Resources for Loss

Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, contributed by Marinna Okawa (2019)

I had always found it to be a peaceful and happy song, but after we played it for my grandmother's funeral it resonated very differently with me. The lyrics almost feel as if they are being communicated by someone who has passed, as if they are in a much better place - especially the verses: "Where trouble melts like lemon drops/ High above the chimney top/ That's where you'll find me/ Somewhere over the rainbow." 

Furthermore, the artist, Israel, passed about 4 years after this song was released and the video was made by his producer as a sort of tribute. Starting at 2:40 in the video, there's footage of a funeral ceremony for Israel, in which people are jumping in the water as they pour out his ashes from a boat with "Iz Lives" written on the sail. This emphasizes this feeling of the living legacy of those who have passed from the song, almost as if Israel himself is still there, singing beyond the rainbow.


Lyrics: 

Ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
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?
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh

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