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).
Friendship
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you're ever in a mess, S-O-S
If you ever feel so happy, you land in jail... I'm your bail.
It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgot,
Ours will still be hot.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle dig, dig, dig.
If you're ever down a well, ring my bell.
If you ever lose your teeth, and you're out to dine... borrow mine.
It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgate,
Ours will still be great.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle, chuck, chuck, chuck.
If they ever black your eyes, put me wise.
If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose.
If they ever put a bullet through your brain... I'll complain.
It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgit,
Ours will still be it.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle, hep, hep, hep.
In this song, Judy Garland sings about the unbreakable bond of friendship. She offers to help her friends in any situation, whether they are in trouble, happy, or just need someone to talk to. She is loyal and devoted, willing to lend her teeth for a friend to use at dinner or to complain on their behalf if they are hurt. The song emphasizes that their friendship is not just any ordinary friendship, but a perfect blendship that will withstand the test of time.
The chorus repetition of "friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship" emphasizes the theme and main message of the song. The playful verse lyrics where she interjects "Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle" and other rhythms adds to the fun-loving, quirky nature of the song. Overall, the song captures the essence of true friendship, where you can rely on someone through thick and thin.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're ever in a jam, here I am
If you're ever in trouble or need help, just call me and I will be there for you.
If you're ever in a mess, S-O-S
If you're ever in a difficult situation or need urgent assistance, just say S-O-S and I'll come running.
If you ever feel so happy, you land in jail... I'm your bail.
If you ever find yourself in trouble or get into hot water because of your happiness, I'll be there to bail you out.
It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
Our friendship is just perfect, we blend so well together.
When other friendships have been forgot, Ours will still be hot.
Even if you lose other friendships along the way, ours will still stay strong and be hot.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle dig, dig, dig.
This line doesn't have any real meaning, it's just a fun snippet to sing along to.
If you're ever up a tree, phone to me.
If you ever find yourself stuck or in a tricky situation, give me a call and I'll help you out of it.
If you're ever down a well, ring my bell.
If you ever find yourself trapped in a well or a pit of some sort, ring a bell and I will come to rescue you.
If you ever lose your teeth, and you're out to dine... borrow mine.
If you ever lose your teeth and find it difficult to eat, don't worry about it, you can borrow my teeth.
If they ever black your eyes, put me wise.
If anyone ever hurts or harms you, let me know and I'll take care of it.
If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose.
If anyone ever tries to deceive or dupe you, come to me and I'll help you break free.
If they ever put a bullet through your brain... I'll complain.
If anyone ever hurts or harms you to the point of death, I'll complain and seek justice for you.
When other friendships have been forgate, Ours will still be great.
When other friendships have been forgotten or ended, our friendship will still be thriving and strong.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle, chuck, chuck, chuck.
Similar to the previous line, this doesn't have any real meaning, it's just a fun snippet to sing along to.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@heatherkelly2580
The world greatest entertainer singing with the world's greatest song writer. What a perfect couple.
@marciacox2319
Cole Porter, fabulous. The rhyming is particularly fun
@souleclipse558
I 'm here from Hollywood series, great old new song!
@csrhiatt
Awesome tune. Johnny Mercer had the Midas Touch for a nice spell of hits.
@barbaragoodwin4194
Yes this is Judy Garland, I have it on CD
@nicnak51
heard this for the 1st time the other day, on the radio great tune
@nmuphelps1
Perfection!!!
@CoolHandCat
Heard this on Hollywood, and I was going crazy trying to remember where I heard it prior.. I Love Lucy duh!
@martinepstein3332
Perfect Cole Porter lyrics
@nancycartwright2206
LOVELY!