Somewhere Over the Rainbow
[THEATRE] Lyrics


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Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?




If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Overall Meaning

The song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the movie The Wizard of Oz, is an iconic ballad that speaks to the longing we all feel to escape from our troubles and find a world where our dreams can come true. The lyrics describe an idyllic place over the rainbow where the skies are blue, troubles melt away like lemon drops, and dreams really do come true. The singer expresses a deep longing to be transported to this place where all the problems of the world disappear and she can live happily ever after.


The imagery of the blue birds flying over the rainbow represents the singer’s longing for freedom and the ability to rise above her current problems. She wonders why she can’t be like those happy little bluebirds and fly away to a magical place where everything is perfect. The song is a powerful expression of the human desire for hope and the longing for a better future. It speaks to the wistful daydreams and fantasies we all have of escaping our humdrum lives and finding something more magical and exciting.


Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
A distant place exists that is high above the earth and beyond the reach of humans.


There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
In a story told to me, there is a faraway place that can only be reached in one's dreams.


Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
In this magical place, the skies are blue and serene.


And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true.
If you have the courage to dream big, those dreams can actually become a reality in this special place.


Someday I'll wish upon a star
At some point in the future, I will make a wish upon a star.


And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
I will awaken in a place where the problems and worries that cloud my mind no longer exist.


Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
In this idyllic location, problems simply dissolve away like melting lemon drops.


High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.
I can be found in a lofty spot, high above the rooftops of the world, in this place of wonder.


Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In this enchanted land, birds of a stunning blue hue soar overhead.


Birds fly over the rainbow
These blue birds fly high above the multicolored arc, adding to the enchanted ambiance of the place.


Why then, oh why can't I?
Despite this utopian setting, why am I unable to experience it in the same way as these birds?


If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
If these birds can inhabit the magical realm beyond the rainbow...


Why, oh why can't I?
...what is preventing me from doing the same?




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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