Choir Notes

Somewhere Over the Rainbow
From Music and the Spoken Word
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

When you hear the first few bars of a favorite song how can you keep from singing?

In the year 2000, the much-loved ballad Somewhere Over the Rainbow was named the greatest song of the century past. Its beginning, however, was not so celebrated. The directors tried to drop the song from the film The Wizard of Oz, but it survived the final cut and became the hallmark of the movie.

This song has come to symbolize the hopes and dreams of generations. All of us have wished that life would get better, that circumstances would change, that a pot of gold would be sitting at the end of every rainbow. Our grandparents had dreams and we now have dreams for our children.

Hopes for riches rarely stand the test of time, but what of dreams that help Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops 1, dreams of companionship, of acceptance, of a happy family, of courage? Some of us hope for peace in the world, peace at home, good health, or simply a few good days.

Dreams point us to the future. Some argue we must let go of our dreams as we grow older, as life passes us by. But, is that so? With humble hearts we can face disappointments and still dream. With faith we can find promise enough for here and now and for the future. It's a matter of how we look at things and what we do about them. It's a matter of perspective. Dreams are the best of tomorrow when they are built on the best of today. Yes, even today The Dreams that We Dare to Dream Really [Can] Come True. 2

1 E.Y. Harburg, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, The Wizard of Oz (1939).
2 Somewhere Over the Rainbow.