"One More Colour" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Jane Siberry, released as the first single from her third studio album The Speckless Sky in 1985.
Background and Release
The song was written by Jane Siberry and produced by John Naslen, Jane Siberry, and John Switzer. It was released on the Duke Street Records label in Canada and on Open Air Records in the United States. The B-side of the single is "The Empty City."
Genre and Style
"One More Colour" is classified as art pop and synthpop. The track features keyboards, Fairlight CMI synthesizer, guitar synthesizer, and layered vocal arrangements, characteristic of Siberry's eclectic and atmospheric style.
Chart Performance
The single reached a peak position of 27 on the RPM Canada Top Singles chart in 1985.
Personnel
- Jane Siberry – vocals, guitar, keyboards, production
- Anne Bourne – keyboards
- Al Cross – drums
- Ken Myhr – guitar, guitar synthesizer
- John Switzer – bass, production
- Rob Yale – Fairlight CMI, keyboards
- John Naslen – production, engineering
Notable Appearances and Covers
- Composer Mychael Danna rearranged the song for the 1997 film The Sweet Hereafter, where it was performed by actress Sarah Polley.
- The song was covered by Canadian rock band Rheostatics on their 1994 album Introducing Happiness.
Lyrics and Meaning
The lyrics of "One More Colour" are abstract and meditative, opening with the question "Is it lasting?" and employing surreal imagery such as a "dotted line," a "dotted hillside," and a "blast of dots." The recurring refrain — "Here, all we have here is sky / All the sky is is blue / All that blue is is one more colour now" — suggests a contemplation of perception, the nature of experience, and the way ordinary things can take on new significance. The song also includes verses about everyday life (apples by the back door, autumn leaves, a singing vendor) and a concluding section urging gentleness and patience: "Speak a little softer and work a little harder / Shoot less with more care / And sing a little sweeter and love a little longer."
