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).
Boys And Girls Like You And Me
Judy Garland Lyrics
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We walk in lanes where branches meet
And stars send down their blessings from the blue.
We go through storms of doubt and fear
And so we walk from year to year
Believing in each other as we do.
Bravely marching forward two by two...
Walk beneath the skies
They love just as we love
With the same dream in their eyes.
Songs and kings and many things
Have their day and are gone
But boys and girls like you and me
We go on and on.
Songs and kings and many things
Have their day and are gone
But boys and girls like you and me
We go on and on.
In the song "Boys and Girls Like You and Me," Judy Garland highlights the enduring nature of love and faith in humanity. The lyrics paint a picture of people walking through the city streets and lanes, facing challenges of doubt and fear along the way. Nevertheless, they persist with their belief in each other, continuing to march forward side by side. Garland emphasizes that boys and girls, just like the listener and herself, share the same dreams and hopes for finding love and happiness.
The repeated line "Songs and kings and many things have their day and are gone" serves as a reminder that material possessions and worldly accomplishments are fleeting. However, the love and resilience of people like the listener and Garland herself transcend time and space. They go on and on, through trials and tribulations, united by their common humanity. Overall, the song's message is one of hope and perseverance, encouraging listeners to believe in themselves and one another despite the challenges life may present.
Line by Line Meaning
We walk on every city street
We travel through every part of the city without any distinction.
We walk in lanes where branches meet
We walk on backstreets and alleyways that might seem insignificant.
And stars send down their blessings from the blue.
We occasionally feel blessed by the serenity of the night sky.
We go through storms of doubt and fear
We experience moments of uncertainty and fear throughout our lives.
And so we walk from year to year
We keep moving forward with time, from one year to another, without wasting too much time.
Believing in each other as we do.
We put our trust in each other just as one would rely upon the other.
Bravely marching forward two by two...
We walk alongside each other, supporting and encouraging one another along the way.
Boys and girls like you and me
We are all young people regardless of differences in gender, race or social status.
Walk beneath the skies
We live our lives under the vast expanse of the skies above us.
They love just as we love
Their capacity for love is the same as ours.
With the same dream in their eyes.
The aspirations we have for our lives are identical to theirs.
Songs and kings and many things
Many things have come and gone throughout history including leaders, music, and trends.
Have their day and are gone
Despite their significance, these people or objects have had only a moment in time and will eventually fade into history.
But boys and girls like you and me
But ordinary, young people will remain and continue to walk through life even when those other things fall away.
We go on and on.
We will continue along our paths and move forward. Life is constantly changing and progressing and we are a part of that evolution.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind