From the 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz.”
Words by E. Y. Harburg.
Music by Harold Arlen.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
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 window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain
Chorus
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 bluebirds 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?
Sung here by Vancha March: