"Rainbows" is a song written by Dennis Wilson

Dennis Wilson

Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...

 and Carl Wilson

Carl Wilson

Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...

 as well Stephen Kalinich

Stephen Kalinich

Stephen John Kalinich is an American poet.-Early Days:Kalinich drifted from the East Coast to California in the mid-‘60s, transferring from New York’s Harper College to UCLA. Immersing himself in the anti-war movement, he began working the LA scene as a poet and performer, appearing at legendary...

, who provided the majority of the lyrics for the song. It was released as the eleventh track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue

Pacific Ocean Blue

Pacific Ocean Blue is Dennis Wilson's only solo album, released in 1977. After several attempts, starting in 1970, to release his own project, some of which made it to the finished album, Wilson recorded the bulk of Pacific Ocean Blue in the months spanning the fall of 1976 to the following spring...

. The track, as with the rest of the album, was credited as being produced by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson.

The backing track and some of the vocals for the song were recorded in late 1975. According to Dennis, from an interview in 1977, the song "is about being happy and being alive". Dennis provides a raspy yet soulful lead vocal on the song. Dennis Wilson's brother Carl is also featured on backing vocals on the chorus.