“Over the Rainbow”

Written by: E.Y. HarburgComposed by: Harold Arlen

Sung by: Judy Garland

Power Point By: Hannah Spinner

Lyrics Somewhere over the rainbowWay up high,There's a land that I heard ofOnce in a lullaby.Somewhere over the rainbowSkies are blue,And the dreams that you dare to dreamReally do come true.Someday I'll wish upon a starAnd wake up where the clouds are farBehind me.Where troubles melt like lemon dropsAway above the chimney topsThat's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbowBluebirds fly.Birds fly over the rainbow.Why then, oh why can't I?If happy little bluebirds flyBeyond the rainbowWhy, oh why can't I?

Written by: E.Y. HarburgComposed by: Harold ArlenSung by: Judy Garland

Summary • This song is sung in The Wizard of Oz after

Dorothy’s aunt tells her to “"find a place where you won't get yourself into any trouble”. This song describes a perfect faraway place where there are no troubles. The concept behind “Over the Rainbow" is grasping onto the fact that there is something great in the distance. There were many problems in the world during this time like the end of the Great Depression and the start of World War II. It’s a very popular song and many cover versions of this song have been made.

Judy Garland• She was a very popular

actress and singer during the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. She is most recognized from her role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She sang “Over the Rainbow” in that movie and it became her signature song.

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E.Y. Harburg E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, who lived

from 1896-1981, wrote all of the lyrics in the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, which featured the Oscar-winning song "Over the Rainbow," which was voted Number One Song of the 20th Century in a 2001 poll. He was a democratic socialist and wrote this song to express hope in a time of war, depression and poverty.

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Great Depression• This was a severe worldwide

depression that happened after World War I. It started in 1929 and ended at the start of World War II. The Great Depression started in the US with the crash of the stock market.

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The Wizard of Oz• A movie made in 1939 that was

based off of L. Frank Baum’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It stars Judy Garland and is notable in its use of special effects, use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling and unusual characters. The Wizard of Oz has become, over the years, one of the best known films.

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Cover Versions • Many famous singers

have made cover versions of this song including Eva Cassidy, Barbra Streisand, Israel Kamakawiwo ole.

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Similes• A simile is a comparison using like or

as.• Example: “..Where troubles melt like

lemon drops..”• This is comparing how problems melt

away like a lemon drop would in your mouth.

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Ballad• A ballad is a form of verse, often a

narrative set to music.• Example: The whole song is a ballad.

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Personification • Personification is giving human

qualities to things that aren’t human• Example: If happy little bluebirds fly• This is describing the human quality

of being happy to an animal

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Rhymes • A rhyme is a repetition of similar

sounds in a song or poem. • Examples: Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,And the dreams that you dare to dreamReally do come true.Someday I'll wish upon a starAnd wake up where the clouds are farBehind me.Where troubles melt like lemon dropsAway above the chimney topsThat's where you'll find me

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Imagery • Imagery is writing that involves one

or more of your five senses (hearing, taste, touch, smell, sight).

• Examples: Where troubles melt like lemon dropsAway above the chimney topsThat's where you'll find me.

• This makes you image the way this place makes your problems disappear and you can really picture it in your mind.

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Bibliography • Gerdes, Louise I. The 1930's. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

• Mark Rogers Archives. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow Picture." Lewrockwell.com.      N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/      rainbow.jpg>.

• STLyrics. STLyrics. N.p., 2009. Web. 11 May 2010. <http://www.stlyrics.com/      lyrics/thewizardofoz/somewhereovertherainbow.htm>.

• Turner Entertainment, Co. "History ." The Wizard of Oz. Warner Brothers, 2009.      Web. 11 May 2010. <http://thewizardofoz.warnerbros.com/>.

• The Yip Harburg Foundation. "home page ." Yip Harburg . N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May      2010. <http://www.yipharburg.com/>.

• JazzStandards. "Musical Analysis ." JazzStandards.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May      2010. <http://www.jazzstandards.com/compositions-0/      overtherainbow.htm>.

• Gew3.com. "Barbra Streisand Picture." SongLyrica. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.      <http://www.gew3.org/lyrics/barbra+streisand/>.

• WordPress. "Judy Garland Picture ." Jankenpon. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.      <http://davidkiyokawa.com/blog/2009/02/todays-quote-49/?paged=4>.