Somewhere Over The Rainbow Ukulele Chords – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. This song uses the chords: C, Emin, Amin, F, G, E7. You can change the key for free, as needed.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow Ukulele Chords – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
INTRO:
C Cmaj7 Amin F C G Amin Fsus2 F
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow” History
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (often simply called “Over the Rainbow”) is one of the most beloved songs ever written. It was created for the classic film The Wizard of Oz and first sung by Judy Garland in 1939. The music was written by Harold Arlen and the lyrics by Yip Harburg.
What is the song about?
In the movie, Dorothy is a young girl living on a Kansas farm. Feeling lonely and misunderstood, she dreams of a place where life is better and troubles don’t exist. The rainbow becomes a symbol of hope, freedom, and the possibility that dreams can come true.
The song’s emotional power comes from its mixture of:
- Longing for something better
- Hope despite hardship
- Childlike wonder
- Faith in dreams and possibilities
Many people see it as a universal song about searching for a better life.
Awards and Legacy
The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1940 and became Judy Garland’s signature song. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest American songs ever written. In 2017, the original recording was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry because of its cultural and historical significance.
The Famous Melody
One reason musicians admire the song is its opening leap on the word “Somewhere.” The melody immediately jumps upward, creating a feeling of reaching for something distant and wonderful. Music scholars often point to this as one of the most effective openings in popular songwriting.
Notable Versions
Besides Judy Garland’s original, many artists have recorded memorable versions, including:
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole — his ukulele medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” became a worldwide hit and introduced the song to a new generation.
- Eva Cassidy
- Willie Nelson
- Frank Sinatra
- Ella Fitzgerald
Here’s the original performance from the film:
Judy Garland sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz
One interesting fact: the song was almost cut from The Wizard of Oz during production because some studio executives thought it slowed the movie down. Fortunately, it stayed in—and became the film’s most famous musical moment. (Wikipedia)
As a music lover, you might appreciate that this is one of those rare songs that works equally well as a pop standard, a jazz tune, a country ballad, a Hawaiian ukulele piece, or even a symphonic arrangement. The melody is so strong that it survives almost any interpretation.
And if I may add a personal observation: more than 85 years after it was written, people still respond to it because nearly everyone has their own version of a place “over the rainbow”—something better they’re hoping for, even if they can’t quite reach it yet. That’s a big part of why the song has endured for generations.
