45 Songs About Colors, from Purple Rain to Yellow Submarine

What are the most famous songs about colors?

"Purple Rain" by Prince, "Yellow" by Coldplay, "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones and "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper are some of the most famous songs about colors. For kids, "Yellow Submarine" and "Sing a Rainbow" are favorites.

Red songs

1. "Red Red Wine", UB40: the reggae version of a Neil Diamond song.
2. "Lady in Red", Chris de Burgh: the 80s slow dance.
3. "Red", Taylor Swift: love in vivid colors.
4. "99 Red Balloons", Nena: the English version of "99 Luftballons".
5. "Little Red Corvette", Prince: his 80s breakthrough.

Orange and yellow songs

6. "Orange Colored Sky", Nat King Cole: a swinging standard.
7. "Orange Crush", R.E.M.: an alternative rock hit.
8. "Yellow", Coldplay: their breakthrough love song.
9. "Yellow Submarine", The Beatles: the singalong for every age.
10. "Mellow Yellow", Donovan: 60s psychedelic pop.
11. "Big Yellow Taxi", Joni Mitchell: a warning about losing what we have.
12. "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", Tony Orlando and Dawn: a homecoming classic.
13. "The Yellow Rose of Texas": the old folk song.

Green songs

14. "Green Onions", Booker T. & the M.G.'s: the organ instrumental.
15. "Green, Green Grass of Home", Tom Jones: a homesick ballad.
16. "Bein' Green", Kermit the Frog: a gentle song about being yourself.
17. "Green Eyes", Coldplay: a quiet acoustic love song.

Blue songs

18. "Blue (Da Ba Dee)", Eiffel 65: the 1999 dance hit.
19. "Blue Suede Shoes", Carl Perkins: the rockabilly classic Elvis also made famous.
20. "Blue Velvet", Bobby Vinton: the dreamy 1963 hit.
21. "Blue Bayou", Roy Orbison: later a hit for Linda Ronstadt.
22. "Blue Moon", The Marcels: the doo-wop version of the standard.
23. "Mood Indigo", Duke Ellington: the jazz classic.
24. "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue", Crystal Gayle: the country-pop classic.

Purple and pink songs

25. "Purple Rain", Prince: the epic ballad.
26. "Purple Haze", Jimi Hendrix: the psychedelic riff.
27. "Pink", Aerosmith: a playful 90s rock hit.
28. "Pink Cadillac", Natalie Cole: her hit version of a Bruce Springsteen song.
29. "Pink Pony Club", Chappell Roan: a modern pop anthem.

Black, white and gray songs

30. "Paint It Black", The Rolling Stones: the sitar-driven classic.
31. "Back in Black", AC/DC: the hard rock anthem.
32. "Black Magic Woman", Santana: Latin rock.
33. "White Rabbit", Jefferson Airplane: a 60s psychedelic classic.
34. "A Whiter Shade of Pale", Procol Harum: the organ-led 60s ballad.
35. "White Christmas", Bing Crosby: the best-selling single of all time.
36. "Ebony and Ivory", Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder: harmony between keys.

Gold and silver songs

37. "Gold", Spandau Ballet: the 80s anthem.
38. "Golden", Harry Styles: bright and warm.
39. "Silver Springs", Fleetwood Mac: Stevie Nicks' haunting song.

Rainbow songs and songs about every color

40. "True Colors", Cyndi Lauper: a song of acceptance.
41. "Kodachrome", Paul Simon: memories in bright colors.
42. "She's a Rainbow", The Rolling Stones: a baroque pop gem.
43. "Colors", Black Pumas: a soulful modern song.
44. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Judy Garland: the Wizard of Oz classic.
45. "Sing a Rainbow", Peggy Lee: the song that teaches the colors.

What colors mean in songs

• Blue: sadness and longing, from the blues to "Blue Bayou".
• Red: passion, love and sometimes danger.
• Yellow: joy, warmth and hope.
• Green: home, nature and sometimes envy.
• Black: grief, rebellion or mystery.
• Purple: mystery and royalty, especially in Prince's world.

Color songs for kids and classrooms

For young children, "Sing a Rainbow", "Yellow Submarine", "Bein' Green" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" make color lessons fun. Teachers often pair one song with each color of the week, and the "colors" theme works well for a preschool music circle.

A color playlist challenge

A fun game for a road trip or a party: each person picks a color and has to name a song with it in the title, then the group votes on the best one. Blue and red are easy; orange, pink and silver are where the real music fans shine. Keep this list handy as the answer key.

Songs about colors for a wedding

Many couples choose a color song that matches their palette: "Lady in Red" or "Red" for a red-and-gold wedding, "Yellow" by Coldplay for a sunny one and "Blue Velvet" for a vintage navy theme. "True Colors" makes a sweet song for the couple's slideshow.

Color-themed party playlists

Hosting a color-themed party, a gender reveal or a "white party"? Build the playlist around the theme: blue and pink songs for a gender reveal, gold songs for a 50th birthday or anniversary and "White Christmas" and "White Rabbit" for a white-themed night. For more, see our gender reveal songs.

More songs about the world around us

For more themed lists, see our songs about flowers, songs about the moon, songs about sunshine and songs about brown eyes.

A song as colorful as they are

A personalized song can be about anything that makes someone who they are: their favorite color, their favorite places and the people they love. It makes a bright birthday gift for a child, or a fun surprise for anyone who lights up a room.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: pop, rock, country and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three things they love, from their favorite color to their favorite memories.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give someone a song as colorful as they are: create a song and hear four previews for free.