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).
Get Happy!
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better chase all your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles, come on get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
Chase your cares away
Hallelujah, get happy
Come on, the judgment day
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're gonna be going to the Promised Land
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's quiet and peaceful
On the other side
Forget your troubles, get happy
Your cares fly away
Sing Hallelujah, get happy
Get ready for your judgment day
Come on get happy
Chase your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
Shout and shine and come on get happy
Lord is waiting to take your hand
Hallelujah, come on get happy
We're gonna be going to the Promised Land
Heading 'cross the river
Wash our sins away in the tide
It's also peaceful
On the other side
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Get ready, get ready
Get ready for the judgment day (hallelujah, hallelujah)
"Get Happy" is a song by Judy Garland, composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Ted Koehler, and first published in 1930. The lyrics are about forgetting one's troubles and enjoying life, with a focus on the idea that the eternal rewards of heaven will justify any earthly suffering.
Throughout the song, Garland insists that listeners should wash away their sins and prepare for the judgment day. She also gives hope that those who follow the right path will reach the Promised Land.
The opening lines, "Forget your troubles, come on get happy / You better chase all your cares away," are an invitation to listeners to tune into the song’s upbeat energy and positive message, which is reinforced by the chorus's repetition of "Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy / Get ready for the judgment day." The song's happiness, optimism, and emphasis on faith in God is also reflected in the lines which describe the peacefulness of the "other side" of the river where sins are washed away.
Overall, "Get Happy" is a joyous and spiritual tune that aims to inspire, which makes it a quintessential Judy Garland number.
Line by Line Meaning
Forget your troubles, come on get happy
Put your worries aside and focus on being happy
You better chase all your cares away
Make an effort to let go of your stresses and concerns
Shout Hallelujah, come on get happy
Express joy and excitement, embrace happiness
Get ready for the judgment day
Prepare yourself for the future and all it holds
The sun is shining, come on get happy
The world is bright and full of possibilities, enjoy it
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Have faith and trust that things will work out in the end
We're going to the Promised Land
There is a hopeful future to look forward to
We're heading 'cross the river
We are on a journey, moving forward through life
Wash your sins away in the tide
Let go of past mistakes and start anew
It's all so peaceful on the other side
The future may be uncertain, but there is calmness and tranquility in the present moment
Your cares fly away
Your worries disappear and you feel free and unencumbered
Sing Hallelujah, get happy
Express your happiness and enthusiasm, celebrate life
Get ready, get ready
Prepare yourself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually
Come on get happy
Embrace the present moment and find joy
Chase your cares away
Actively work towards eliminating your worries and concerns
Shout and shine and come on get happy
Radiate positivity and happiness, express yourself
We're gonna be going to the Promised Land
There is hope and a better future ahead
It's also peaceful on the other side
The future may bring new challenges, but there is still a sense of calmness and serenity
You better chase all your cares away
Make an effort to let go of your worries and anxieties
Get ready, get ready
Prepare yourself for the future, mentally and emotionally
Get ready for the judgment day (hallelujah, hallelujah)
Prepare yourself for whatever comes next, and have faith in the future
Lyrics © S.A. MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mb-b1300
Ebony only said the same
thing to My Carers This
Morning. We were watching
Liza & Mother Videos and
one of them mentioned
about Judy being tiny & I said
I wonder if all the Drugs she was
given stunted her growth. One of
Judy’s quotes was “ I am Short
With Really Long Legs” & You can
see in the clip For Come On Get Happy
how long her legs are.
Judy took six weeks off to lose weight
and to come off the Drugs and the
result her pulling off just wearing
a Dinner Jacket..
@adelina3748
Amazing scene!
