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).
Here
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time you knew
Here's what I'm here for
I'm here for you
Can you forgive me?
Am I too late?
All the years that I've wandered
My heart insisted
I seek you out
That you existed
My heart had no doubt
To share a journey
That leads to heaven's door
You'll find is what I'm here for
What am I here for?
It's time you knew
Here's what I'm here for
I'm here for you
Can you forgive me?
Am I too late?
All the years that I've wandered
And pondered were squandered
My heart insisted
I seek you out
That you existed
My heart had no doubt
To share a journey
That leads to heaven's door
You'll find is what I'm here for
To share a journey
That leads to heaven's door
You'll find is what I'm here for, I'm here for
The lyrics to Judy Garland’s “Here” are centered around the overarching theme of seeking redemption and forgiveness through human connections. The first stanza of the song asks the question “What am I here for?”, and then quickly answers that the purpose of the singer’s existence is to be there for someone else: “I’m here for you”. The second stanza revisits the theme of redemption and forgiveness, as the singer asks if they are “too late” to seek forgiveness for all the past wandering and pondering. The next stanza speaks to the singer’s motivation to seek out the other person: “My heart insisted I seek you out / That you existed, my heart had no doubt”. The final stanza repeats the theme of the singer’s purpose: “To share a journey / That leads to heaven’s door / You’ll find is what I’m here for”.
The “journey that leads to heaven’s door” can be interpreted in many ways. It can refer to the journey of life, where the connections we make with others are what give our lives meaning and purpose. It can also be understood in a more spiritual sense, as the journey towards enlightenment or the afterlife. Regardless of interpretation, the song highlights the importance of seeking out human connections as a way to find meaning and purpose in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
What am I here for?
I am pondering my purpose and reason for being
It's time you knew
I need to reveal something important to you
Here's what I'm here for
My purpose is to serve and help you
I'm here for you
My ultimate goal is to be here for you and support you
Can you forgive me?
I am seeking forgiveness from you for my past mistakes
Am I too late?
I am uncertain if I have missed my chance
All the years that I've wandered
I have spent countless years searching for something
And pondered were squandered
But I feel like I have wasted that time on unimportant things
My heart insisted
My emotions and feelings were driving me towards
I seek you out
A strong desire to find and connect with you
That you existed
My heart believed that you were out there somewhere
My heart had no doubt
I was certain that you were the one for me
To share a journey
My goal is to journey alongside you
That leads to heaven's door
Together we will reach a happy and fulfilling place
You'll find is what I'm here for
My purpose is to ensure that you find happiness and joy in life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, IRA GERSHWIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alan Jarman
It's hard to describe how I feel watching this lady perform; you can practically get inside of her, and feel what she's feeling. No one ever was a talented as she in her field; she had learnt every trick that a performer could ever possibly need. But there was one thing she could never do. She could never be anything less than totally honest. What she does out there in that song -- with the lyrics, with her audience, with her conductor, with her two children -- THAT was Judy. She has enriched all our lives.
lessinger mark
Thanks for posting this. She was by far, the most talented performer of our time and was treated so badly by executives.
Alberto Fernández Carbajal
I love how she saves her last bow for Mort... for all the stories about Judy’s alleged unprofessionalism, Mort adored her, and there must have been a reason for that. Their rapport is adorable. This is probably the last time they worked together. I remember watching segments of this clip in a documentary when I was in my teens and being fascinated by the Pierrot costume and the nuance of her every move and gesture. The way she holds that last note while playing about and bowing still fascinates me. She had unbound talent and she was a performer of genius.
Star Sky
Maybe this number isn't what CBS or the public was "buying" in 1963 - but for Judy devotees (like me) it's a wonderful performance - especially now that we know all of the challenges she was up against during the filming of the show. The number really has a "so there" attitude to it - and at the same time it's full of confidence and excitement. I love the extended curtain call she takes at the end. What a doll.
Patricia Johnson
This was her favourite song. Played at beginning of her funeral.
M S
I can’t help crying when I watch this as we know The Judy Garland Show was cancelled and Judy was performing here knowing this was the final episode.
Feel her feeling so much. Very touching... This costume/makeup and performance are artistic and superb. Only Judy can do.
I love this show. We and many generations to come can watch one season now & in the future, thankfully.
Here’s To Us, remembering her always on June 22 2020🍸
Renee Shalhoub
Survivor extraordinary!
David Pascucci
This is very exciting. I work at CBS Television City and just walked through Studio 43. An incredible feeling picturing her right there. Thanks for posting.
bradly2007
"Here's To Us" a tremendous passion filled anthem the ultimate Garland performance, had "The Judy Garland Show" gone a few more years Judy would have had the life she deserved but nobody with any sense of artistry was at the helm...Judy always gave her all in spite of the crap around her.
John Hourigan
Even with the tortured history of this series, all I can say is “wow!”