The Trolley Song
Garland Judy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my hair piled high upon my head
I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley
And lost my heart instead
With his light brown derby and his bright green tie
He was quite the handsomest of men
I started to yen so I counted to ten
Then I counted to ten again
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heart strings
From the moment I saw him I fell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
Thump, thump, thump went my heart strings
When he smiled I could feel the car shake
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He asked my name, I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings
As he started to go then I started to know how it feels
When the universe reels
The day was bright, the air was sweet
The smell of honeysuckle charmed you off your feet
You tried to sing, but couldn't squeak
In fact you loved him so you couldn't even speak
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings
As he started to leave
I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and it was grand just to stand
With his hand holding mine to the end of the line
"The Trolley Song" is a romantic song from the Hollywood musical Meet Me in St. Louis. The song conjures up images of a bygone era when young people courted on streetcars. The lyrics begin with the singer describing their appearance before going on a trolley ride to lose a few hours. They then describe the handsome man who catches their eye onboard with a light brown derby and a bright green tie. They count to ten in order to not be so obvious about their attraction, then count to ten again. The sound of the trolley is used to illustrate the love-struck emotions experienced by the singer. The chug, chug, chug of the motor and the thump, thump, thump of their heart strings add to the romantic atmosphere created by the song.
As the trolley begins to move, the man tips his hat and takes a seat. He apologizes and asks for the singer's name, making her nervous to the point of not being able to speak. The song then returns to the sounds of the trolley as it continues on its journey, with the buzzer buzzing and wheels popping. When the man starts to leave, the singer takes hold of his sleeve and he stays on with her until the end of the line. The song is a joyful celebration of love and courtship, with a catchy tune that has remained popular for over 75 years.
Line by Line Meaning
With my high starched-collar and my high-topped shoes
Dressed to the nines I set off on a whim
And my hair piled high upon my head
My hairstyle was elaborate and flamboyant
I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley
I boarded the trolley to kill time and have fun
And lost my heart instead
But I fell in love with a stranger on the trolley
He was quite the handsomest of men
He was the most attractive man I had ever seen
I started to yen so I counted to ten
I tried to distract myself and calm down by counting to ten
Then I counted to ten again
But my heart still fluttered and I counted to ten again
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
The trolley made a loud sound as it moved along the tracks
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
The bell on the trolley rang to alert passengers and pedestrians
Zing, zing, zing went my heart strings
I felt a sudden surge of emotion when I saw him
From the moment I saw him I fell
I fell in love with him at first sight
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
The trolley's engine made a steady chugging sound
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
The trolley jolted and slowed down as the brakes were applied
Thump, thump, thump went my heart strings
My heart raced with excitement and anticipation
When he smiled I could feel the car shake
His smile was so charming it made me tremble
He tipped his hat, and took a seat
He was polite and courteous as he sat down
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He apologized for any accidental foot contact
He asked my name, I held my breath
He asked for my name and I was so nervous I could barely breathe
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
I was so taken aback by his charm that I was speechless
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
The buzzer signaled that we had reached our destination
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
The wheels made a distinct sound as they came to a stop
Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings
My heart felt like it was slamming on the brakes
As he started to go then I started to know how it feels
I realized what it was like to fall in love and have to say goodbye
The smell of honeysuckle charmed you off your feet
The scent of honeysuckle was so pleasant it made you swoon
You tried to sing, but couldn't squeak
You were so in love that you couldn't even speak or sing
In fact you loved him so you couldn't even speak
You were so head-over-heels in love that you were speechless
I took hold of his sleeve with my hand
I was bold enough to grab his sleeve as he was leaving
And as if it were planned
It felt like fate or destiny that we were meant to be together
He stayed on with me and it was grand just to stand
He stayed with me and we enjoyed the simple pleasure of standing together
With his hand holding mine to the end of the line
We held hands until we arrived at our final destination
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@borderlinegirl5746
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
As we started for Huntington Dell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brakes
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings
As we glided by Huntington Lake
