Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Judy Garland Lyrics


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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
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?

Overall Meaning

Judy Garland's iconic song "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" from the movie "The Wizard of Oz" is a deeply moving and poignant number that has stood the test of time. The song speaks to the feeling of wanting to escape to a better place, a place where dreams come true and troubles melt away. As the song progresses, Garland's voice soars as she dreams of a place high above, where blue skies and lemon drops take the place of worries and strife.


The opening lines of the song, "somewhere over the rainbow, way up high," paint the picture of a magical and fantastical place that is out of reach for most people. This feeling of otherworldliness is then reinforced with the line, "there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby," implying that this place may only exist in our dreams and imaginations.


The second verse of the song speaks to the idea that dreams can come true, with the line "the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true." It is a hopeful and optimistic message that encourages listeners to hold onto their dreams and aspirations, no matter how impossible they may seem.


Overall, the song is a wistful and hopeful reflection on the human desire for a better life and a brighter future, and Garland's soaring vocals give voice to this universal longing.


Line by Line Meaning

Somewhere over the rainbow
Beyond this world, in a place beyond our current reality


Way up high
In a place that seems distant and hard to reach


There's a land that I heard of
There exists a place that I've heard about


Once in a lullaby
It's a place that was mentioned in a soothing song or story


Skies are blue
The world in that other land is vibrant and full of life


And the dreams that you dare to dream
In that land, even the wildest and most daring dreams can come true


Really do come true
Such dreams are not just a fantasy, but can really be achieved


Someday I'll wish upon a star
I'll cast my hopes high up in the sky, perhaps with help from the universe


And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Ultimately, my desires will take me to a place where my past troubles can't reach me


Where troubles melt like lemon drops
In that other world, all problems dissolve effortlessly and naturally


Away above the chimney tops
Elevated from the mundane, everyday concerns of life


That's where you'll find me
In that place, my true self resides and is waiting for me to join it


Bluebirds fly
Even the birds in that world are imbued with joy and freedom


Birds fly over the rainbow
They soar above the normal limitations and boundaries of life


Why then oh why can't I?
Why can't I experience the same sense of boundless freedom and joy?


If happy little bluebirds fly
If even the smallest and humblest of creatures finds joy in that other world


Beyond the rainbow
In that place beyond our current reality


Why oh why can't I?
Why can't I attain that same level of happiness and contentment?




Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, E HARBURG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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