"Somewhere Over the Rainbow," also known simply as "Over the Rainbow," is a ballad composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. It was written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and famously sung by Judy Garland in her role as Dorothy Gale
. The song appears about five minutes into the film, sung by Dorothy as she dreams of a place "where there isn't any trouble," a colorful and hopeful land beyond the rainbow. It became Garland's signature song and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song
. The original key of the song is A-flat major, and its melody was inspired by Arlen’s spontaneous creativity while driving with his wife. The song has been recognized as culturally and historically significant, being inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017
. Besides Garland's version, the song has been covered by many artists, including a notable ukulele medley by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole that combines "Over the Rainbow" with "What a Wonderful World," recorded in 1988 and released in 1993
. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" has received numerous honors:
- Ranked #1 on the Songs of the Century list by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Named the greatest movie song of all time by the American Film Institute.
- Adopted by American troops in World War II as a symbol of hope
The song remains one of the most enduring and beloved pieces of American music history.
