Choir Notes

Over the Rainbow

From Music and The Spoken Word

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell • Program 4302

More than seven decades ago, a popular film swept the country—a magical tale of a girl searching for home, for happiness and peace. The enduring appeal of The Wizard of Oz has made it a beloved part of American culture.

At its heart, the movie features a ballad,"Over the Rainbow,” which won the Academy Award for Best Song in 1939. It has even been ranked as the number-one song of the 20th century and is considered one of the greatest songs of all time.

"Over the Rainbow” is one of those songs that never seems to grow old. Its message is so universal and yet so personal, so simple and yet so profound. There’s something about this song that speaks to our souls and inspires us to hope, to dream.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.1 

It takes courage to dream, because on this side of the rainbow, things sometimes go wrong. Who among us has not had hopes and dreams dashed from time to time? But somehow, someway, we muster the strength to keep trying and do our best to go forward. Our dreams are what keep us going; they keep our hope alive. 

 In a world of hard knocks and dark clouds, some might say that it’s silly to dream and hope. But the more we live, the more we realize that it’s not the achievement but the reaching and trying that keep us engaged in life. To paraphrase biblical wisdom, without hopes and dreams, we perish.2 

So dare to dream; dare to hope. Have faith that somewhere, behind the clouds, skies are blue, and somehow hopes and dreams really will come true. 

1 E. Y. Harburg (1939). 

2 See Proverbs 29:18.