“Here Comes That Rainbow Again” isn’t just a song; it’s a gentle, heartfelt reminder of the simple kindnesses that color our lives, often in the most unexpected ways. Written by the legendary Kris Kristofferson, this song draws its inspiration from a brief but powerful scene in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Kristofferson takes this moment—a humble yet profound act of compassion—and turns it into a melody that captures the warmth and hope of humanity’s softer side.
The story unfolds with two hungry children wandering into a café during the Great Depression. Without a word, a waitress, understanding their plight, chooses kindness over profit, giving the kids a treat they can’t afford. Kristofferson, ever the storyteller, frames this act of generosity as a rainbow—a fleeting yet beautiful sight that brightens even the bleakest of landscapes.
The song is deceptively simple, with a gentle melody and sparse lyrics that carry a weight far beyond their brevity. Every line feels like a little window into a world where hope and humanity aren’t grand gestures but tiny acts of kindness that leave ripples. This song invites you to slow down, to see the small miracles of compassion all around us, even in the hardest times.
In many ways, “Here Comes That Rainbow Again” feels like a quiet hymn for anyone who’s ever found themselves down and out, for anyone who’s leaned on the kindness of strangers, or for those who simply believe in the goodness of the human spirit. It’s a melody that lingers in your heart, reminding you that sometimes, when you least expect it, life can bring a bit of brightness—a rainbow—even on the stormiest of days
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Lyrics
The scene was a small roadside café
The waitress was sweepin’ the floor
Two truck drivers drinkin’ their coffee
And two okie kids by the door
“How much are them candies?” They asked her
“How much have you got?” She replied
“We’ve only a penny between us”
“Them’s two for a penny, ” she lied
And the daylight grew heavy with thunder
With the smell of the rain on the wind
Ain’t it just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow again
One truck driver called to the waitress
After the kids went outside
“Them candies ain’t two for a penny”
“So what’s it to you?” She replied
In silence they finished their coffee
Then got up and nodded goodbye
She called, “Hey, you left too much money”
“So what’s it to you?” They replied
And the daylight was heavy with thunder
With the smell of the rain on the wind
Ain’t it just like a human?
Here comes that rainbow again