings about the morning star, he’s talking about the very first light of the day—the moment when hope is at its highest.
What you can learn from a green frog
Basically, the song is about rejecting cynicism.
The first verse acknowledges that rainbows are "only illusions." But by the end, Kermit is "stargazing" and waiting for the "it" he knows is there. He’s not a dreamer in the sense that he’s disconnected from reality. He’s a dreamer because he chooses to believe in the "vision" even when it’s not physically there yet.
It’s about the journey.
In the final scene of the movie, when all the Muppets are together, they sing the song again. This time, it’s not just Kermit alone in the swamp. It’s a community. The "rainbow connection" isn't just a bridge to a dream; it’s the bridge to other people (or Muppets) who share that dream.
How to apply the "Rainbow Connection" philosophy:
- Listen to the "voices" – If you have a persistent idea or dream that keeps calling your name while you’re "half asleep," pay attention to it.
- Start where you are – Kermit started in a swamp with a banjo. He didn't wait for a studio contract to start singing.
- Find your "lovers and dreamers" – The song identifies three groups: the lovers, the dreamers, and me. You need a tribe that believes in the same "illusions" you do.
- Embrace the "weird" phrasing – The lyrics were written to match Kermit’s specific, slightly halting speech pattern. Don't be afraid to be yourself, even if you’re a bit "green."
The next time you hear those banjo strings, don't just hum along. Think about the fact that a song about light refracting through water has managed to stay relevant for nearly 50 years. That’s the real magic.
Actionable Insight: If you’re feeling stuck or cynical, go back and watch the original 1979 opening scene of The Muppet Movie. Notice how the camera starts far away and zooms in on Kermit. It’s a reminder that everyone’s big story starts with a very small, quiet moment of "stargazing." Take ten minutes today to write down one "vision" you’ve been ignoring because it felt like an "illusion."