The day was bright, the air was sweet
The smell of honeysuckle charmed me off my feet
I tried to sing but couldn't squeak
In fact, I felt so good I couldn't even speak
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Time to all to disembark
Time to fall went my heartstrings
As we got off at Huntington Park
As we got off at Huntington Park
With my high starched collar
And my high topped shoes
And my hair
Piled high upon my head
I went to lose a jolly
Hour on the Trolley
And lost my heart instead
With his light brown derby
And his bright green tie
He was quite
The handsomest of men
I started to yen
So I counted to ten
Then I counted to ten again
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
From the moment I saw him I fell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings
When he smiled I could feel the car shake
(Clang, clang, clang)
He tipped his hat
And took a seat
He said, he hoped he hadn't
Stepped upon my feet
He asked my name
I held my breath
I couldn't speak because
He scared me half to death
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings
As he started to go
Then I started to know
How it feels
When the universe reels
The day was bright
The air was sweet
The smell of honeysuckle
Charmed you off your feet
You tried to sing
But couldn't squeak
In fact, you loved him
So you couldn't even speak
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings
As he started to leave
I took hold of his sleeve
With my hand
And as if it were planned
He stay on with me
And it was grand just to stand
With his hand holding mine
Till the end of the line
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Zing, zing, zing went my heart
@munkustrap79
(Chorus 1)
[PASSENGERS]
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
As we started for Huntington Dell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brakes
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings
As we glided by Huntington Lake
The day was bright, the air was sweet
The smell of honeysuckle charmed me off my feet
I had to sing but couldn't squeak
In fact, I felt so good I couldn't even speak
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Time for all to disembark
Time to fall went my heartstrings
As we got off at Huntington Park
As we got off at Huntington Park
(Verse)
[ESTHER]
With my high-starched collar and my high-topped shoes
And my hair piled high upon my head
I went to lose a jolly
Hour on the trolley
And lost my heart instead
With his light brown derby and his light green tie
He was quite the handsomest of men
I started to yen
So I counted to ten
Then I counted to ten again
(Chorus 2)
[ESTHER]
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
From the moment I saw him, I fell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings
When he smiled, I could feel the car shake
[PASSENGERS]
Clang! Clang! Clang!
[ESTHER]
He tipped his hat and took a seat
He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet
He asked my name, I held my breath
I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death
[CONDUCTOR]
Hiya, Johnny!
[ESTHER]
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Pop, pop, pop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings
As he started to go
Then I started to know
How it feels
When the universe reels
[PASSENGERS]
The day was bright, the air was sweet
The smell of honeysuckle charmed you off your feet
You tried to sing but couldn't squeak
In fact, you loved him so you couldn't even speak
[ESTHER]
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Pop, pop, pop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings
As he started to leave
I took hold of his sleeve
With my hand
And as if it were planned
He stayed on with me and
It was grand
Just to stand
With his hand
Holding mine
To the end of the line
@elainelosee7974
Love this film, this song. Her enthusiasm is
Contagious. She truly happier when
On stage performing, and with her children.
God, how I loved
Her. She was amazingly good, great story teller,
Marvelously talented at all
She did. Thank you,
Judy Garland, for
Everything you did
For you friends,
Fans, how you
Loved your
Children.RIP
@mjwemdee
'...As he started to leave,
I took hold of his sleeve
With my hand,
And as if it were planned,
He stayed on with me, and
It was grand
Just to stand
With his hand
Holding mine - to the end of the line!!' Fantastic lyric writing by Hugh Martin. [Ralph Blane was also credited, but did not actually contribute to this song]
@tonytune4342
I read that Judy said that while making this movie was the only time she felt beautiful. So sad how her life ended after all the joy she brought to millions by way of her talent . She deserved better.
@lordalessan
Tony Tune She was also being directed by a man who was in love with her. <3
@ryangregorakos5040
I think she said that she was true first in her life she beautiful (I would have to disagree she looked beautiful in many films before and after this one), but after that she still felt beautiful. I remember reading a story about her and one day in her 30’s she broke down crying in her dressing room and said: “I’ve lost my beauty,” after looking at herself in the mirror.
@daniellacecala3858
Tony Tune unfortunately she wasn’t treated with much respect in her life
@iris5678
@@daniellacecala3858 Not many people were in that time period. We've come such a long ways
@fleurconsidine2995
It’s true she deserves better
@shoknifeman2mikado135
This song was hurriedly written to add a few extra mins to the film, it turned out to be a masterpiece
@SarahJareth
It became the crowning song of that entire film referenced in almost any form of popular media including 2 times on The Simpsons
@kerriethompson2073
And she did this song in one take!
@SarahJareth
@Acererak oh yeah definitely has