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).
In the Valley
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To make my wedding gown,
Then we'll go trailin'
To the valley where the evening sun goes down.
And hidden away in the gloamin'
When leaves are turning brown,
We'll end our roaming
We'll build a home in our valley there,
And watch it grow into a town
And you can sit in your rockin' chair
And watch the evening sun go down,
The evening sun go down.
The lyrics of Judy Garland's song "In the Valley" conjure up images of a peaceful, idyllic life in a rural setting. The song talks about the beauty of nature and its ability to bring people together. The first verse talks about the process of preparing for a wedding. The white clouds are used to create the gown, and then the couple will travel to a valley where they will watch the sun go down. The imagery in this verse is of a traditional wedding, with a beautiful outdoor setting.
The second verse shifts the focus to the couple's life after the wedding. They will settle in the valley, building a home and a community. The lyrics suggest a simple and peaceful life, where they can watch the sunset every evening from their rocking chair. This verse portrays a picture of a contented and happy life, with the couple enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the world around them.
Overall, the lyrics of "In the Valley" convey a sense of peace, contentment, and harmony with nature. The song celebrates the beauty of the natural world and suggests that a simple life is a happy one.
Line by Line Meaning
When white clouds go sailin'
As the clouds move in the sky, I long to find my wedding gown.
To make my wedding gown,
The clouds are transformed into a dress that I will wear for my special day.
Then we'll go trailin'
After my dress is prepared, we will journey to a place of new beginnings.
To the valley where the evening sun goes down.
Our destination is a valley graced by the beautiful, daily descent of the sun.
And hidden away in the gloamin',
Once settled in our valley, we will have secret moments in the twilight.
When leaves are turning brown,
As autumn approaches, we will enjoy the beauty of nature's changing colors.
We'll end our roaming
Our endless odyssey of searching for a place to belong will finally be over.
In the valley where the evening sun goes down.
We will have found our home, a place of tranquility and warmth at sunset.
We'll build a home in our valley there,
We will establish roots and build a happy home in our chosen valley.
And watch it grow into a town
We will also contribute to the growth and development of our town.
And you can sit in your rockin' chair
We will create a place for us to grow old together.
And watch the evening sun go down,
Then admire the beauty of the landscape beatified by the sunset.
The evening sun go down.
The end of the day signifies satisfaction, which comes with finding the place where you belong.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOHNNY MERCER, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
T Harold
What a performer Judy was. She also looked just breathtaking in the Harvey Girls and her voice was at it's peak. LOVE her always!
Saxon C
When ever i hear judy singing this song, i feel as though i am just floating on a cloud.. She really hypnotized her audience whenever she sang songs like this one
Jeffrey D'Amico
When her voice was at its peak , like here, there is no one that can sound like her.
Glamouracecollies
She has such a lovely voice
james rivers
incomparable Judy will live on forever!
flyboy13131
Really loved Judy , and especially when she would sing a number without using her “full throttle “ power (which she had) and coming in for a slightly softer approach .
It really showcases the beauty of her voice when she toned it down as in here ... or as in the number “Friendly Star” from the movie Summer Stock.
It really made you prick up your ears and take notice of the actual beauty of her voice .
Chris J. Plamondon
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Masterpiece! Incredibly Beautiful song!❤❤❤
Hank13665
I can't think of another scene in movies in which Judy (or any other actress, for that matter) is more ravishingly beautiful.
Saxon C
The greatest voice ever!
Craig Slivka
isn't it amazing that Judy had sung so many songs with chord jumps that seem to build in dynamic energy before she vocally leaps to her musical destination both vocally and lyrically.