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).
Comes Once In A Lifetime
Judy Garland Lyrics
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Here's a rundown
Every day that comes, comes once in a lifetime
Take each day and gather the rosebuds in it
Fill each minute
Every day that comes, comes once in a lifetime
Who knows what it brings
While the future waits, the present swings
Day to day, in Brooklyn or China 'cross the bay
Only once comes this particular sky
Only once these precious hours go by
Only once in a lifetime the day comes by
So live, live, live, live today
Think of now, tomorrow is waiting in the wings
Who knows what it brings
While the future waits, the present swings
From day to day, in Brooklyn or China 'cross the bay
Only once comes this particular sky
Only once these precious hours go by
Only once in a lifetime a day comes by
So live, live, live, come on and live today
The song Comes Once In A Lifetime by Judy Garland is an optimistic reminder to live in the present and cherish every moment because each day comes only once in a lifetime. The verses urge the listener to make the most of each day by gathering "rosebuds," or enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The lyrics also suggest that while the future is uncertain, the present moment is where joy can be found. Garland sings that "tomorrow is waiting in the wings," but that no one knows what it will bring, so it's important to focus on the present and enjoy life's precious moments.
The chorus reinforces the idea that each day is unique and can never be repeated. Whether someone is in Brooklyn or China, each sky is particular to that moment and those hours can never be regained. The song ends with an emphasis on living in the moment, using the repetition of "live, live, live" to encourage listeners to embrace the present and make the most of each day.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day, just go along dawn till sundown
Carry on with every day's work from daybreak to sunset
Here's a rundown
Here is a summary
Every day that comes, comes once in a lifetime
Every day is unique, and never to occur in exactly the same way again
Take each day and gather the rosebuds in it
Make the most of every day and seize the opportunities it presents
Fill each minute
Use every moment effectively
Think of now, tomorrow is waiting in the wings
Focus on the present, as the future is unpredictable
Who knows what it brings
Nobody is certain what the future holds
While the future waits, the present swings
The present is fleeting and constantly moving, while the future remains unknown
Day to day, in Brooklyn or China 'cross the bay
Whether in familiar or unfamiliar surroundings, life goes on
Only once comes this particular sky
This exact sky can only be seen once
Only once these precious hours go by
These valuable hours will pass by only once
Only once in a lifetime the day comes by
Each day is a unique occurrence that happens only once in a lifetime
So live, live, live, live today
Therefore, embrace life and make the most of today
Only once in a lifetime a day comes by
Each day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
So live, live, live, come on and live today
Therefore, make the most of today and fully experience all that life has to offer
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADOLPH GREEN, BETTY COMDEN, JULE STYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind