Somewhere Over The Rainbow. History, the lyrics and Ukulele chords

Somewhere Over The Rainbow is the most popular song on Ukulele.

So, if you want to learn a very popular song, read this article!

This is article number 5 about Ukulele songs.

Since a lot of people are searching for Somewhere over the rainbow chords we have decided to include it here. And why shouldn’t we?

First of all, Somewhere over the rainbow is in the category of relatively easy Ukulele songs or beginner Ukulele songs.

This Academy Award winner for Best Original Song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E. T, Harburg also became Judy Garland’s signature song. This was after, and because of, her performance as Dorothy Gale in the movie The Wizard of Oz from 1939.

This is also one of the most popular songs in the 20th century. And it really is a wonderful song!

(Read more after the picture.)

rainbow

(From YouTube Full movie: The Wizard of Oz 1939)

More about Somewhere Over The Rainbow

The song have got a lots of attention because of its quality:

  • Number one on the Song of the Century list compiled by National Endowment for the Arts and Recording Industry Association of America.
  • Ranked as the greatest movie song of all time on the list of AFI’s 100 Years … 100 Songs by the American Film Institute.
  • The American troops in Europe under the WWII adopted it (and White Christmas) as a symbol of the United States.
  • United States Postal Service made a stamp in 2005 with the opening lyrics from the song.
  • It got the Towering Song Award by the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014
  • It is recorder in about 20 singles and albums by different artists
  • You can hear it in about 13 different movies in one or another version

In 1993 Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, who was a Hawaiian musician and entertainer as well as a sovereignty activist, released the album Facing Future.

In this album he also included a medley of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World by Luis Armstrong. (Read The Ukulele History).

Furthermore, his version became very famous all over the world and was on many charts and received many rewards (gold and platinum). His version has been used in several movies, commercials and television shows. It is because of his version that this song has become so popular among Ukulele players all over the world.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Israel Kamakawiwo ole

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How to play Somewhere Over The Rainbow

You can play it with just C Em F G Am. (Chords on Ukulele)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow lyrics and chords for Ukuleles tuned GCEA

somewhere-over-the-rainbow-chords-for-ukulele-gcea

 

Somewhere over the rainbow lyrics.

C   Em  F C
Oooo, oooo, oooo...


F   E7  Am  F
Oooo, oooo, oooo...

C             Em
Somewhere over the rainbow


F          C
- Way up  high


F        C
And the dreams that you dream of


G          Am    F
Once in a lullaby...

     C            Em
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow


F             C
- Blue birds fly


F        C
And the dreams that you dream of


G                         Am  F
Dreams really do come true...

       C
Someday I'll wish upon a star


G                                        Am  F
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me

        C
Where trouble melts like lemon drops


G
High above the chimney tops

        Am          F
That's where you'll find me

    C             Em
Oh, somewhere over the rainbow


F            C
- Blue birds fly


F         C
And the dream that you dare to


G                  Am  F
Why oh why can't I........

Strum Like IZ in Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

So – go ahead and try it out 🙂

In our post about Rhythm you can learn all types of music genres. Go to the link.

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