After appearing in Vaudeville theater with her sisters, Judy was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a teenager. There she made more than two dozen films, including nine with Mickey Rooney, and the film with which she would be most identified, "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). After 15 years, Judy was released from the studio but gained renewed success through record-breaking concert appearances, including a critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall concert, a well-regarded but short-lived television series, and a return to film acting beginning with "A Star Is Born" (1954).
Despite her professional triumphs, Judy battled personal problems throughout her life. Insecure about her appearance, her feelings were compounded by film executives who told her she was unattractive and overweight. Plied with drugs to control her weight and increase her productivity, Garland endured a decades-long struggle with addiction. Garland was plagued by financial instability, often owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes, and her first four of five marriages ended in divorce. She attempted suicide on a number of occasions. Garland died of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 47, leaving children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, and Joey Luft.
Legacy
Judy Garland's legacy as a performer and a personality has endured long after her death. The American Film Institute named Garland eighth among the "Greatest Female Stars of All Time". She has been the subject of over two dozen biographies since her death, including the well-received "Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir" by her daughter, Lorna Luft. Luft's memoir was later adapted into the multiple award-winning television mini-series, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows", which won Emmy Awards for two actresses portraying Garland (Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis).
Garland was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Several of her recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. These include "Over the Rainbow," which was ranked as the number one movie song of all time in the American Film Institute's "100 Years...100 Songs" list. Four more Garland songs are featured on the list: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (#76), "Get Happy" (#61), "The Trolley Song" (#26), and "The Man That Got Away" (#11).
Judy Garland has twice been honored on U.S. postage stamps, in 1989 (as Dorothy) and again in 2006 (as Vicki Lester from A Star Is Born).
Auld Lang Syne
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The murmuring of the breeze becomes a symphony
The wrestle of a tree, becomes a rhapsody
Every breath you take is music to my ear
And when I hear you call
So softly to me
I don′t hear a call at all
And when your sparkling eyes
Are smiling at me
Then soft through the starlit skies
I hear a rhapsody
My days are so blue
When you're away
My heart longs for you
So won't you stay?
My darling, hold me tight
And whisper to me
Then soft through the starry night
I′ll hear a rhapsody
Darling, hold me tight
We′re in a starry night
When you are close to me
I hear a rhapsody
Judy Garland's Auld Lang Syne is a lovely and romantic song that speaks about the power of love and how it can transform the world, making everything around appear magical and enchanting. The opening lines of the song are powerful, describing the way that everything around the singer seems to transform when they are with their beloved. The murmuring of the breeze becomes a symphony, and the wrestle of a tree becomes a rhapsody. Every breath that their beloved takes is music to their ears, and this encapsulates just how much they adore and cherish their partner.
The song goes on to describe how the singer hears a 'rhapsody' in the soft sound of their beloved's voice when they call to them. This symbolizes the way that love can transform everyday sounds and create a world that is magical and enchanting. When their beloved's sparkling eyes are smiling at them, the world around them becomes a magical place, where the stars in the sky are singing one of the most beautiful and romantic songs. The song ends with a plea for the singer's lover to hold them tight, whisper to them, and let the magic of the night and their love sweep them away, leaving only a beautiful rhapsody in its wake.
Line by Line Meaning
It's funny dear, but when you're near
When you are near, everything around me turns magical
The murmuring of the breeze becomes a symphony
The sound of the breeze feels like a beautiful orchestra
The wrestle of a tree, becomes a rhapsody
Even the rustling of the leaves in the trees turns into a melodious tune
Every breath you take is music to my ear
I find music in every little thing you do, even your breaths
And when I hear you call
When I hear your voice
So softly to me
When you say something in such a gentle and soothing manner
I don't hear a call at all
It doesn't sound like a regular call to me
I hear a rhapsody
It sounds like an enchanting piece of music
And when your sparkling eyes
When I see the twinkle in your eyes
Are smiling at me
When you are happy in my company
Then soft through the starlit skies
I can almost hear a beautiful tune in the serene night sky
I hear a rhapsody
It feels like a soulful melody is playing just for us
My days are so blue
My life feels dull and uninspired
When you're away
When I am not with you
My heart longs for you
I miss you deeply
So won't you stay?
Please don't leave me, stay with me
My darling, hold me tight
Embrace me tightly, my love
And whisper to me
Talk sweetly and softly to me
Then soft through the starry night
As the stars twinkle in the night sky
I'll hear a rhapsody
I'll feel completely lost in the magical feeling of listening to a beautiful music
Darling, hold me tight
My love, keep me close to you
We're in a starry night
We are together, under the serene sky filled with countless stars
When you are close to me
When I feel your touch, your breath and your love
I hear a rhapsody
I feel like I am in the midst of a beautiful symphony
Writer(s): קימלמן עמיקם, Gasparre,dick, Bard,richard, Fragos,george, Baker,jack Daniels
Contributed by Aaron R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jilliantheguitarist1727
She’s so talented with a beautiful singing voice I feel like crying tears of joy
@TheRhondarae44442000
Wow, this was beautiful. It gave us shivers. She was an absolute diva of her time.
@hotwax9376
"To England and to Englishmen, God save your noble King." And now, as we go into 2023, we can say those words again. RIP Judy Garland, George VI and Elizabeth II.
@BaySean
R.I.P. Judy Garland 1922-1969
@apricotlane74
Crying my eyes out
@empowermph
what is it about this song that's inspiring, romantic, & heartbreaking at once?
you've gotta listen to Abba 'Happy New Year' song, I can't stop playing it
@jeremymarkey4951
Thanks for posting! Happy New Year in 2010, and now in 2021. Going to better times, hopefully, in 2022. Tempus Fugit, How Time Flies.
@Dawn-iu8nx
I appreciate the recording. It was perfect until they ended it with "God save your royal king!"
@bamabelle7075
She sang this on an NBC radio show, called Bundles For Britain, to raise money for supplies for war-torn British citizens. I think it was a beautiful tribute to people who were in the midst of great suffering.
@richdoe6136
Wow,beautiful lady beautiful song 💙🏴🙏