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.
Over The Rainbow-Wonderful World
Israel Lyrics
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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
@eventconsultant1
This is why dogs never die:
“Some of you, particularly those who think they have recently lost a dog to “death”, don’t really understand this. I’ve had no desire to explain, but I won’t be around forever and must for those out there to finally understand.
Dogs never die. They don’t know how too. They get tired, very old and their bones hurt. Of course they don’t die. If they did they would not want to always go for a walk, even long after their old bones say “No, no not a good idea. Let’s not go for a walk.” Nope, dogs always want to go for a walk. They might get one step before their aging tendons collapse them into a heap on the floor but that’s what dogs do. They walk.
You see, a walk with you is all there is. A walk with their best friend and the symphony of odor that the world is. Cat poop, another dog’s mark, a rotting chicken bone and you. That is what makes their world perfect and in a perfect world death as no place.

Dogs just get very, very sleepy. That is the thing you see. The don’t teach you that at the fancy university where they explain about quarks and economics. They know so much there that they forget that dogs never die. It is a shame really. Dogs have so much to offer and people just talk too much.
When you think your dog has died, it has really just fallen asleep in the world and now lives in your heart. And by the way, it is wagging its tail madly, you see, and that is why your chest hurts so much and you cry all the time. Who would not cry with a happy dog wagging its tail in their chest? Ouch! Wap, wap, wap, wap, wap, that hurts. But they only wag because they are so happy to be so close to you.
Whenever they wake up in your heart they wag their tail. After a few dog years, they sleep for longer periods of time and you will too. They were a GOOD DOG all their life and you both know it. It gets tiring being a good dog all the time, particularly when you get old and your bones hurt and you fall on your face and don’t want to go outside to pee when it is raining but they do because they are a good dog. So understand that after they have been sleeping in your heart, they will sleep longer and longer.
But don’t get fooled. They are not “dead”. There is no such thing, really. They are sleeping in your heart and when they wake up, usually when you are not expecting it. It is just who they are.
I feel sorry for people who don’t have dogs sleeping in their heart. They miss so much. Excuse me, I have to go cry now.”
@goodgolden9978
“1B views”
Now this, does put a smile on my face
@royal_explosion3480
It’s really does 😊
@notaperson8300
😄
@bossbigmoney263
XD I said the same thing thats crazy this song is awesome!!
@mintseerr5062
It's deserved, this man's voice and peaceful nature is something the world needs but doesn't deserve
@eduardoalmeida61
there is hope, there is love
@MrMaurotheawesome
He didn't die...
He just went somewhere... over the rainbow :')
@ellacarmen7331
That's a good thought....
@arthurdalbock6295
This comment made me more positive thanks man
@rockguy9902
I love this man hes so nice