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Arrangement: Ian J. Watts / Mike Wilbury · Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks
Lyrics
Red,
Orange,
Yellow,
Green,
Blue,
Indigo,
Violet.
I see the moon, the moon sees me,
God bless the moon and God bless me.
Richard of York gave battle in vain,
These are the colours of the rainbow, let's sing them again.
I see the stars, the stars see me,
God bless the stars and God bless me.
Richard of York gave battle in vain,
These are the colours of the rainbow, let's sing them again.
I see the world, the world sees me,
God bless the world and God bless me.
Richard of York gave battle in vain,
These are the colours of the rainbow, let's sing them again.
I know an angel watches over me,
God bless the angels and God bless me.
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
Traditional lyrics — public domain. Arrangement © Singalongasong Band / ClassicRocks.
History & Background
History & Origin
This recording brings together two traditional verse forms: the rainbow mnemonic "Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain" and the traditional prayer verses "I See the Moon".
The rainbow mnemonic is one of the most widely taught memory aids in British schools. The initial letters of "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain" correspond to the seven colours of the spectrum — Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet — in the order they appear in a rainbow. The phrase references Richard, Duke of York, who was killed at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460 during the Wars of the Roses. It has helped generations of children remember the order of the spectrum.
"I See the Moon" is a traditional night prayer of uncertain but considerable age, its structure of seeing and blessing — "I see the moon, the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me" — carrying the reassuring quality of a child's bedtime prayer. The verses progress outward from moon to stars to world to angel, moving from the immediate sky to the whole of creation.
The combination of science mnemonic and prayer makes this an unusual and memorable arrangement.
