son . ▁The ▁song ▁was ▁written ▁by ▁Al ▁J ol son , ▁Billy ▁Rose ▁and ▁Dave ▁Dre yer . ▁ ▁According ▁to ▁John ▁A . ▁L om ax ▁in ▁his ▁" American ▁Ball ads ▁and ▁Fol k ▁Songs " ▁published ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 , ▁from ▁the ▁song ▁" Go in ' ▁Home ". ▁The ▁line ▁" G ot ▁a ▁rain bow ▁tied ▁all ▁' round ▁my ▁shoulder " ▁refers ▁to ▁the ▁" R ain bow " ▁as ▁" the ▁arc ▁of ▁a ▁swing ing ▁pick , ▁probably ▁going ▁so ▁fast ▁it ▁becomes ▁red ▁hot ." ▁This ▁song ▁is ▁in ▁the ▁section ▁entitled ▁" S ongs ▁from ▁Southern ▁Ch ain ▁G angs ". ▁ ▁Other ▁notable ▁record ings ▁McK in ney ' s ▁Cot ton ▁Pick ers ▁– ▁recorded ▁November ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 9 2 8 ▁for ▁Victor ▁Records ▁( catalog ▁No . ▁V - 3 8 0 1 3 - B ). ▁Al ▁J ol son ▁recorded ▁the ▁song ▁again ▁on ▁November ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁for ▁De cca ▁Records ▁( catalog ▁No . ▁ 2 4 4 0 0 ). ▁Donald ▁Pe ers ▁with ▁two ▁pian os ▁recorded ▁it ▁at ▁Royal ▁Albert ▁Hall , ▁London ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 3 , ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁along ▁with ▁" Blue ▁Sk ies " ▁and ▁" If ▁You ▁W ere ▁the ▁Only ▁Girl ▁( in ▁the ▁World ) ". ▁The ▁med ley ▁was ▁released ▁by ▁E MI ▁on ▁the ▁His ▁Master '