Lainey Wilson’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” nods to “Over the Rainbow” in its title and chorus, while its official music video makes the connection to The Wizard of Oz explicit through a surreal, yellow-brick-road adventure. The song’s lyrical and musical echoes are distinct from the video’s visual story.
How the title plays on “Over the Rainbow”
Wilson has explained the wordplay this way: say “somewhere over the rainbow” quickly, and it can sound like “somewhere over Laredo.” Billboard Country Update reported her explanation on June 30, 2025. “That struck me as a perfect fit,” Wilson said. Billboard Country Update
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Whirlwind (Deluxe) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Bell Bottom Country | $12.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' | $11.15 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Lainey Wilson 3 CD Discography Collection: Sayin What I'm Thinkin' / Bell Bottom Country / Whirlwind | $69.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Whirlwind | $12.79 | Buy on Amazon |
The phrase turns a familiar image of a place beyond the rainbow into a song title rooted in Laredo. BBR Music Group described the song as honoring “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” when it announced the single on May 23, 2025. Wilson wrote it with Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, and Andy Albert. BBR Music Group
The chorus adds a musical echo
Billboard Country Update also describes the chorus opening with the one-octave leap that launches “Over the Rainbow.” That is a reported musical resemblance, not a claim that the songs are otherwise the same. Together with the title’s phrase play, it gives “Somewhere Over Laredo” a recognizable point of connection to the classic song. Billboard Country Update
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- Multiplatinum, award-winning artist Lainey Wilson celebrates the one-year anniversary of her acclaimed album, Whirlwind, with a special deluxe edition
The video makes the Oz inspiration visual
In its June 20, 2025 video announcement, BBR Music Group described the official video as a surreal adventure inspired by The Wizard of Oz. Wilson follows a yellow-brick-road journey through symbolic memories while pursuing lost love. TK McKamy directed the video. BBR Music Group
This is where the Oz connection becomes a visual concept. The label’s description identifies the video as Oz-inspired; it does not establish that every image or plot detail from the film appears in the lyrics.
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Wilson’s reflective point of view
In an iHeartCountry interview, Wilson connected the song’s perspective to time spent flying to shows: looking out the window, dreaming, reminiscing, talking to God, and writing songs. She said the song let her step back into a pair of shoes she wore years earlier, and described it as a way to tip her hat to a classic song. “I’m very proud of this song,” she said. iHeartCountry
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BBR Music Group announced “Somewhere Over Laredo” as a single on May 23, 2025, through BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The label said it would appear on the deluxe edition of Whirlwind, then scheduled for August 22, 2025, with five additional tracks. BBR Music Group BBR Music Group
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- Sayin' What I'm Thinkin' was released in February 2021 to incredible praise, with many labeling it as one of the best albums of the year
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