Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color for Your Eyes

So sometimes I have to go into work on Saturday to try to keep up with my hours. This is always a bummer, because I would much rather spend my Saturday with my family. But today was one of those Saturdays. And I was kind of down when I finally got off the bus at about 5:30 this afternoon. But in the approximately 5 minutes it takes me to drive from the bus stop to home, I was listening to NPR (yes, I actually have NPR as a preset on my radio—you have to know what the other side is thinking) and “A Prairie Home Companion” was on.

There was some skit about James Joyce (off-topic aside: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is absolutely the worst “novel” ever written in the English language) and then their musical guest chimed in. It’s was a folksy group of women, and they sang one of the cutest, most delightful, cheerful, upbeat songs I have ever heard. It was “Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color for Your Eyes,” by Kristin Andreassen. And they’re doing a little pat-a-cake thing the whole time! How awesome is that?

Now, normally, I am a big advocate of letting people have their agency and not telling people what to do and all that good stuff. But YOU MUST CLICK THIS LINK AND DOWNLOAD THIS SONG IMMEDIATELY! Also, watch this YouTube video. It will make you smile

These are the lyrics:

Lyrics:
Crayola Doesn’t Make a Color For Your Eyes
by Kristin Andreasssen & Megan Downes / Yellowcar Music, ASCAP

I went to see the doctor. I’d come down with the blues.
She said “No, I can’t cure you, but I know something you can do.
Take out a piece of paper, and sit down for a while,
and draw a pretty picture of something that makes you smile.”
Well, I know what makes me happy. Didn’t have to think for long.
But when I tried to draw it, it always came out wrong.
I had a box of 12, 48 and 64,
but nowhere could I find that one shade I was looking for.
I guess I realized shoulda come as no surprise
Crayola doesn’t make a color for your eyes.
There is no way that I could possibly describe you.
Crayola doesn’t make a color to draw my love.
At first I thought of Green Blue, but then I saw Blue Green.
And then sometimes in bright light, they look Aquamarine.
I think at night they’re darker. I looked again for you.
Saw Grey and Black and went out walkin’ after Midnight Blue
But the hues of the deepest skies would be a compromise…
Chorus
Spring Green is much too yellow, Sea Green is far too pale.
Cornflower’s way too mellow, so I’ll try again and fail.
There’s no way I can capture the way you make me feel.
One look from you is rapture, whether Blue or Green or Teal.
No color qualifies. That crayon’s telling lies…
Crayola doesn’t make a color…
Hey look, it’s Periwinkle. So sure I got it now.
But you wink and there’s a twinkle in your eye and still, somehow,
I just can’t get that sparkle. Those glitter crayons won’t.
Maybe Glow-In-The-Dark’ll get it right. Aw, no they don’t.
Mr. Crayola tries, but I’m left to fantasize…
Crayola doesn’t make a color…
For your eyes, something darker let’s see what I can find.
Melted mahogany and got the depth not the shine.
Just about gave up and then I peeled the paper off a little end of…
Really thought it coulda been… ahh, not even Burnt Sienna!
Your passport says they’re brown, but I’m gonna keep lookin’ round…