Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole with lyrics |
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"Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" - Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole with lyrics.
Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World medley brought legions of new fans to the 1993 album, Facing Future, when it appeared on several TV and film soundtracks years later. To gauge the magnitude of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's popularity in his native Hawaii, consider this: following his death in 1997 (at age 38, attributed to his profound obesity), Kamakawiwo'ole's body lay in state in the state capitol, only the second person to receive such an honor. Kamakawiwo'ole's appeal lies in his love for prestatehood, precondominium Hawaii and the expressiveness of his gently passionate voice, which can float through higher registers with an ease that brings Johnny Mathis to mind. Lyrics: Somewhere over the rainbow Way up high And the dreams that you dreamed of Once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow Blue birds fly And the dreams that you dreamed of Dreams really do come true ooh oh Someday I'll wish upon a star Wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney top That's where you'll find me Oh, somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly And the dream that you dare to, Oh why, oh why can't I? Well I see trees of green and red roses too, I'll watch them bloom for me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world Well I see skies of blue And I see clouds of white And the brightness of day I like the dark And I think to myself What a wonderful world The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people passing by I see friends shaking hands Singing, "How do you do?" They're really singing, "I...I love you." I hear babies cry and I watch them grow, They'll learn much more than we'll know And I think to myself What a wonderful world world Someday I'll wish upon a star, Wake up where the clouds are far behind me Where trouble melts like lemon drops High above the chimney top That's where you'll find me Oh, somewhere over the rainbow way up high And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I? |