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The expression “somewhere over the rainbow” means, in effect, you believe something better lies ahead. In 1939, that thought became a song by Judy Garland in the film “The Wizard of Oz” and thereafter gained considerable fame.

Over the years, numerous singers have released versions of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” But none did it better than the late Hawaiian singer-songwriter-activist Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.

His name is pronounced “Kah-me-ka-vee-voll-olay.” In Hawaiian, it means “the fearless eye, the bold face.” Israel was known to fans by the nicknames Bruddah and Iz.

In 1988, Iz reportedly went to a studio at 3AM, where he sang and played a medley of “Rainbow” and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” recording it in one take. In 1990, the song was released on his debut album.

Iz became wildly popular, and NPR dubbed him “the voice of Hawaii.” Sadly, he died in 1997 at age 38 from respiratory failure due to the obesity that had plagued him since childhood. At his funeral, 10,000 people watched as his ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World

By Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, 1988
Written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg / Written by Bob Thiele and George Weiss

Okay, this one’s for Gabby

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh,
Ooh-ooh-ooh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh,
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh.

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Way up high.
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby.

Oh, somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true, ooh-ooh,
Ooh-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,
Blue birds fly.
And the dream that you dare to —
Oh, why, oh, why can’t I? I? I?
I? I? I?

Well, I see trees of green, and
Red roses, too.
I’ll watch them bloom for
Me and you.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

Well, I see skies of blue,
And 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
Are also on the faces of people passing by.
I see friends shaking hands,
Saying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying, “I, I love you.”

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow.
They’ll learn much more
Than 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 tops,
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? I? I?
I? I? I?

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh,
Ooh-ooh-ooh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh,
Ooh, ah-ah, yeah, ah-ah, ah-ah, ah, ah.

https://rockysmith.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/somewhere-over-the-rainbow-its-a-wonderful-world.mp3