Over the Rainbow
Garland Judy Lyrics
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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.
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?
The song "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland is a wistful, hopeful ballad about the possibility of finding a place where all sorrows and worries are washed away. The song opens with Garland singing about a land "somewhere over the rainbow, way up high" which she has heard of in a lullaby. She describes the skies as blue and the dreams that one dares to dream as coming true in this magical place. It is a dream of hope that one day, she will be able to go to this place where everything is perfect and free from worries.
The second verse of the song starts with the lines "Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me." This line is a reference to the classic image of one making a wish upon a star. The star is a symbol of hope, and Judy Garland uses this symbol poetically. She dreams of going to a place where the troubles of the world can't follow her. It's a place where everything is rainbow-colored, where troubles melt like lemon drops, and where one can find happiness high above the chimney tops. The song's final message emphasizes the importance of hope, showing that even when life can feel unfair or impossibly difficult, there is always a reason to keep hoping that things will someday get better.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a place beyond our reach, beyond the ordinary world.
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
It's a place that seems like a dream, a place that cannot be easily reached or touched.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
Beyond this world, the sky is always clear, the weather is always pleasant.
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Dreaming big is possible in this magical place, and those dreams actually come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Looking up to the heavens and making wishes is the main way to reach this magical place.
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
In this magical place, there is no room for worries or problems that one has in daily life.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
This place is full of joy, where every problem or bad thing melts away and disappears into the sky.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
In this magical place, blue birds are free to fly wherever they please.
Birds fly over the rainbow
Birds, who are free and happy, fly past the rainbow without fear.
Why then, oh why can't I?
The singer yearns to join the happy, free bluebirds in the magical land beyond the rainbow.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
If these innocent bluebirds can achieve happiness beyond the ordinary world, what is stopping the singer from making the journey to the other side?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind