Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Learn English with Songs)

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

Difficult Phrases and Words

1. lullaby

   1. Context: And the dreams that you dream of / Once in a lullaby

   2. Definition: a song to quiet children or lull them to sleep

   3. Additional sentence: I sing a lullaby to my children every night.

2. chimney

   1. Context: 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

   2. Definition: (picture below)

   3. Additional sentence: Santa goes down the chimney to give gifts to children.

3. lemon drops

   1. Context: Wake up where the clouds are far behind me / Where trouble melts like lemon drops

   2. Definition: a lemon-flavored candy (picture below)

   3. Additional sentence: My favorite candy is lemon drops.

Chimney

lemon drops

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think this song is about?

2. Can you relate to anything in this song? Are there times when you feel wonderful like the singer? Do you feel wonderful like the singer now or not? Why?

3. Did one of your parents sing you lullabies? Did your parents do anything before you went to bed?

4. Does your house have a chimney for a fireplace? Would you want a fireplace in your future house?

5. The singer says that trouble melts like lemon drops. What troubles of yours would you like to melt like lemon drops?