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 Love Were All
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In crying when I must
In laughing when I choose
Hey ho, if love were all
I should be lonely.
I believe the more you love a man,
The more you give your trust,
Although when shadows fall
I think if only
Somebody splendid really needed me
Someone affectionate and dear
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near.
But I believe that since my life began
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse.
Hey ho, if love were all.
The song If Love Were All by Judy Garland is a melancholic reflection on love and its limitations. The opening line "I believe in doing what I can" sets the tone for the song, which is about making the best of what life has to offer, even if it falls short of our expectations. The lines "In crying when I must, in laughing when I choose, hey ho, if love were all" highlight the idea that love is not enough to sustain us through life's hardships.
Garland goes on to sing "I should be lonely" which acknowledges the fact that despite her talents and achievements, she still feels a sense of emptiness. She believes that the more you love someone, the more you open yourself up to being hurt. This is expressed in the lines "The more you give your trust, the more you're bound to lose".
In the chorus, Garland sings about the longing for someone who truly needs and cares for her. She wishes for someone "splendid really needed me, someone affectionate and dear". The song ends with Garland acknowledging that while love may not be enough to fill the void in her life, she will continue to use her talents to bring joy to others. "But I believe that since my life began, the most I've had is just a talent to amuse. Hey ho, if love were all."
Line by Line Meaning
I believe in doing what I can
I believe in utilizing my abilities to the fullest extent
In crying when I must
I believe in expressing my emotions to release my pain and sadness
In laughing when I choose
I believe in having the freedom to laugh and enjoy life as I please
Hey ho, if love were all
Oh well, if love was the only thing that matters
I should be lonely.
I would be alone without love
I believe the more you love a man,
I believe the more love you give to someone,
The more you give your trust,
the more trust you develop in them,
The more you're bound to lose.
the more you are vulnerable to losing them as well.
Although when shadows fall
Even though I feel sad and lonely sometimes,
I think if only
I sometimes think it would be nice if,
Somebody splendid really needed me
someone wonderful really wanted me in their life
Someone affectionate and dear
someone who was loving and caring
Cares would be ended if I knew that he
My worries and problems would disappear if I knew that he
Wanted to have me near.
wanted to be close to me
But I believe that since my life began
But I believe that throughout my entire life,
The most I've had is just a talent to amuse.
the only thing I've had to offer is my entertainment skills.
Hey ho, if love were all.
Oh well, if love was the only thing that really mattered.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noel Pierce Coward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@billlozier5551
I can't believe this Giant of singers was only 5 feet tall. The talent of all time. The talent to amuse. Judy Garland. She sings to God with the angels and we will to who believe. Thank you Jesus.
@charliechilders6630
She was actually 4 ft and 11"! Her ideal movie and TV series weight was between 90 and 95 lbs. Judy wasn't just little, she was tiny!! 😳🤗💌
@aleolidemu6169
The way she "subtly" turns her back to the camera to remove the feathers from her mouth 😊.. an then, keeps on as if nothing happened. Totally fantastic Pro ❤.. 💜🌿
@stevedasher9656
She becomes the raw emotion she becomes the song
@sot730
She not only sings a song but tells a story. And most of all that fantastic God given voice. And God , if I have a complaint it's that you took her away from us much to early.
@thevanderman
What a way to open an episode! Loved the Carnegie Hall rendition for years, but seeing it live was wonderful... thanks for sharing!!
@judicialo2039
A talent to amuse. She's telling her own story. She knew how she was used. From a child. 1922 on. Happy Birthday, Miss Judy. Love, always 💝
@aleolidemu6169
A talent to amuse, and what a TALENT ❤.
Fabulous Judy 💞.. 💜🌿
@mariagalante821
Judy Garland. Wonderful!!!
@richardgornalle4536
A wonderful song sung beautifully by the remarkable Judy. Just love this clip. Thanks.