harold arlen • yip harburg
From the 1939 musical "The Wizard of Oz". The instrumental music was composed and scored by Herbert Stothart, but all songs were written by Harold Arlen (music) and Edgar Yipsel Harburg (lyrics). Originally they wrote an intro verse and a third verse, that were omitted in the film, but later now and then used in theater performances. Here it is; complete, but the green lines in the lyrics are rare. In fact, the entire song and scene was about to be skipped: the MGM bosses regarded it improper for a fairy-tale. The staff opposed collectively. Conductor, arranger and producer were about to leave the project; musicians and actors as well. The lady washing the wardrobe swayed her mop. The sigar-puffing ignorants, who thus became undeserved richer, gave in, partially. This song and that opening scene is what people still remember. And Judy Garland always performed the original on stage, until her death.
And what a song! Not even Dylan can spoil it (but he ain't tried yet). Judy Garland's (truncated) original is classic, and there are thirteen in a dozen of covers. It's even been recorded reggae-style, with ukulele, and become a hit ...! But nothing beats Eva Cassidy, who went beyond that rainbow far too early. God bless her, and the songwriters.
I want this for my funeral, alongside with "Yesterday When I Was Young". Hopefully, you'll have plenty time for rehearsal.
when all the world is a hopeless jumble
and the raindrops tumble all around
heaven opens a magic lane
when all the clouds darken up the skyway
there's a rainbow highway to be found
leading from your windowpane ...
to a place behind the sun ...
just a step beyond 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
where troubles melt like lemon drops
away above the chimney tops
that's where you'll find me
somewhere over the rainbow : blue birds fly
birds fly over the rainbow
why then oh why can't I?
someday I'll wake and drop my eyes
until that land beyond the skies you'll find me
I'll be the laughing daffodil
and leave the silly cares
that fill my mind behind me
somewhere over the rainbow : blue birds 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?
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G Bm Cmaj7 D7 when all the world is a hopeless jumble Em Bm Am7 ...D7...G and the raindrops tumble all around Gmaj7 D7sus2 D7 G ...Gmaj7...D7sus2...D7 heaven opens a magic lane G Bm Cmaj7 D7 when all the clouds darken up the skyway Em Bm Am7 ...D7 there's a rainbow highway to be found G Gmaj7 D7sus2...D7 leading from your windowpane G Gmaj7 D7sus2...D7 to a place behind the sun G Am D7 just a step beyond the rain G Em Bm Gmaj7 Cmaj7 C G somewhere over the rainbow way up high C Cm G E7 A7 D7 G ...D7 there's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby G Em Bm Gmaj7 Cmaj7 C G somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue C Cm G E7 A7 D6 G and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true G Em someday I'll wish upon a star Am D7 G Gmaj7...D7sus2...D7 and wake up where the clouds are far behind me G Em where troubles melt like lemon drops F# Edim away above the chimney tops Bm D6 D7 that's where you'll find me
