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).
For Me & My Gal
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you hear the bells go ding-dong?
Do you know, do you know why they're ringin'?
Why, no, I don't know why they're ringin'
Well, you're gonna get a big surprise
'Cause I'm gonna put you wise
The bells are ringin' for me and my gal
Everybody's been knowin' to a wedding they're going
And for weeks they've been sewin', every Susie and Sal
They're congregatin'
For my and my gal
The parson's waitin'
For me and my gal
And sometime we're gonna build a little home for two
Or three or four or more
In loveland, for me and my gal
The bells are ringin' for me and my gal
The birds are singin' for me and my gal
Everybody's been knowin' to a wedding they're going
And for weeks they've been sewin'
They've been sewin' something old and something new
Sew something that is blue so they can make a trousseau for my gal
They're congregatin' for me and my gal
Look here, why
That's the parson waitin' for me and my gal
And sometime we're gonna build a little home for two
Or three, or four, or five, or maybe more
Loveland for me and my gal
The lyrics of Judy Garland & Gene Kelly's song For Me And My Gal suggest that the bells are ringing and the birds are singing as everyone is gathering and getting ready for the wedding of the singer and his beloved, who he refers to as "my gal." The singer seems excited to put the person he is singing to wise about the occasion and the people who are coming to attend the wedding. The congregation is eagerly awaiting the couple to be married, and everyone is putting their efforts into preparing for the wedding. The singer has a plan for building a beautiful home where he and his gal can live together in Loveland and start their new life together.
This song celebrates the idea of two people who are deeply in love with each other and are eager to begin their lives together. The excitement and happiness of the couple are expressed through the music of the song, with the bells ringing and the birds singing, and every Susie and Sal sewing and preparing for the wedding. The song conveys how the bond between two people in love can bring the whole community together and be a reason for celebration. Finally, the reference to Loveland represents the couple's vision for the future, where they can build a beautiful home and create a happy life together.
Line by Line Meaning
Ding-dong, ding-dong
Can you hear the sound of the bells ringing?
Do you hear the bells go ding-dong?
Do you hear the joyful sound of the wedding bells ringing?
Do you know, do you know why they're ringin'?
Do you know the reason behind the ringing of the wedding bells?
Why, no, I don't know why they're ringin'
No, I don't know the reason behind it.
Well, you're gonna get a big surprise
Well, I'll tell you the reason behind it and it's going to be a big surprise.
'Cause I'm gonna put you wise
Because I'll enlighten you.
The bells are ringin' for me and my gal
The wedding bells are ringing for me and my beloved.
The birds are singin' for me and my gal
The birds are chirping sweetly for us as we're getting married.
Everybody's been knowin' to a wedding they're going
Everyone knows that there's a wedding ceremony happening and they're all excited to attend.
And for weeks they've been sewin', every Susie and Sal
For weeks, every Susie and Sal, meaning all the women in the community, have been busy sewing wedding attire for themselves and gifts for the couple.
They're congregatin' for my and my gal
People are gathering for us, the bride and groom.
The parson's waitin' for me and my gal
The minister is waiting for the bride and groom to commence the wedding ceremony.
And sometime we're gonna build a little home for two
We're planning to build a small house, enough for two people, after the wedding.
Or three or four or more
The house might be big enough to accommodate three, four, or more people.
In Loveland, for me and my gal
The home will be in Loveland, where we will continue to reside for a happy life together.
They've been sewin' something old and something new
The women in the community have been sewing traditional items like something old and new for the bride to wear on the wedding day.
Sew something that is blue so they can make a trousseau for my gal
Sew something blue to make a trousseau package like an outfit, jewelry, or accessory for the bride.
Look here, why
Hey, look at that.
That's the parson waitin' for me and my gal
The minister is waiting for the bride and groom to start the wedding ceremony.
Or three, or four, or five, or maybe more
The home might be large enough to accommodate three, four, five, or even more people.
Loveland for me and my gal
The main purpose of building a house is to create a happy life together in Loveland.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: E. Ray Goetz, George W. Meyer, Edgar Leslie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrJaycasey
I'm 90 years old. I'll never forget the first time I saw the picture 75 years ago . I'' never tire of it .
@boinx1234
How did you feel watching it in stereo for the first time ever?
@nzarzecki
John Coyle That’s amazing!! If only to be alive during Judy’s lifetime! How fabulous 🌟
@studentmer_01marco93
Long live john coyle!
@jorjafehr2376
Wow
@gummytv4322
That’s amazing!
@allysonkho2017
Boy they were great together. You could tell they liked each other so much.
And Gene ALWAYS spoke highly of Judy and protected her.
@jaidenmohan-monestere547
Gene Kelly talked about how much Judy helped him in this particular movie, his first. So, later in movies like “Pirate” and “Summer Sock”, when she was struggling to make movies with all of the personal problems and illnesses, he fought for her, and helped her. Think a part of him really loved her. Show people were special people.
@alexsummerscrane1522
🥺🥺💙
@jamessinclair1928
Kii