Born in Oakdale, New York on Long Island, Monheit began singing professionally while attending Connetquot High School. At 17, she began studying at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge. At the age of 20, as a senior, she won the first runner-up prize at the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute Vocal Competition. In 1999, she received her Bachelor's degree in music.
Monheit's voice has been compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald, whom she lists as one of her influences. Songs she has recorded range from jazz standards to MGM/RKO musicals of the 1930s-1950s and Brazilian rhythms such as "Começar de novo".
Monheit released her debut album, Never Never Land in October 2000 and it became an instant success. This was followed shortly by her second album, Come Dream With Me (May 2001) and her third, In The Sun (October 2002).
Her fourth album, Live at the Rainbow Room, was released in December 2003. A similarly-titled DVD was released to complement the CD.
Her fifth album, Taking a Chance on Love, was released in September 2004. It debuted at the #1 spot on Billboard's traditional jazz chart and entered Billboard's top 100 pop chart the first week it was released. The album included the song Over the Rainbow, which had been included in her previous release recorded at the Rainbow Room, and also in the soundtrack for the film, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
The Taking a Chance on Love DVD was released in March 2005 and contains performances from the Brecon Jazz Festival in Wales, UK. Monheit released her sixth album, The Season, in October 2005. Her first holiday-themed album, it debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's jazz chart. Monheit told jazzreview.com that it was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald's holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.
The singer recently signed a recording contract with Concord Records. Her most recent album, Surrender, debuted at #1 on Billboard's jazz chart.
Over the Rainbow
Jane Monheit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
When all the clouds are a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble to the ground
When all the clouds darken up the skyway
There's a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place beyond the sun
Just a step behind the rain
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land
That I 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
Behind me where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me, somewhere
Over the rainbow
Bluebirds 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?
"Over the Rainbow" is a song from the movie The Wizard of Oz. The song concerns the dreams of Dorothy Gale after she is swept away from her family's farm in Kansas by a tornado to a magical land where everyone is kind, the world is beautiful, and the troubles of life are absent. Someday I'll wish upon a star/And wake up where the clouds are far behind me is the opening line of the song. The wish for a better life is common in all people, and the song's message is one of hope and redemption. The mental image that the lyrics create takes the singer, and the listener, to a different place where their dreams can come true.
The song conveys that there is always hope and the possibility that life can get better, no matter how hard things are right now. It suggests that one should dream big and believe in magic. Dreams of a better life and a brighter tomorrow are the underlying themes of the song. Somewhere Over the Rainbow serves as an antidote to the harshness and worries of daily life, giving people a glimpse into a more comfortable and content future. It is a sentimental reminder that the impossible can be made possible with a little bit of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday I'll wish upon a star
There will be a day in the future where I will make a wish by gazing at a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
I will then awaken in a place where the clouds are distant, free from all my worries
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
In this place, all my problems will vanish like a lemon drop
Away above the chimney tops
This place will be high above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
It is there I will be located
When all the clouds are a hopeless jumble
When the clouds are all tangled and seem to offer no hope
And the raindrops tumble to the ground
And the raindrops fall to the ground in rapid succession
Heaven opens a magic lane
Heaven will then reveal a magical lane
When all the clouds darken up the skyway
When the skyway becomes darkened with clouds
There's a rainbow highway to be found
There exists a highway made of a rainbow
Leading from your window pane
This highway will start at your window pane
To a place beyond the sun
This highway will lead you to a destination beyond the sun
Just a step behind the rain
Only a tiny distance separating you from the rain will remain
Somewhere over the rainbow
Somewhere up high in the sky
Way up high
Extremely high up in the sky
There's a land
There is a land beyond the rainbow
That I heard of once in a lullaby
This land was whispered to me in a lullaby
Skies are blue
The skies in this place are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
The dreams that you have the courage to dream
Really do come true
Will most definitely come true
Somewhere over the rainbow
Somewhere very high up in the sky
When troubles melt like lemon drops
In this place, all your troubles will liquify and vanish just like lemon drops
Behind me where troubles melt like lemon drops
In this place behind me, where all my troubles dissolve just like lemon drops
Bluebirds fly
In this new world, bluebirds can take flight
Birds fly over the rainbow
Birds are capable of flying up over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
I wonder, then, why I can't join them there
If happy little bluebirds fly
If the little bluebirds can fly happily
Beyond the rainbow
Beyond this vast rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
I wonder to myself why I can't fly with them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Yip Harburg, Harold Arlen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
holywells
Absolutely perfect phrasing and vocal control !!!! I have her albums and enjoy them SO MUCH !!!! After working around the recording and sound industry for over 40 years it is a pleasure hearing this young, and very talented lady, perform !!!!!!!
Jane Sorensen
This is a truly amazing vocal. Thank you!
ScripturientMuse
The movie was on teletoon last night and it kicked ass!It was set in a sort of advanced 1930's and it was just like a comic book
Brian Hall
Wow! This is a different recording than the one on her CD. I want it!
Gray Sea
loves this version very much. :D
Inufan83
Very beautiful song.
A name
You have a very lovely voice.
Edz321
Wow, simply amazing. I had the pleasure of meeting Jane when she performed in her hometown of Oakdale, NY (check my vids). She couldn't be sweeter to my then 7 yr. old daughter. She's even more beautiful in person, too.
Patty De Blasio
è una voce che ti entra dentro.... bellissima....incantevole.... grazie ..
Natasha Nicholls Music
Beautiful song and great singer!! luv Natasha xoxo