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).
Lose That Long Face
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rearrange it
Don't be contented with the wrong face
There′s a way to change it
Does the day look painful?
The future glum?
Does the sky look rainful?
All this stuff and nonsense
You can overcome
A long face gets you nowhere
You'll lose that month of May
Like Peter Pan
The sweeter pan
Wins the day
So lose that long face
That long face
Go long and get that long face lost
The blues black out when they can see
A smile that says, "Move on, no vacancy!"
This panacea idea
I'm handing you without any cost
There isn′t any tax on it
So just relax on it
If you want trouble double-crossed
Don′t give into a frown
Turn that frown upside-down
And get yourself that long face lost
This panacea idea
I'm handing you without any cost
There isn′t any tax on it
So just relax on it
If you want trouble double-crossed
Don't give into a frown
Turn that frown upside-down
And go and get your long face
Get your long face
Go, go, go, and get your long face lost
The song "Lose That Long Face" by Judy Garland is a beautiful song about the importance of having a positive attitude and how it can shape our future. The lyrics encourage us to take control of our emotions and not let them control us. Judy masterfully suggests that a negative outlook on life will only lead to misery and heartbreak. Instead, we should try to focus on the positive aspects in our lives and they will help us feel better even when things might be tough.
In the first verse of the song, Garland encourages us to change our attitude if we have a long face. She encourages us to rearrange our thoughts and try to find a more positive attitude. Garland mentions that we should not be content with having a negative attitude as we have the power to change it. The second verse focuses on the idea that we can overcome any problem that may arise in our lives. She encourages us to smile even in moments of sadness, and how this can help us in the long run. Garland repeats the refrain several times throughout the song, emphasising how our attitude can impact our daily lives. She encourages us to get rid of our long face and find a new positive outlook.
Overall, "Lose That Long Face" is a song that speaks to individuals of all ages. It encourages us to find positivity and hope in even the darkest times, and reminds us that our future is in our hands. It is a timeless masterpiece that can still resonate with modern audiences.
Line by Line Meaning
If, as and when you've got a long face
Whenever you find yourself feeling sad or down
Rearrange it
Try to change your perspective or mood
Don't be contented with the wrong face
Don't settle for feeling unhappy
There's a way to change it
There are things you can do to improve your mood
Does the day look painful?
Are you having a difficult time?
The future glum?
Are you worried about the future?
Does the sky look rainful?
Does everything seem gloomy and sad?
Hey there, say there, are you in a vacu-um?
Are you feeling empty or stuck?
All this stuff and nonsense
All the negative feelings you're experiencing
You can overcome
You have the power to change how you feel
A long face gets you nowhere
Being sad or upset won't solve anything
You'll lose that month of May
You'll miss out on the good things in life
Like Peter Pan
Don't grow up too quickly
The sweeter pan
A happier, more positive outlook on life
Wins the day
Is the key to a better life
So lose that long face
Try to be less sad
That long face
Feeling unhappy or down
Go long and get that long face lost
Work to improve your mood and feel happier
The blues black out when they can see
Sadness disappears when happiness takes over
A smile that says, "Move on, no vacancy!"
A positive attitude that looks to the future
This panacea idea
This cure-all concept
I'm handing you without any cost
I'm giving you this advice for free
There isn't any tax on it
It won't cost you anything
So just relax on it
Take it easy and try to be happy
If you want trouble double-crossed
If you want to leave your problems behind
Don't give into a frown
Don't let your sadness show
Turn that frown upside-down
Try to be more positive and happy
And get yourself that long face lost
And work to improve your overall mood and outlook on life
Go, go, go, and get your long face lost
Be proactive in trying to improve your mood and feel happier
Writer(s): Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gabe-po9yi
Judy was a heckuva good dancer. A choreographer said he could show her a routine just once and she’d get it perfect. The woman was just incredible.
@stephenperretti8847
As all of you do, I love Judy too.
It amazes me that so many years after we lost her, those devoted to her work so hard to bring these wonderful moments to light.
Thank you.
Oh, if I may add, when Judy was performing at a theater in Westbury Long Island, as she was taking her final bows, I kissed her. It's my claim to fame!
@walterscott2286
God in Heaven! What could this woman NOT do in entertaining us! So multi-talented in the extreme. It was as if a once in a thousand year blazing comet brightly lit up the world for a while. She was, IS a gift from God.
@natirasohumana
Can't believe they cut all of that out omg, especially the Monette part
@lapetitepapillon9101
I know! It's so good! Luckily it's in the Bluray version now.
@The_78_Record_Man
@@lapetitepapillon9101The Blu-ray version has a bit of the silent film from this number, but not the entire reconstructed number. The only place you can see and hear the whole song is here.
@chgoboy69
This is great! I remember seeing the restored version in 1983 when it premiered in Chicago. Seeing "Lose That Long Face" was especially wonderful because for years we had heard the tune in the film overture and on the soundtrack but never in the horrible truncated version. It is a crime that Warner's at that time cut this and "Here's What I'm Here For" with the delightful proposal scene. All so they could show it one more time each day. Well, that backfired because once word got out that the truncated version in release was not the original longer and much praised premiere release, the box office receipts dried up. So glad that we can see these two scenes which are some of Judy's best.
@markwhitman9029
I think the little boy in grey suit with his mother is also good. If he is still alive he must be in late 70s early 80s. Would love to hear his experience working with Judy!!
@sandyschipper1400
Thankyou, a good dose of Judy goes a long way!
@glenconmc
OMG! Thank you so much for posting this, truely amazing! I never even knew there was an alternate/extended version, more Judy is always better!