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).
Gotta Have Me Go With You
Judy Garland Lyrics
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Not so hot this,
Hey there shy one
Come by my one
Please don't rush off
Want no brush-off
I can't compel you
To buy what I'd sell you
You want to have bells that'll ring
You want to have songs that'll sing
You want your sky a baby blue
You gotta have me go with you
Hey, you fool you
Why so cool you
When I'm ready to go steady
You want to have eyes that'll shine
You want to have grapes on the vine
You want a love that's truly true
You gotta have me go with you
Why the hold out
Have you sold out
Time you woke up
Time you spoke up
This line I'm handin' you
Is not a handout
As a team we'd be a standout
No doubt!
You want to live high on a dime
You want to have two hearts in rhyme
You gotta have me go with you
All the time
In "Gotta Have Me Go With You," Judy Garland sings about the importance of having her with you in order to have bells that'll ring, songs that'll sing, eyes that'll shine, grapes on the vine, love that's truly true, and to live high on a dime. She pleads with a hesitant person to not rush off and to give her a chance to sell them on the idea of going with her. She sees the potential for them to be a standout team together and believes that together they can achieve anything they desire.
At its core, this song is about partnership and the transformative power of love. Garland's character believes that they can achieve more as a team than they can individually. The lyrics suggest that love is not just a feeling or an emotion but an active force that can change your life for the better. By choosing to go together, the character believes that they can reach new heights that they wouldn't be able to on their own. The song is upbeat and optimistic, mirroring the bright outlook of the character.
Line by Line Meaning
What a spot this,
This location is quite something.
Not so hot this,
But it's not necessarily the most attractive spot ever.
Hey there shy one
Hello, introverted person.
Come by my one
Feel free to come to my place.
Please don't rush off
Don't leave so quickly.
Want no brush-off
I'd prefer you not ignore me.
I can't compel you
I can't force you.
To buy what I'd sell you
To purchase what I'm offering.
But I'd like to tell you like so
But I still want to share with you.
You want to have bells that'll ring
You want to experience joy and excitement.
You want to have songs that'll sing
You want to enjoy music and art.
You want your sky a baby blue
You want your surroundings to feel peaceful and calm.
You gotta have me go with you
You need my company to achieve these things.
Hey, you fool you
Hey there, silly person.
Why so cool you
Why are you being so aloof?
When I'm ready to go steady
When I'm ready to have a committed relationship with you.
You want to have eyes that'll shine
You want to feel passionate and alive.
You want to have grapes on the vine
You want to have a fruitful life.
You want a love that's truly true
You want to have a genuine, sincere love.
You gotta have me go with you
You need my companionship to find this kind of love.
Why the hold out
Why are you resisting?
Have you sold out
Have you given up?
Time you woke up
It's time for you to realize.
Time you spoke up
It's time for you to express yourself.
This line I'm handin' you
What I'm about to say.
Is not a handout
It's not charity.
As a team we'd be a standout
Together we would be exceptional.
No doubt!
Of that, I'm certain!
You want to live high on a dime
You want to experience a rich life without a lot of resources.
You want to have two hearts in rhyme
You want to be in harmony and love with someone else.
You gotta have me go with you
You need me to achieve these things.
All the time
Constantly, always.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind