Somewhere Over The Rainbow, was performed on American Idol by Jason Castro. Though Israel Kamakawiwo re-popularized this classic from the Wizard of Oz, it was the legendary lyricist and activist Yip Harburg who penned the song. In fact, Harburg wrote the lyrics to all of the songs in the Wizard of Oz. Born in 1896 of Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, raised in poverty on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Yip attended City College of New York where befriended his classmate, Ira Gershwin. Yip wrote over 600 songs including “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” “April in Paris” and “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Known as “Broadway’s social conscience,” Harburg also wrote the lyrics to Bloomer Girl (1944) and Finian’s Rainbow (1947). Yip was even a poet and published two anthologies Rhymes for the Irreverent (1965) and At This Point in Rhyme (1976).

From 1951 to 1961 during the House Un-American Activities Committee investigations and the McCarthy hearings Yip was “blacklisted” for his political views from film, television and radio. “He believed that all people should be guaranteed basic human rights, political equality, free education, economic opportunity and free health services. He spent most of his life fighting for these goals; his songs “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” and “Over the Rainbow” express these universal cries for hope in hard times to all peoples.”

Enjoy all three versions of Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Jude Garland, Jason Castro and Israel Kamakawiwo). Then
! Check out the great Yip Harburg Foundation and see the great projects they support!