One day when he was 15 years old, Israel was sitting at a picnic table on Makaha Beach playing his ukulele when Jerry Koko stopped by to talk story. Jerry invited Israel over to his house to kanikapila (play music). He then met Moon Kauakahi and Jerry's brother, John Koko. Israel told the boys about his brother, Skippy, and how he could play guitar. After playing togther for awhile, the boys decided to start a group and the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau were born. First consisting of Israel, Skippy, Moon, Mel Amina (Israel's cousin) and Sam Grey, their first big break was being on the Jerry Lewis telethon.
49. Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World
Israel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
Clouds high over the rainbow, makes all your dreams come true, ooh
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top
That's where you'll find me, oh
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I? I
I see trees of green and red roses too
I'll watch then bloom just for me and you
And I think to myself
Oh, what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue, clouds of white
The brightness of day, the dark, say goodnight
And I think to myself
Oh, what a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shakin' hands saying, "How's it? How you?"
They're really saying, "I love you"
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than we'll know
And I think to myself
Oh, what a wonderful world
I think to myself, yes
What a wonderful world
I think to myself, yeah
What a wonderful world
Ah-ooh
Oh, what a wonderful world it is
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh, na, na, mama
Yeah, yeah, aloha
Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole's song "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" is a beautiful and uplifting tribute to the beauty of the world and the resilience of the human spirit. The song opens with the image of a magical, far-off land that the singer has heard of in a lullaby, a place where the skies are always blue and dreams come true. The second verse adds to this image by describing the desire to escape the troubles of the world, to wake up where the clouds are far behind and troubles melt like lemon drops, high above the chimney top. The refrain of "over the rainbow" serves as a metaphor for this place of escape, of freedom and happiness that is just out of reach.
The third verse shifts focus to the beauty of the world that is already around us, from the trees and red roses to the colors of the rainbow in the sky. The singer observes that the same colors are also on the faces of the people passing by, reinforcing the idea that the beauty of the world is reflected in its people. The final verse brings the song full circle, returning to the theme of the resilience of the human spirit, as the singer watches babies cry and grow, knowing that they will learn much more than we can even imagine. The song ends with a triumphant affirmation of the wonderfulness of the world, with the singer repeating the phrase "what a wonderful world" like a mantra.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There exists a place beyond the horizon, high up in the skies
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby
I have heard of a wonderful land from a song that made me sleep
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue
The skies are blue in the magical land beyond the horizon
Clouds high over the rainbow, makes all your dreams come true, ooh
The clouds hovering above the rainbow transform all of one's dreams into a reality
Someday I'll wish upon a star
One day I will make a wish upon one of the stars in the sky
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Awaken in a place where cloudy days are no more
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
A place where sticky problems dissolve with ease
High above the chimney top
Elevated far beyond the limits of ordinary living
That's where you'll find me, oh
There I can always be found
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Beyond the horizon, blue birds majestically glide through the skies
Birds fly over the rainbow
Birds happily soar in the skies above the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I? I
Why am I unable to experience the freedom of flight?
I see trees of green and red roses too
Trees with green leaves and red rose flowers come into my view
I'll watch then bloom just for me and you
I observe the trees and roses flower for both you and me to appreciate
And I think to myself, Oh, what a wonderful world
I ponder on this beautiful world and cherish each moment
I see skies of blue, clouds of white
Blue skies decorated with white clouds come into view
The brightness of day, the dark, say goodnight
The light during the day and its opposite, darkness, say goodbye
And I think to myself, Oh, what a wonderful world
I pause to contemplate this fantastic creation and give thanks
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
The rainbow colors shining delightfully up in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
Difficulties may be on the faces of those passing by
I see friends shakin' hands, saying, "How's it? How you?"
I see friends greeting one another warmly and asking how they are.
They're really saying, "I love you"
Their genuine greetings effectively express their love for each other
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
I hear young children cry and then witness them growing up
They'll learn much more than we'll know
They will learn much more than we have knowledge of
And I think to myself, Oh, what a wonderful world
I contemplate the wonderful things the future holds and smile
I think to myself, yes
I ponder deeply and give hearty assent
What a wonderful world
What an amazing world we live in
I think to myself, yeah
I think deeply and say yes
What a wonderful world
What an extraordinary world we are a part of
Oh, what a wonderful world it is
Oh, the magical and awe-inspiring world that we live in!
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Wonderful; Absolutely amazing
Oh, na, na, mama
Oh, sweet mother
Yeah, yeah, aloha
Warmly wishing Hello and plenty of love
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christianitas
En algún lado, sobre el arco iris,
Bien alto,
Hay una tierra de la que escuché
Una vez en una canción de cuna.
En algún lado, sobre el arco iris,
Los cielos son azules,
Y los sueños que te atreviste a soñar
Realmente se hacen realidad.
Algún día desearé sobre una estrella
Y despertaré donde las nubes
Están muy detrás de mí,
Donde los problemas se derriten
Como caramelos de limón,
Más arriba de las chimeneas,
Allí es donde me encontrarás.
En algún lado, sobre el arco iris,
Los pájaros azules vuelan,
Los pájaros vuelas sobre el arco iris,
¿Por qué entonces, oh, por qué no puedo yo?
Si los felices pequeños pájaros azules vuelan
Más allá del arco iris,
¿Por qué, oh, por qué no puedo yo?
William Bulla
It would be great if human beings
Were great at being human
And if all of mankind
Were made up of kind men
It would be wonderful if common knowledge
Was knowledge commonly known
And if the light from being enlightened
Into every heart was shown
It would be fantastic if the war to end all wars
Was the last war that we fought
It would be amazing if we learned the lessons
From every lesson we were taught
It would be cool if our freedom
To us was freely granted
And if every seed of kindness
Would grow wherever planted
It would be glorious if neighbors were neighborly
And prejudice a forgotten word
It would be awesome if we shared everything
And being greedy was absurd
It would be spectacular if the golden rule
Was golden to every man
And the good things that we ever did
Was everything that we can.
Human Beings Being Human
Poems, Lyrics and Stuff by an Average Joe
Posted on November 17, 2014
Dasani Dezno
I dedicate this song to my son, this was one of his favorite songs. He had to listen to it over and over until he fell asleep. His passing was unexpected. I miss you so much.and this song will forever remind me of you..now you have your wings and can fly over the rainbow baby. <3
Jakra Srinaganand
I love it and then l let my nany watch it with me
Malcolm Platt
:(
Mr JP
Dasani Dezno nice song to be remembered by, your son is smiling!
Toros K
Im so sorry your son is watching U now
Estanis Ulguin
I am abaut to cry! I feel you
Anka Wi
Thanks so much for this version. I chose it for the funeral of my mother. 18 months later I'm listening for the first time again...still crying my eyes out...but it makes my heart feel so damn good.
Thanks so much...and thank you mom for 34 years of love ❤
Wes
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Pam E
I love this rendition. Especially now in these troubling times. I want that wonderful world back.
inorgagroni
It's still here... this song just sheds some light into that place 🙏