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).
How About You
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Life can be a joy
But the note they end on
Will depend on little pleasures they will share
So let us compare
I like New York in June, how about you?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
I like potato chips, moonlight and motor trips
How about you?
I'm mad about good books, can't get my fill
And Franklin Roosevelt's looks give me a thrill
Holding hands in the movie show
When all the lights are low
May not be new, but I like it
How about you?
I love to dream of fame, maybe I'll shine
I'd like to see your name right beside mine
I can see we're in harmony
Looks like we both agree
On what to do
And I like it, how about you?
The song "How About You" by Judy Garland is a playful ode to falling in love and shared experiences. The opening lines suggest that meeting the right person can make life a joy, but the note they end on depends on the little pleasures they share. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a list of things the singer enjoys and wants to know if the potential lover enjoys too.
The chorus of the song "How About You" is where the comparison takes place. The singer starts by saying they like New York in June and ask how about you, suggesting the potential lover might like it too. The singer goes on to mention liking Gershwin tunes, firesides when a storm is due, potato chips, moonlight, and motor trips. These are all things that most people can find enjoyable and relatable, and the singer is sharing them in hopes that the potential lover will agree and they can start a partnership based on shared interests.
The rest of the song continues in the same vein, with the singer sharing their love of good books, Franklin Roosevelt's looks, and holding hands in the movie show, while making sure to ask if the potential lover shares these interests. The final lines of the song are "I can see we're in harmony/Looks like we both agree/On what to do/And I like it, how about you?" This sums up the singer's desire to find shared experiences and enjoy them with the person they like.
Line by Line Meaning
When a girl meets boy
Meeting someone new can bring a great deal of happiness
Life can be a joy
One's life can be filled with happiness
But the note they end on
The outcome of the relationship will depend on various factors
Will depend on little pleasures they will share
The key to a successful relationship is finding joy and contentment in simple things
So let us compare
Let's see if we have things in common
I like New York in June, how about you?
Do you also enjoy the sights and sounds of New York during the summer?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
Do you also appreciate the music of George Gershwin?
I love a fireside when a storm is due
There's nothing quite like sitting by a warm fire, hearing the sounds of a storm outside
I like potato chips, moonlight and motor trips
Simple pleasures like snacking on chips, going for a drive, or enjoying a moonlit evening are things that bring me joy
How about you?
Do you also find joy in these things?
I'm mad about good books, can't get my fill
Reading is one of my favorite things to do and I can never read enough
And Franklin Roosevelt's looks give me a thrill
I have a fondness for President Franklin Roosevelt and find him attractive
Holding hands in the movie show
Romance can be found even in the most simple experiences like holding hands during a movie
When all the lights are low
In a dark movie theater, it's easier to focus on the person you're with
May not be new, but I like it
Experiences don't have to be new to bring joy and happiness
How about you?
Do you also find joy in simple things like this?
I love to dream of fame, maybe I'll shine
I have aspirations for fame and success
I'd like to see your name right beside mine
I would love for us to be successful together
I can see we're in harmony
It seems like we are in agreement on many things
Looks like we both agree
We seem to share many of the same interests and desires
On what to do
Regarding our shared interests and desires, we now have a solid foundation on which to build a relationship
And I like it, how about you?
I am happy with this, are you?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Lane, Ralph Freed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Danny Chavez
I love when Mickey asks her to sing him a song and she says at 0:08 How do you know i can? Her voice. Her eyes. Her smile. 🥰
NRZ
Even though they’re just lines to the movie- he’s right, she even sings when she speaks. ❤️✨
Yas Old Hollywood
Omg, yes.
alex moon
People told her she was ugly but just look at her, she outshines everything. Beautiful and talented 💕
Melianna
People compared her to Hollywood beauties : Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth. and many more.
But for sure she was not ugly.
Kevin Burke
Ur thinking of Liza they called her ugly
Lydia Sanchez
it never fails to hurt me deep inside that behind the scenes and Hollywood sets, that Judy was starved and severely mistreated by MGM. Rest in power Judy, paving the way and making this world feel safe for someone like me.
Laura C
These two made the best movies
It just warms the heart.
Di Bal
I absolutely love Judy here! It's my probably my favorite movie scene of hers (apart from The Man That Got Away in ASIB). She is so full of wonder, her smile is heartwarming, and those eyes are insanely gorgeous. Such a genuine, natural performance. I've always wondered how she would have ended up if given a chance to lead a happy, healthy life surrounded by people who loved and cared for her.
Danny Chavez
I agree 100%