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).
If I Had You
Judy Garland Lyrics
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I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
If I had you
I could show the world how to smile
I could be glad all of the while
I could change the grey skies to blues
If I had you
I could leave the old days behind
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I could start my life all a new
If I had you
I could climb the snow capped mountains
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could cross the burning desert
If I had you by my side
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
There is nothing I couldn't do
"If I Had You" is a song about love and the powerful influence that it can have on someone's life. The lyrics describe how the singer could do anything and overcome any obstacle if only they had the person they love by their side. The first verse talks about how the singer could show the world how to smile and turn the grey skies to blue with the support of their love. The second verse goes on to list all of the things the singer could accomplish if they had the love and support of their partner in life. From climbing mountains to sailing oceans to crossing deserts, the singer believes that they can do anything if only they had their loved one by their side.
The song explores the idea that love can provide strength, motivation, and purpose in life. The singer is willing to leave everything behind and start anew with their love. They believe that they can achieve anything with the support of their partner. The song also suggests that love can bring a sense of contentment and happiness, as the singer declares that they could be humble or poor but still feel like a king with their love.
Overall, "If I Had You" is a beautiful song about the power of love, and how it can transform and enrich one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I could show the world how to smile
I could spread joy and happiness to the world if I had you with me
I could be glad all of the while
I could feel happy and content every single moment if I had you in my life
I could change the grey skies to blues
I could bring brightness and positivity to every situation and make everything seem better if I had you
If I had you
All of these things are only possible if I have you in my life
I could leave the old days behind
I could leave behind my past and all its memories and start anew with you by my side
Leave all my pals, I'd never mind
I wouldn't mind leaving my current companions as long as I have you with me
I could start my life all a new
I could begin a fresh chapter in my life if I had you with me
I could climb the snow capped mountains
I could embark on challenging adventures and scale great heights if I had you by my side
Sail the mighty ocean wide
I could explore different parts of the world and travel far and wide with you
I could cross the burning desert
I could overcome any obstacle or challenge that comes my way with you as my support
If I had you by my side
All of these adventures and challenges are only possible if I have you with me
I could be a king, dear, uncrowned
I could feel like royalty and have abundance in my life even without worldly wealth or status if I have you with me
Humble or poor, rich or renowned
My material wealth or status wouldn't matter as long as I have you by my side
There is nothing I couldn't do
With you by my side, I feel like anything is possible and there's nothing that can stop us
If I had you
All of these amazing possibilities and experiences are only possible if I have you in my life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GORDON MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind