There’s a reason the music of The Wizard of Oz still makes hearts tremble. Its most iconic song, “Over the Rainbow,” is a prayer, a lullaby, and a hope all in one—born of dreams and hardship, innocence and courage.

Composed by Harold Arlen and written by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, the song was nearly cut from the 1939 MGM film. But Judy Garland’s tender performance immortalized it.

Arlen, the son of a cantor, infused his melodies with soul. Harburg, shaped by the Depression, gave voice to the hopes of the everyday dreamer.

Garland, just 17, gave Dorothy Gale’s longing a voice that transcended time. She made the idea of “somewhere” part of our collective memory—the ache to belong, the yearning for peace, the belief that joy still waits beyond the clouds.

The lyrics are simple. But in that simplicity lives hope—the kind that floats, sings, and believes. That even in the hardest moments, we are allowed to wish. To want. To believe.

L. Frank Baum gave us the land of Oz. Arlen and Harburg gave it its soul through song. Together, they helped generations dream in Technicolor.

A rainbow isn’t just color—it’s promise. It arrives after the storm. And somewhere inside that arc lives faith: that life still holds wonder.

“If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can’t I?”