Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American actress and si… Read Full Bio ↴Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist, and on the concert stage. Respected for her versatility, she received a Juvenile Academy Award, won a Golden Globe Award, received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for her work in films, as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award. She had a contralto singing range.

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).

Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe
Judy Garland Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe
He's got a smile that makes the lilac wanta grow
He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
When they know little Joe's passing by

Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare
Then he'll kiss me and it's Christmas everywhere
Troubles fly away and life is easy go

Does he love me good, that's all I need to know

Seems like happiness, is just a thing called Joe

Little Joe, little Joe, little Joe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe" by Judy Garland speak of a profound sense of joy and contentment that the singer associates with a man named Joe. The first two lines suggest that happiness, personified here as a tangible entity, can only be found in Joe's presence. The next two lines elaborate on the characteristics that make Joe so special: he has a smile that has a tangible impact on the world around him, causing even flowers to bloom, and his very presence causes celestial beings to react with awe and wonder.

The next stanza deals with the effect that Joe has on the singer's life. Even in times of hardship and scarcity, Joe's love has the power to transform the singer's world into a magical, wondrous place. Troubles vanish and life becomes effortless, merely because Joe is present. The final line of the chorus, "Does he love me good, that's all I need to know," highlights the singer's single-minded devotion to Joe and the transformative power of love.

Overall, the lyrics of "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe" communicate a powerful message about the transformative power of love, and the notion that true happiness can only be found through meaningful human connections.

Line by Line Meaning

It seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe
Happiness, that elusive feeling we all crave, is often found in the form of my beloved Joe.

He's got a smile that makes the lilac wanta grow
Joe's smile is irresistibly infectious and uplifting, capable of giving life to even the most fragile of plants.

He's got a way that makes the angels heave a sigh
Joe's demeanor is so serene and captivating that even celestial beings are left in awe, feeling a sense of longing and admiration.

When they know little Joe's passing by
The mere presence of Joe is enough to bring joy and awe to all those around him, no matter how brief the encounter.

Sometimes the cabin's gloomy and the table's bare
Many days can be dark and dreary, with little to be excited about and scarce resources to go around.

Then he'll kiss me and it's Christmas everywhere
But with a simple kiss from Joe, everything is transformed into a festive and joyous occasion, as if it were Christmas morning once again.

Troubles fly away and life is easy go
All of life's difficulties and hardships dissipate in the presence of Joe, making everything seem light and effortless.

Does he love me good, that's all I need to know
As long as Joe loves me deeply and truly, I am content and fulfilled beyond measure.

Seems like happiness, is just a thing called Joe
In sum, there is no greater source of happiness in my life than Joe himself, who embodies everything that is good and beautiful in this world.

Little Joe, little Joe, little Joe
The repeated chant of Joe's name serves as a mantra, a constant reminder of the joy and light that he brings into my life.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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