Who put the Colours in the Rainbow

This is a song to teach children about creation.  Originally, it was popular in school assemblies in England.   However it has found its way into some churches, and is now also used as a children's action song in the USA and elsewhere.  

It was written by English clergyman JA (Joseph Arthur) Paul Booth (1931–1995).   The first located publication is in the BBC's Come and Praise 1, in 1978.  This simply credits "Paul Booth" for both words and music, although many people have suggested that Douglas Coombes, the music editor for Come and Praise, did the arrangement.

With meter 15 15 15 6, the words have always been set to the same tune, which is called AUDREY-GREEN in one hymn book, and otherwise not named.   It has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of D, the first few notes are D DD DE FD E_ A, with accompanying chords D / G / A7.

Hymn-books which it has been published in include the following - and these are the only known sources of sheet music for the song.

• Church Family Worship, 1988
• The Complete Come and Praise, 1990
• Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal, 1996, Philadelphia 
• The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook of 2004:  this lists the author as J A Paul Booth (1931-1995), and says that he composed the tune, which was arranged by Douglas Coombes - and that copyright to both is now owned by Paul Booth
• Anglican Hymns Old and New, Mayhew Publications.

Downloads

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Examples

Singer with backing - professional recording

Singer with children's choir and backing track

Singer with guitar and flute

Children's choir - action song with guitar

 

Instrumental - piano

Instrumental - organ

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Who put the colours in the rainbow?
Who put the salt into the sea?
Who put the cold in the snowflake?
Who made you and me?
Who put the hump upon the camel?
Who put the neck on the giraffe?
Who put the tail upon the monkey?
Who made hyenas laugh?
Who made whales and snails and quails?
Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
Who made bats and rats and cats?
Who made everything?

Who put the gold into the sunshine?
Who put the sparkle in the stars?
Who put the silver in the moonlight?
Who made Earth and Mars?
Who put the scent into the roses?
Who taught the honey bee to dance?
Who put the tree inside the acorn?
It surely can't be chance!
Who made seas and leaves and trees?
Who made snow and winds that blow?
Who made streams and rivers flow?
God made all of these!

See more ...

• Children's hymns
• Hymns creation

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY Who put the colours in the rainbow?
Who put the salt into the sea?
Who put the cold in the snowflake?
Who made you and me?
Who put the hump upon the camel?
Who put the neck on the giraffe?
Who put the tail upon the monkey?
Who made hyenas laugh?
Who made whales and snails and quails?
Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
Who made bats and rats and cats?
Who made everything?

Who put the gold into the sunshine?
Who put the sparkle in the stars?
Who put the silver in the moonlight?
Who made Earth and Mars?
Who put the scent into the roses?
Who taught the honey bee to dance?
Who put the tree inside the acorn?
It surely can't be chance!
Who made seas and leaves and trees?
Who made snow and winds that blow?
Who made streams and rivers flow?
God made all of these!