Here are lyrics:
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're going to the promise land
We're headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Hallelu, get happy
Before the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're gonna be goin' to the promise land
Were headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's quiet and peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, get happy
Your cares fly away
Shout "hallelujah", get happy
Get ready for your judgement day
C'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
Sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
We're goin' to the promise land
Headin' 'cross the river
Throw your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready, get ready, get ready
For the judgment day (hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu)
@HanzalaFayaz
Lyrics:
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're going to the promise land
We're headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Hallelu, get happy
Before the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're gonna be goin' to the promise land
Were headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's quiet and peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, get happy
Your cares fly away
Shout "hallelujah", get happy
Get ready for your judgement day
C'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
Sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
We're goin' to the promise land
Headin' 'cross the river
Throw your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready, get ready, get ready
For the judgment day (hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu)
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
"Get Happy"
Forget your troubles
Come on get happy
You better chase all you cares away
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
The sun is shining
Come on get happy
The lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
We're going to the promise land
We're heading across the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles
Come on get happy
Chase your cares away
Hallelu get happy
Before the judgement day
We're heading across the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's quiet and peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles
Get happy
Your cares fly away
Shout hallelujah
Get happy
Get ready for your judgement day
Come on get happy
Chase your cares away
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
The sun is shining
Come on get happy
The lord is waiting to take your hand
Hallelujah
Come on get happy
We're going to the promise land
We're heading across the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
Get ready
Get ready
Get ready
For the judgement day
@lampenfieber
Forget your troubles and just get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, come on, get happy
Get ready for the Judgment Day
The sun is shining, come on, get happy
The Lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on, get happy
We're going to the promised land
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash your sins 'way in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on, get happy
Get ready for the Judgment Day
Forget your troubles and just get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Sing Hallelujah, come on, get happy
Get ready for the Judgment Day
That sun is shining, come on, get happy
The Lord is waiting to take you by the hand
Shout Hallelujah, come on, get happy
We're going to the promised land
We're heading 'cross the river
Wash your sins 'way in the tide
And it's all so nice and peaceful
When you get on the other side
Forget your troubles and just get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout Hallelujah, come on, get happy
Get ready for the Judgment Day
Forget your troubles, come on, get happy
Forget your troubles, come on, be happy
Forget your troubles, come on, stay happy
Happy, stay happy
@biggay9681
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're going to the promise land
We're headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgement day
Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Hallelu, get happy
Before the judgement day
The sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
The Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
We're gonna be goin' to the promise land
Were headin' 'cross the river
Wash your sins away in the tide
It's quiet and peaceful on the other side
Forget your troubles, get happy
Your cares fly away
Shout "hallelujah", get happy
Get ready for your judgement day
C'mon get happy
Chase your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
Sun is shinin', c'mon get happy
Lord is waitin' to take your hand
Hallelujah, c'mon get happy
We're goin' to the promise land
Headin' 'cross the river
Throw your sins away in the tide
It's all so peaceful on the other side
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
You better chase all your cares away
Shout "hallelujah", c'mon get happy
Get ready, get ready, get ready
For the judgment day (hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu)
@woodruff473
Just finished with
"Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland" a
book by Gerald Clarke
...In her finale, the end of her and I am struck by how utterly sad and completely desperate she was not just in the end, but for the majority of her life.
She had so very many suicide attempts, I lost count. So, so very many. She displayed herself to the world as the Happiest Woman on Earth but behind closed doors, she was the most miserable woman, maybe, who ever lived.
Drugs: horrible things can happen to wonderful people when you mix in a cocktail and a variety of uppers and downers, and then you add in money and so-many-enablers. Well, it was a wonder Judy Garland, her real name Frances Ethel Gumm, lived as long as she did.
She was a monumentous woman, she was however bipolar... Reading her book, I have to admit her life is almost an exact parallel to the life of Britney Spears. It is eerie, creepy. Foreboding.
@sweetXsweet2009
it kills me that behind the scenes she was anything but happy. this poor woman suffered her entire life. But she was a natural entertainer so you'd never tell. beautiful beautiful beautiful.
@beckyc8104
It's especially sad that if she had been famous nowadays she would have probably been able to get so much more help. Based on how she's been described by her kids it's sounds like she may have been bipolar or something similar. If only things like that were more recognised back then and she might have been able to get help.
@richardbool4232
krissy crossway : yes the company treated her like sh*t and didn't give a toss.
@PDC1987
The studio system, how Hollywood operated up until 1950, was a cesspit and literal meat market, and it destroyed thousands of lives.
@Highinsight7
Me too... she had small moments... where she was happy... she certainly made lots of folks happy...
@Highinsight7
and... I think she was happiest... on the stage!
@cricksholland188
She was pure magic!! She was fed drugs to wake her up and then knocked her out. Her mother was evil as was the stepfather. All of the heartache she felt she added to her music. Breathtaking!! So much raw talent!! Rip Judy
@jlmurrel
My grandfather was a theatrical broker for many of the theaters in Manhattan and was responsible for Ms. Garland during one production. He told many stories of his days on Broadway, and many of them put me to sleep. But I knew who Judy Garland was from watching The Wizard of Oz , so I always stopped to listen to this story. When she failed to show up on time, he drove over to her hotel and picked her up. Somehow he was able to calm her enough that she agreed to go on stage. Grandpa had amazing empathy for others, and knew that she was suffering. Her death broke his heart, and he would become very emotional when talking about her. As I got older I grew to understand the hurdles in her life that had caused him to feel such compassion for her.
@meganbateman5634
I think if she had quit acting after her son was born and being robbed by Grace Kelly, she would have focused on getting better and stop talking drugs and focus on raising her kids, despite her addictions she loved her children and she didn't want them to become like her and it may have prevented Judy from dying young. She was robbed of seeing Liza, Lorna, and Joey grow up and being a grandmother. Wherever she is, Judy is happy now, she's with her dad again and I hoped God slammed the door in her mother's face because parents like Judy's greedy bitch mother aren't welcome in heaven
@laurafernandez8281
For her first pregnancy they forced her to get an abortion because it was in her contract that she couldn't get pregnant.
Just imagine most of those Hollywood starlites forced to get abortions because they were not allowed to have a baby