Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Ka ‘Ano’i, 1990. Facing Future, 1993

Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Bob Thiele, George David Weiss

Label: Big Boy Records


Somewhere over the rainbow


way up high


And the dreams that you dream of


once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow

bluebirds fly.

And the dreams that you dream of


dreams really do come true.

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 dreams that you dare to

oh why, oh why can’t 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.

See friends shaking hands sayin’,

“How do you do?”

They’re really sayin’,

“I, I love you.”

I hear babies cry and I

watch them grow.

They’ll learn much more

than we all know.

And I think to myself


What a wonderful 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.

Somewhere over the rainbow


way up high

And the dreams that you dare to

oh why, oh why can’t I?