Over The Rainbow

Somewhere Over The Rainbow by IZ (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole)

Whenever I hear this rendition, I just cry my eyes out.  Today was no different when I plugged in my music and this song played a few minutes later.



What's even stranger, I have no idea why it makes me cry. I can play the original version on the piano, but when IZ aka Israel Kamakawiwo'ole does his version which is slightly different than the original, I just sob.

In Hawaiian Kamakawiwo'ole translates “the fearless eye, the bold face.”  Sadly this talented ukulele musician with the incredible velvet voice died in 1997. Incredibly his music reached international fame after his death.

I think he does superb justice to the song. I can even remember the first time I heard his version, in a beach bar along the shores of the Caribbean sea.

I burst into tears much to the surprise of the people around me. We had been laughing and yacking, then the song came on and I lost control of my emotions.

Maybe they will play it in the end for me too.

Below is an actual rainbow I caught in the Caribbean one fine day. It stretched from two different islands.

Here are lyrics to IZ's medley.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true

Someday, I 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

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams 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
And also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do?
They're really saying I, I love you

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They'll learn much more then we'll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
World

Someday I 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 dreams that you dare to
Why oh, why can't I?