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).
Chicago
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had to stop and stare
I saw a man dancing with his own wife
And you will never guess where
Where, where, where, yeah, yeah that side
Chicago, Chicago
That toddlin' town, the toddlin' town
I'll show you around, I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues
In Chicago, Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday could not shut down
On State Street, that great street
I just want to stay, I just want to stay
They do things they don't do on Broadway, say
They have the time, the time of their life
I saw a man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago
Chicago, Chica-are-are-are-are-ago
Free and easy town, brassy, breezy town
Chicago, Chica-are-are-go
Let me cool my heels ri-ight down at Marshall Field
Come and walk with me along the lake
To the drake Hollar and Hoot, all through the loop
Shout how-now to Mrs. O'Leary's cow
No she, she, life is peachy
Chicago, we'll meat at the pump room, Ambassador East
To say the least, on shish kabab
And breast of squad we will and get fleeced
Don't tell me sin is rampant and rife
Think of that man who danced with his wife
In Chicago, Chicago
I'm in this city
What a wonderful windy, time
In her iconic song Chicago, Judy Garland expresses her amazement at the liveliness and vibrancy of the city of Chicago. She tells the story of being surprised by a man dancing with his own wife and marvels at the fact that it took place in Chicago. The city's bustling energy and carefree vibe seem to have caught her by surprise. Throughout the song, she sings about the things that make Chicago unique, highlighting the differences between it and the more restrained Broadway scene. She describes its "brassy, breezy" nature and tells of its free and easy lifestyle.
Garland's love for Chicago is evident in every word of the song. She paints a vivid picture of the city's streets and its people, describing the sights and sounds of the place in detail. As she sings, the emotion in her voice makes it clear that she is utterly captivated by the city's charm.
Overall, Chicago is a celebration of all that makes the city great. Garland's enthusiasm for the place shines through in every line, and she leaves no doubt that, for her, there's no other place like it in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
I got the surprise, the surprise of my life
Something unexpected happened to me
I had to stop and stare
It was so unexpected that I had to pause to take it in
I saw a man dancing with his own wife
A man was dancing with his spouse
And you will never guess where
The location was surprising and unforeseeable
Chicago, Chicago
The city known as Chicago
That toddlin' town, the toddlin' town
A city that is lively and vibrant
I'll show you around, I love it
I am happy to give a tour of the city because I love it
Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues
You won't be sad or unhappy if you visit this city
In Chicago, Chicago
This great city - Chicago
The town that Billy Sunday could not shut down
Even prohibitionist preacher Billy Sunday couldn't stop the nightlife and culture of this city
On State Street, that great street
The famous State Street of Chicago
I just want to stay, I just want to stay
I don't want to leave the street
They do things they don't do on Broadway, say
There are unique and exciting things happening on this street that you can't find anywhere else
They have the time, the time of their life
People are having a great time on State Street
Chicago, Chicago
The wonderful city of Chicago
Chicago, Chica-are-are-are-are-ago
The unique pronunciation of Chicago
Free and easy town, brassy, breezy town
Chicago is a carefree, confident and relaxed city
Let me cool my heels ri-ight down at Marshall Field
Let me chill out at the now-gone department store Marshall Field
Come and walk with me along the lake
Take a stroll with me by the body of water in the city
To the drake Hollar and Hoot, all through the loop
A series of specific places to explore in the city
Shout how-now to Mrs. O'Leary's cow
Referencing the legend of the Great Chicago Fire and the cow supposedly responsible for it
No she, she, life is peachy
Everything is great and wonderful
Chicago, we'll meat at the pump room, Ambassador East
Meeting at the famous restaurant the Pump Room located in the Ambassador East hotel
To say the least, on shish kabab
A meal of shish kabab will be enjoyed, to say the least
And breast of squad we will and get fleeced
Likely just an amusing play on words with no real meaning
Don't tell me sin is rampant and rife
People often associate the city of Chicago with crime and wrongdoing
Think of that man who danced with his wife
However, there is also love and happiness in the city
In Chicago, Chicago
Yes, we are still talking about Chicago, one of the best cities in the world
I'm in this city
In this amazing city
What a wonderful windy, time
It's a great time to be in the city, even with its famously windy weather
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Fred Fisher
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tonywaldon7801
The only somebody who could sing "Chicago" she owns it
@tonywaldon7801
The pump room at the ambassador east, holler and hoot all thru the loop, ❤❤❤👍
@SevasCisum93
Truly the worlds greatest entertainer
@royedwards1648
Always the best
@balto4
Not only did Judy Garland have the best voice,she really devoured the songs as well and became the song
@STI2000
She had the most electrifying voice, it’s a shame that she had so many demons to deal with.
@luftloft
Love the way she whips the mic cord - what a pro!
@oucomstudentaffairs1066
The incomparable Judy Garland!
@geebee3hree
Fantastic. No one like Judy Garland.
@Sillylittlebug
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🤮🥲🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