E.Y. Harburg, the lyricist of "Over the Rainbow" and creator of the musical Annie, died on Nov. 28, 2003, at age 94. But his legacy will continue to live on in many ways, not least through his beautiful song "Over the Rainbow." The song was written with Harburg by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg, who was E.Y
Harburg's nephew. While Arlen and Yip were living in New York during the 1930s, Arlen had gone to see the Broadway musical Show Boat. He saw that most of the songs were written by one person, Dorothy Fields, who was married to Harburg's uncle Irving Berlin.
As he walked home that evening with Yip Harburg, he thought up a rhyming couplet for one of Fields' songs: "Over the Rainbow/Way up high/Climb every mountain/If you want to." Then he wrote it down on a scrap of paper and gave it to Yip so he could use it for something else. When they arrived home, Yip immediately wrote it down as an introduction for Fields' song "You'll Never Walk Alone." That's how "Over the Rainbow" was born. It became an immediate hit in 1939 and has been covered by scores of artists over the years.
The World would be a safer place If someone had a plan Before exploring Outer Space To find the Inner Man.E. Y. Harburg
Leave the atom alone.E. Y. Harburg
Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.E. Y. Harburg
