Puttin' On The Ritz
Garland Judy Lyrics


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Have you seen the well to do?
Up and down Park Avenue?
On that famous thoroughfare,
With their noses in the air?
High hats and arrowed collars,
Wide spats and fifteen dollars.
Spending every dime,
For a wonderful time

If you're blue and you don' know,
Where to go to, why don't you go,
Where fashion sits?
Putting On The Ritz.
Different types, who wear a day,
Co-pants with stripes, and cut away,
Coat, perfect fits?
Putting On The Ritz.

Dressed up like a million dollar trooper,
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper.
Super-duper

Come, let's mix where Rockerfellas,
Walk with sticks, or umbrellas,
In their mitts.
Putting On The Ritz.
Spangled gowns upon a beauty of hand-me-downs, on clown and cutie,
All misfits.
Putting On The Ritz.

Tips his hat just like an English chappie,
To a lady with the wealthy happy.
Very Snappy

You'll declare it's simply topping,
To be there, and hear them swapping,
Smart titbits.
Putting On the Ritz




Putting On the Ritz
Putting On the Ritz

Overall Meaning

In Judy Garland's song "Puttin' On The Ritz," she depicts a scene in New York City's Park Avenue where the wealthy and well-to-do elites parade around with their noses high up in the air. They wear high hats and collars, wide spats, and expensive clothes, all while spending all their money on a wonderful time. When someone is feeling blue and unsure about where to go, Judy suggests going to where fashion sits, i.e., Park Avenue or Fifth Avenue. She describes how the rich wear different types of clothing, including striped copants and cutaway coats that fit perfectly. The chorus of the tune talks about putting on the ritz and dressing like a million-dollar trooper, trying to look like the famous actor, Gary Cooper.


Judy then goes on to say how she would like to mix with the Rockerfellers, who stroll in the streets with walking sticks or umbrellas in their mitts. All of them putting on the ritz by dressing extravagantly. She also adds how you can spot spangled gowns and even hand-me-downs on people who look like clowns and cuties, all of them misfits trying to put on the ritz. A man even tips his hat like an English chappie to a lady with wealth, and the experience is simply topping to be there and hear the smart titbits they exchange.


The song conjures up the setting of the roaring twenties when New York was the epicenter of fashion and glamour, and the wealthy strutted their stuff. Judy sings of a place that was opulent and grand, where the wealthy had a good time and dressed to the nines. The chorus "Puttin' on the Ritz" became a commonplace expression for dressing well and extravagantly.


Line by Line Meaning

Have you seen the well to do?
Have you ever seen wealthy people?


Up and down Park Avenue?
Moving back and forth on Park Avenue, a wealthy neighborhood.


On that famous thoroughfare,
On the famous street of Park Avenue.


With their noses in the air?
Acting conceited and arrogant.


High hats and arrowed collars,
Wearing hats and shirts with narrow collars.


Wide spats and fifteen dollars.
Wearing wide spats over their shoes, which cost fifteen dollars.


Spending every dime,
Spending all of their money.


For a wonderful time
Having a fun time.


If you're blue and you don' know,
If you're feeling sad and don't know where to go.


Where to go to, why don't you go,
Why don't you go where fashionable people go?


Where fashion sits?
Where fashionable people gather.


Putting On The Ritz.
Dressing in fancy clothes.


Different types, who wear a day,
Different types of people who wear fancy clothing.


Co-pants with stripes, and cut away,
Wearing pants with stripes and a jacket with tails.


Coat, perfect fits?
Wearing a perfectly fitting coat.


Putting On The Ritz.
Dressing up in a fancy manner.


Dressed up like a million dollar trooper,
Dressed up in expensive clothing.


Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper.
Trying to resemble Gary Cooper, a famous and stylish actor.


Super-duper
Very impressive.


Come, let's mix where Rockerfellas,
Let's mingle with wealthy people like the Rockefellers.


Walk with sticks, or umbrellas,
Carrying canes or umbrellas while walking.


In their mitts.
Holding these items in their hands.


Putting On The Ritz.
Dressing in high-end clothing.


Spangled gowns upon a beauty of hand-me-downs, on clown and cutie,
People dressed in both expensive and cheap clothing.


All misfits.
Even the people who don't really fit in.


Tips his hat just like an English chappie,
Tipping his hat in the same way that an English gentleman would.


To a lady with the wealthy happy.
To a lady who is happy to be wealthy.


Very Snappy
Very stylish and fashionable.


You'll declare it's simply topping,
You'll say that it's absolutely fantastic.


To be there, and hear them swapping,
To be there and hear them exchanging gossip.


Smart titbits.
Intelligent pieces of information.


Putting On the Ritz
Dressing in an exceptional and fashionable manner.


Putting On the Ritz
Dressing up in extraordinary clothing.


Putting On the Ritz
Wearing stunning clothing.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@SM-pu2dh

Best version by far!!!

@desertrehabpt211

Judy sings this better than anyone I’ve heard. Turn her on every morning to get my rush for the day. Love this girl so much. How privileged we are to be able to hear her whenever we want. I think God arranged that because he knew we would miss her far too much🥰🥰

@personalbarberband

Would totally agree...Taco's version is wank

@sarakat76

I love this song, and I adore Judy!!!!

@stephenpotter9942

The only version I like :)

@user-jy1qt7rw2z

If you're blue and you don't know
Where to go to, why don't you go
Where fashion sits?
Puttin' On The Ritz.
Different types who wear a day coat,
Pants with stripes, and cut away coat,
Perfect fits.
Puttin' On The Ritz.

That's where each and every lulu-belle goes
Every Sunday evening with her swell beaus
Rubbin' elbows
Come, let's mix where Rockefellers
Walk with sticks and umbrellas
In their mitts.
Puttin' On The Ritz.

If you're blue and you don't know
Where to go to, why don't you go
Where fashion sits?
Different types who wear a day coat,
And pants with stripes, and cut away coat,
Perfect fits.

That's where each and every lulu-belle goes
Every Sunday evening with her swell beaus
Rubbin' elbows
Come, let's mix where Rockefellers
Walk with sticks and umbrellas
In their mitts.
Puttin' On The Ritz.
Puttin' On The Ritz.
Puttin' On The Ritz.
Puttin' On The Ritz.

@JudgeJulieLit

Thank you !

@treasurejackson2274

Fail in love with this song

@marcc5353

Omg 😅

@firststrikefist

Wish yanks still had culture like they did back in the day

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