Somewhere After the War

The song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is a song that was very popular when it came out, and continues to be popular now. The song is extremely beautiful, performed only on the ukulele, and talks a lot about finding a great place "somewhere over the rainbow." Pretty much, that means that Israel wants to find somewhere away from the crummy place that he lives in now.

This can connect to the idea of the Vietnamese war and the people who fight and suffer without a true cause. Those soldiers, who are often young hopeful men, are often hopeful of salvation and freedom from the fighting and discomfort. "Someday I'll wish upon a star / Wake up where the clouds are far behind me," are lines within the song that express a longing to leave, to break free. The star to be wished upon by the singer could be considered God, being prayed to for guidance. The clouds could symbolize the struggles of the war. Shooting and grenades and carrying burdens and homesickness all contribute to this storm that they wish is far behind them. Somewhere, over the rainbow, peace supposedly exists.