An Anthology of Looking: Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I'm reminiscing this time of the year precisely a year ago. I spent a bloody good Sunday in Jakarta with a person that I came to really care about, but alas the feeling went unrequited. 

More about that tomorrow; in the mean time I believe you would enjoy this song. This is a genius interpretation of that famous Somewhere Over the Rainbow...I don't think anyone else could've done better. I wish I could get a  hold of more of his music (Iz has 8 albums, 4 of which were released posthumously after his death on 1997 -- more about Iz here), but that is for another posting perhaps. 

Music by Harold Arlen

Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Original artist: Judy Garland for the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz"

Interpretation by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, featured in the album "Facing Future" (1993)

Somewhere over the rainbow

Way up high

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Once in a lullaby ii ii iii

Somewhere over the rainbow

Blue birds fly

And the dreams that you dreamed of

Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh

Someday I'll wish upon a star

Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh

Where trouble melts like lemon drops

High above the chimney tops that's where you'll find me oh

Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly

And the dream 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

Are 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

Than we'll know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world world

Someday I'll 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 dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I?