Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/The Place Where the Rainbow Ends

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Layout 2

THE PLACE WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS

THERE'S a fabulous story
 Full of splendor and glory,
 That Arabian legends transcends;
Of the wealth without measure,
The coffers of treasure,
 At the place where the rainbow ends.

Oh, many have sought it,
And all would have bought it,
 With the blood we so recklessly
  spend;
But none has uncovered,
The gold, nor discovered
 The spot at the rainbow's end.

They have sought it in battle,
And e'en where the rattle
 Of dice with man's blasphemy
  blends;
But howe'er persuasive,
It still proves evasive,
 This place where the rainbow ends.

I own for my pleasure,
I yearn not for treasure,
 Though gold has a power it lends;
And I have a notion,
To find without motion,
 The place where the rainbow ends.

The pot may hold pottage,
The place be a cottage,
 That a humble contentment defends,
Only joy fills its coffer,
But spite of the scoffer,
 There's the place where the rainbow
  ends.

Where care shall be quiet,
And love shall run riot,
 And I shall find wealth in my
  friends;

Then truce to the story,
Of riches and glory;
 There's the place where the rainbow
  ends