“Over the Rainbow” is a ballad, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg. They wrote this song for the movie The Wizard of Oz. Actress Judy Garland, sings it in her starring role as Dorothy Gale. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Garland’s signature song. In addition it became one of the most enduring standards of the 20th century.
The RIAA and NEA rank this song number one on their “Songs of the Century” list . The American Film Institute also ranked the song the greatest movie song of all time. The AFI ranks “Over the Rainbow” #1 on “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs“.
It was also used in renditions by Frank Sinatra, by Al Bowlly, by Doris Day on her album Hooray For Hollywood (1958) (Vol.1), by Tony Bennett on his albums Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen (1961) and Here’s to the Ladies (1995), by Ella Fitzgerald, by Sarah Vaughan, and by Norma Waterson, among others.
Over the Rainbow Lyrics
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?
