International popstar Miley Cyrus‘ Rainbowland is the third track on her Younger Now Album, which was released in 2017. She performed it alongside the legendary 10-time Grammy winner, Dolly Parton, who is also her godmother.
Rainbowland can be interpreted as a song about living harmoniously in a judgment-free world, and it’s delivered by Cyrus and Parton as a southern duet. Speaking with Taste of Country about the song in 2017, Parton described what the song meant to her.
“It’s really about if we could love one another a little better or be a little kinder, be a little sweeter, we could live in rainbow land,” Parton said. “It’s really just about dreaming and hoping that we could all do better. It’s a good song for the times right now.
It begins and ends with Parton leaving Cyrus a voicemail discussing the piece. At the start, the “I Will Always Love You” singer exclaims her excitement to collaborate with Cyrus by singing along with her over a cassette. And at the end, she shares some thoughts on her additions to the score.
Here are the lyrics to Rainbowland:
Hey Miley; It’s me
I’m in Nashville
I’m on my way to Dollywood, busy as you are
Can’t get enough stuff to do, can we? (Laughs)
But anyway, I’m excited about singing with you
So I’m just gonna turn my CD player on with you singing
I’m gonna put this on a cassette, sing along with it
And then I’ll run you off a CD later
Oh, I’m so high-tech
I got a flip phone, too
But anyhow, see what you think
And um, here I go
Come on
Living in a rainbow land
Where everything goes as planned
And I smile
‘Cause I know if we try, we could really make a difference in this world
I won’t give up, I’ll sleep a wink
It’s the only thought I think, you know where I stand
I believe we can start living in a rainbow land
Living in a rainbow land
Where you and I go hand in hand
Oh, I’d be lying if I said this was fine
All the hurt and the hate going on here
We are rainbows, me and you
Every color, every hue
Let’s shine on through
Together, we can start living in a rainbow land
Living in a rainbow land
The skies are blue and things are grand
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise
Where we’re free to be exactly who we are
Let’s all dig down deep inside
Brush the judgment and fear aside
Make wrong things right
And end the fight
‘Cause I promise ain’t nobody gonna win (come on)
Living in a rainbow land
Where you and I go hand in hand
Oh, I’d be lying if I said this was fine
All the hurt and the hate going on here
We are rainbows, me and you
Every color, every hue
Let’s shine on through
Together, we can start living in a rainbow land
Living in a rainbow land
Where you and I go hand in hand together (let’s do it together)
Chase dreams forever
I know there’s gonna be a greener land
We are rainbows, me and you
Every color, every hue
Let’s shine on
Together, we can start living in a rainbow land
Hey Miley
Look, I know it sounds scrambled when I’m singing it with you
Wish I could do a little better
At least, I might not get it all the way through
Because I’m not sure of the structure without you
But I think this could work well, don’t you?
If not, like I said, “I’ll write that love song for you”
You probably wrote it about some boy you loved, didn’t ya?
Well (laughs)