Over the Rainbow – English Lyrics

• By: Glee Cast

Lyrics & Translation

The Glee Cast's rendition of 'Over the Rainbow' offers a beautiful and accessible entry point for English language learners. This iconic ballad, known for its hopeful lyrics and soothing melody, provides an excellent opportunity to explore poetic language, metaphors like 'troubles melt like lemon drops,' and expressions of longing and aspiration. Its universal message of dreaming for a better future, combined with a clear vocal performance, makes it a special and engaging song for language acquisition.

[English]

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

There's a land that I dreamed of

Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are

Far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

High above the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh, why can't I?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rainbow /ˈreɪnboʊ/ A2	noun - a curved band of colors visible in the sky
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to imagine or hope for something
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the expanse of air over the Earth
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to desire something to happen
cloud /klaʊd/ A1	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air using wings
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - at a great distance above the ground
trouble /ˈtrʌb.əl/ B1	noun - problems or difficulties
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a fixed luminous point in the night sky
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover something by searching or looking
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - the color of the clear sky
melt /mɛlt/ B1	verb - to change from a solid to a liquid state
drop /drɒp/ B1	noun - a small amount of liquid that falls in a spherical shape

Key Grammar Structures

• Somewhere over the rainbow

  ➔ Adverbial phrases of place

  ➔ The phrase "Somewhere over the rainbow" indicates a specific location that is not defined.

• There's a land that I dreamed of

  ➔ Relative clauses

  ➔ The clause "that I dreamed of" provides additional information about "a land."

• And the dreams that you dare to dream

  ➔ Modal verbs

  ➔ The verb "dare" is used as a modal verb here, indicating the ability or willingness to dream.

• Someday I'll wish upon a star

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'll wish" indicates an action that will happen in the future.

• Where troubles melt like lemon drops

  ➔ Similes

  ➔ The phrase "like lemon drops" compares the melting of troubles to the way lemon drops dissolve.

• That's where you'll find me

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "you'll find" indicates a future action of locating someone.

• Birds fly over the rainbow

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "Birds fly" indicates a habitual action in the present.