A call to optimism
September 22, 2009 (Tuesday)
”The Wizard of Oz” brought to the world a new song of hope, “Over the Rainbow.” The year was 1939 and The Great Depression was still on as war was erupting in Europe. People needed encouragement. The movie itself was intended to encourage people, and the song had the same effect.
E. Y. Harburg wrote the words and Harold Arlen composed the music. Together they came up with one of the greatest songs of all time, introduced to the world by a young teen-aged girl, Judy Garland. Whether it’s the standard tune and arrangement from the movie, or a version that’s different from the original, it’s still one of the best songs ever sung.
In these cloudy days of economic troubles, when everyone is wishing for things to get better real soon, the words of this ever popular song still bring a light to the eyes and a smile to the lips: “Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.”
Reminds me of Psalm 37:3 (KJV): “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”