Over the Rainbow

This is a very famous song. It is in a movie called The Wizard of Oz. A girl named Dorothy sings it. She wants to find a better place.

Two men wrote the song. One man wrote the music. The other man wrote the words.

Many people sing this song today. One man played it on a small guitar. It became a very big hit.

Some singers sing it in different ways. They use different ways to talk.

People still love this song. It is a special part of history.

"Over the Rainbow" is a famous song. It was made for the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. In the film, a girl named Dorothy Gale sings it. She wants to find a place without any trouble.

Two men made the song. Harold Arlen wrote the music. Yip Harburg wrote the words. Harburg wanted a song for a girl who lived in Kansas. He said Kansas felt dry and colorless. The song helps the reader feel her hope for color.

Many people have sung this song. Judy Garland sang it in the movie. It became her signature song. She sang it the same way for thirty years.

Other artists made the song their own. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole played it on a ukulele, which is a small guitar. His version was a huge hit in many places. Eva Cassidy also sang it. Her video became very popular on the BBC.

This song is very important to history. The Library of Congress added it to a special list. They say the song is culturally and historically significant. It has even won awards for being a great movie song.

"Over the Rainbow" is a famous ballad that people all over the world love. It was first written for the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. In the film, a girl named Dorothy Gale sings it. She wants to find a place where there is no trouble.

Two men worked together to create this special song. Harold Arlen wrote the music, and Yip Harburg wrote the words. Harburg wanted the song to be for a little girl. He imagined a girl in Kansas who lived in a dry, colorless place. She had never seen anything colorful except for a rainbow. Arlen wanted the melody to have a long, broad line.

Making the song was a very interesting process. Arlen often carried blank music paper in his pockets. He would jot down small musical ideas whenever they came to him. One day, he was riding in a car with his wife, Anya. He felt a sudden burst of inspiration near a drug store. He pulled over and wrote down the melody we know today.

Judy Garland became very famous for singing this song. She recorded it on an MGM soundstage in October 1938. A beautiful Stradivarius violin helped play the music. It became her signature song for thirty years. She always sang it the same way to stay true to Dorothy.

Many other artists have made the song their own. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole recorded a version using a ukulele. His version became a huge hit in many different countries. Another singer, Eva Cassidy, became very popular after a video of her singing was shown on the BBC. This song is so important that the Library of Congress added it to a special registry. They say it is culturally and historically significant.

"Over the Rainbow," also known as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," is a world-famous ballad. It was composed for the 1939 film *The Wizard of Oz*. In the movie, the main character Dorothy Gale sings the song. She is a young girl living in Kansas. Dorothy feels trapped in a dry, colorless, and arid land. She sings about finding a place far away, beyond the rain. This song has become a symbol of hope and longing for many people.

The creation of the song involved a specific partnership between two men. Composer Harold Arlen wrote the music. Lyricist Yip Harburg wrote the words. Harburg often suggested a title or an idea first. Then, Arlen would set that idea to music. Harburg wanted the song to represent a little girl's desire to escape Kansas. He imagined a world of color for someone who had only seen rainbows. Arlen wanted the melody to have a "long broad line."

Arlen's process for finding the melody was quite spontaneous. He often carried blank music manuscript paper in his pockets. He would jot down musical ideas whenever they appeared. One day, while riding in a car with his wife, Anya, inspiration struck. They were driving near Schwab's Drug Store on Sunset Boulevard. Arlen felt a sudden urge to pull over. He took out his manuscript and wrote down the melody. The song was originally written in the key of A-flat major.

Judy Garland's performance of the song is legendary. She recorded it on an MGM soundstage on October 7, 1938. The musical arrangement was done by Murray Cutter. A renowned Stradivarius violin was used in the accompaniment. Garland also recorded a version for the Decca record label in July 1939. This Decca version was released on a 78-rpm gramophone record. While it was not the exact version from the film, it was very successful. Garland sang the song the same way for thirty years to remain true to Dorothy.

Many different artists have interpreted the song in unique ways. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole recorded a famous version on the album *Facing Future*. He performed it in a ukulele medley with "What a Wonderful World." He recorded the song in just one take during a late-night session. This version became a massive global success. In the U.S., it was certified Platinum for selling over one million digital downloads. In Germany, his version reached number one on the charts.

Another notable performer was Eva Cassidy. She recorded a studio version for her album *The Other Side* in 1992. After she passed away in 1996, her song was included in the compilation *Songbird*. A video of her performing at Blues Alley was shown on the BBC2 program *Top of the Pops 2*. This clip became the most-requested video in the program's history. Her version helped her reach the top of the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The song's cultural impact is recognized by many official organizations. In 2017, the Library of Congress selected the 1939 Decca recording for the National Recording Registry. They noted it is culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts ranked it number one on their "Songs of the Century" list. The American Film Institute also named it the best movie song on its list of 100 songs. It has even been used as an audio wakeup call for astronauts in space.