Somewhere Over the Rainbow
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg/Harold Arlen 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

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a song of hope and optimism, urging listeners to dream big and believe in the impossible. The song paints a picture of a magical place beyond the horizon, where the skies are blue and dreams can come true. The opening lines suggest that this place is only a rumor or a dream, but the second verse provides a plan for reaching it - by wishing on a star and leaving all troubles behind. The song reminds us that even the smallest creatures, like blue birds, are able to fly over the rainbow, and encourages us to aspire to do the same.


The lyrics of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" have been interpreted in many ways over the years, from a message of hope in times of war to a symbol of the LGBT community's fight for equality. But at their core, the words reveal a deep human longing for something better, something beyond what we can see and touch. The song encourages us to believe in the power of our dreams and to never give up on the possibility of a brighter future.


Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There exists a place far above the clouds, beyond what we can see.


There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
In this place that feels almost like a distant memory, anything is possible.


Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
In this place, the sky is not just blue, but a perfect cerulean, a color so vivid it's hard to believe it's real.


And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true.
In this place, the impossible becomes possible. The dreams that you never thought could come true, become reality.


Someday I'll wish upon a star
The only way to reach this place is through the power of belief and wishing. You have to believe that your dreams will come true to achieve them.


And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
This place is not a physical location, but a state of mind. To be here is to be truly happy and at peace.


Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.
In this place, everything negative fades away, leaving only joy and contentment. It's a place that only exists in the imagination, but that doesn't make it any less real.


Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In this dreamlike state, even the birds are happier than they are in reality. They soar freely without a care in the world.


Birds fly over the rainbow
The bird's perspective is one that sees the world in a different way, from high above, and they have the freedom to go wherever they please.


Why then, oh why can't I?
The singer wonders why they can't have the same freedom and happiness as the birds, but they know that they can, if they only believe and keep dreaming.


If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
The image of the bluebird captures a feeling of innocent and carefree joy.


Why, oh why can't I?
The singer wishes with all their heart to achieve the same joy and happiness as the birds beyond the rainbow.


Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
This place is beyond the physical realm and can only be accessed through the mind's eye.


There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
This place is something we all have access to, but it requires us to believe, dream, and tap into our imagination.


Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
Beyond the rainbow, the sky's color is not just a representation of the weather, but of the very essence of happiness.


And the dreams that you dare to dream, Really do come true.
The power of dreaming is ultimately what brings us closer to happiness, and through believing in our dreams, we can make them a reality.


Someday I'll wish upon a star
The hope of this paradise beyond the rainbow is something we all cling to in times of hardship and uncertainty, and the star reminds us of this hope.


And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
We all hold the key to this dreamland within us, but we need to turn the key and let go of any negative thoughts holding us back.


Where troubles melt like lemon drops, High above the chimney tops, That's where you'll find me.
This place exists beyond the reach of daily life, and to find it we need to free ourselves from our mundane problems and allow ourselves to dream.


Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Just the mere thought of this place fills our hearts with hope and joy, and the bluebird is a symbol of our longing for happiness.


Birds fly over the rainbow
This phrase reminds us that the life beyond the rainbow is peaceful, and full of pure happiness, untainted by anything negative.


Why then, oh why can't I?
This is a reminder that if we allow ourselves to believe, we too can experience that pure happiness that exists beyond the rainbow.


If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Even though this place is imaginary, the feeling it represents and the hope it brings are real.


Why, oh why can't I?
This song is a call to never give up on hope and to keep searching within ourselves for that happiness that exists beyond the rainbow.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

The Wind at Your Back

He wrote the most touching lyrics which as he says can give people comfort in times of trouble. To be
able to express heartfelt emotion so beautifully is a great gift.

Zenfyre

I thought I've heard great versions of this song, sang by multiple artist up till now. However, Yip Harburg, the originator of this song, sang this from the core of his being and sang it with so much emotions that it's impossible to replicate. The way he sang this is so genuine that unless you adapt this song to yourself there's no way this song can have the same impact.

skyweimar

I was so lucky to meet this man and sit in on his class at UCLA. What a memory!

IHAPPENTOLIKENEWYORK

Amazing and beautiful. The lyrics just flowed out of this man's heart with such meaning. What a poet! It really makes me realize just how well Judy Garland nailed the meaning of this song that she made her own. Harold Arlen, whose melody is equally as beautiful (true marriage of words and music) tends to deservedly get lots of credit for this song but Yip Harburg deserves equal credit and attention. Thanks for posting this!!!

Sandy G

Thank you so much for sharing this clip and the background story of Yip Harburg...so great to know...I just love the feeling tone in his older voice that comes though in his singing of his own words and heart....

Rob Lindley

Wow wow wow. There is just nothing better than a song-writer singing their own lyrics. I just love this and how he introduced the piece.

Amanj Abubakir

This man wrote a song that bas been played by all the ukulele players in the world.

PERFECT REJECT

Thank you for posting this. It is a celebration of individuality, difference and one's beliefs. This man went where few people ever darn to step. He spoke up and became a voice for the immigrant that struggled with race and class issues. ~nina

bluestate69

+PERFECT REJECT I think its universal, in that it speaks to everyone. Its human. It hits deep into the human experience. At least that's what it means to me, but I am so moved, that I am now crying (after watching the video of Harburg singing), so I might be a overly emotional!

LaEve

Oh god....I've got no words for how beautiful this is. Thank you, Yip Harburg.<3

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