Wish Me A Rainbow
1966


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Highlights
  • Written for the 1966 Paramount Pictures film This Property is Condemned, directed by Sidney Pollack, screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola, starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford and Charles Bronson.
  • In depression-era America, a railroad official comes to Dodson Mississippi to shut down much of the railway, the town’s main income. He unexpectedly falls in love with the town flirt. They try to escape her mother’s control and the town’s thirst for revenge.
  • Adapted from the 1946 one-act play of the same name by Tennessee Williams.
  • Natalie Wood allegedly attempted suicide during the filming of the movie.
  • Tennessee Williams was so dismayed by the film, that he threatened to have this name taken off the credits.
  • A collaboration between Jay Livingston and Ray Evans who wrote the lyrics and Henry Mancini who wrote the music.

WORDS BY RAY EVANS & JAY LIVINGSTON, MUSIC BY HENRY MANCINI
COPYRIGHT 1966


Recording History
Mary Badham
Mary Lou Collins
Michael Feinstein and Jay Livingston, Livingston & Evans Songbook, Concord Records, FCD-3101-2, 2002
Astrud Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto's Finest Hour
The Gunter Kallman Chorus and Orchestra
David Lawton
Hugh X. Lewis, and the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus
Le'onie Norton, PJ Records, #PJ 451A
Patti Page, The Great American Composers, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, Columbia House, 2C2 8651 / C21 8651
Margie Rayburn, Dome Records, #501
Elli Saint-James, Capitol Records, #5698
Billy Vaughn, Sweet Maria, Dot Records, #DLP 25782
Karen Verros, Dot Records, #45 16879
Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra, Hit's of Our Time, Dot Records, #DLP 3790
Natalie Wood, This Property is Condemned, MGM Verve Records, #6-8664
Lyrics
Wish me a rainbow, and wish me a star.
All this you can give me,
Wherever you are;

And dreams for my pillow,
And stars for my eyes,
And a masquerade ball
Where our love wins first prize.

Wish me red roses, and yellow balloons,
And black sequins (carousels) whirling
To gay dancing tunes.

I want all these treasures;
The most you can give.
So, wish me a rainbow
As long as I live!

All my tomorrows
Depend on your love.
So, wish me a rainbow
Above!

All my tomorrows
Depend on your love.
So, wish me a rainbow above!
WISH ME A RAINBOW As sung in the Paramount Picture This Property is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford, Famous Music Corporation, 1966. Words by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, Music by Henry Mancini (Special Picture Release)