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).
Easter Parade: Better Luck Next Time
Judy Garland Lyrics
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Another blooms in it's stead.
A new love waits to open its eyes
After the old love is dead.
That sounds alright in a careless rhyme
But there's seldom a second time
That could never be
Because there ain't gonna be no next time
For me, no sirree
Made up my mind
To make another start
I've made my mind up but I can't make up
My heart
I'd like a new lucky day
That would be nice
But this comes just once in a lifetime
Not twice
So don't say better luck next time
That can never be
Because there ain't gonna be no next time
For me.
The lyrics of Judy Garland's song "Better Luck Next Time" talks about the pain of lost love and the hope for new love. The opening lines illustrate the fleeting nature of love where a new relationship always emerges after the old one ends. However, the lyricist warns against the hope of second chances in love as there are seldom second chances. The song shows a sense of despair as the singer declares that there will not be a next time for her. The line "I've made up my mind, but I can't make up my heart" shows the inner turmoil that comes with a decision to move on from a failed relationship.
The chorus of the song emphasises the futility of hoping for a better next time. The singer declares that there is no next time for her and the audience empathises with the pain of lost love. The repeated mention of "no next time" emphasises the finality of the lost relationship. The song shows that the pain of lost love is not easily replaced and that the hope for a second chance can only lead to more heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
For ev'ry rose that withers and dies
For every relationship or opportunity that ends, there is always another that will begin.
Another blooms in its stead
Something new and promising will eventually take the place of what was lost.
A new love waits to open its eyes
The potential for a new, fulfilling relationship is always present even when one ends.
After the old love is dead
After the end of a relationship, it's possible to find happiness with someone else.
That sounds alright in a careless rhyme
The idea that love can be easily replaced might sound good but isn't necessarily true.
But there's seldom a second time
However, it can be difficult to find love again given how rare a connection with someone can be.
Better luck next time
A phrase used to express hope that someone will find success in the future.
That could never be
In this case, there can't be a next time because the artist has decided to move on from pursuing a particular person or opportunity.
Because there ain't gonna be no next time for me, no sirree
The artist is certain that they won't have another chance at whatever it is they are seeking.
Made up my mind
The artist has decided to take action.
To make another start
They are committed to beginning again with a new opportunity or person.
I've made my mind up but I can't make up my heart
However, despite their decision, the artist is struggling with conflicting emotions.
I'd like a new lucky day
The singer is hoping for a positive breakthrough or opportunity.
That would be nice
They have a sincere desire for things to work out in their favor.
But this comes just once in a lifetime, not twice
However, the singer acknowledges that these kinds of opportunities are rare and not often repeated.
So don't say better luck next time
The artist is tired of being told to just keep trying and hopes for something more concrete in the present.
That can never be
The artist is rejecting this idea because, in their current situation, there won't be a next time.
Because there ain't gonna be no next time for me
The singer is reiterating their certainty that there won't be another opportunity for them in this specific scenario.
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind