Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
In “Somewhere Over the Rainbow (What a Wonderful World)”, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole delivers an extremely powerful vocal with the most stripped-down arrangement you will ever hear. Israel’s voice is accompanied by just a ukulele. The ukulele is not a sexy instrument—you won’t find it on many rock or pop songs, but here it works perfectly. It allows us to concentrate on Israel’s voice and the message.
Another unique aspect of this song is how Iz combines two songs into one—a medley. I can’t think of another instance of this—especially where it is implemented so seamlessly. I suppose this was one of the first mashups—kind of.
The meaning of the song is about escape and hope. There is a yearning for another place, one where our dreams come true; but there is a sadness in the realization that this place might not exist on earth. Some people might greet the realization that happiness is not around the corner with despair. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” will have none of that.
Performing this song honestly is difficult to pull off. It is hard to believe a performer with such a radical vision of tomorrow. Someone who is hopeful of what is essentially the afterlife. By combining these two songs we get an idea of what Iz viewed his heaven would look like: It would keep the beautiful aspects of nature like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and add the brotherly love aspect of “What a Wonderful World”.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow (What a Wonderful World) Lyrics
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby, oh.
Somewhere over the rainbow-
Bluebirds fly.
And the dreams that you dream of,
Dreams really do come true-ooh-ooh.
Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where trouble melts like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops that’s where,
You’ll find me, oh.
Somewhere over the rainbow,
Bluebirds fly;
And the dream that you dare to,
Oh why, oh why can’t I? I
I see trees of green and red roses too,
I watch them grow for me and you.
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Blessed skies are blue, I see clouds of white,
And the brightness of day, highlight the dark,
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky,
I also one the faces of people passing by.
I see friends shaking hands saying,
“How do you do”?
They’re really saying “I love you.”
I hear babies cry and i watch them grow,
They’ll learn much more then we’ll know.
And i think to myself, “What a wonderful world!”
World…
Someday I’ll wish upon a star,
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 way up high,
And the dream that you dare to
Why, oh why can’t I? I
Songwriters: Harburg E Y / Arlen Harold/ f Claus