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).
Medley
Judy Garland Lyrics
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Second hand hose
All the girls hand me
Their second hand clothes
Even my pajamas when I darn 'em
Have somebody else's
Initials on 'em
Second hand rings
I never get what other girlies do
Once while strolling
Through the ritz a girl got my goat
She nudged her friend
And said oh look there goes
My old fur coat
I don't believe in
Frettin' and grievin'
Why mess around with strife
I never was caught out
To step and strut out
Give me the simple life
Some find a pleasant dining on pheasants
Those things roll off my comb
Just serve me tomatoes
And mashed potatoes
Any place I hang my hat is home
Oh, I got plenty o' nothin'
And nothin's plenty for me
I got no car, I got no mule
I got no misery
Don't you see
I got no lock on my door
That's okay with me
Cause the things that I prize
Like the stars in the skies are all free
I got plenty o' nothin'
And nothin's plenty for me
Once I built a railroad
Made it run,
Made it race
Against time
Once I built a railroad
Now it's done
Brother can you spare a dime?
Say don't you remember
They called me al
It was al all the time
Say don't you remember
I'm your pal
Buddy can you spare a dime?
Nobody knows you
When you're down and out
In your pocket's
Not one penny
And your friends
Well, you haven't any
Soon as you get on your feet again
Everybody
Everybody
Is your long lost friend
It's mighty strange
Without a doubt
But nobody knows you
When you're down and out
Oh every one knows
That I'm just second hand rose
From second avenue
Ya can't beat the egg-creams
From second avenue
There is more between me
And fifth avenue
Than three blocks
I tell ya
Second avenue
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sun beam that shines
They're yours, they're mine
And love can come to anyone
Because the best things in life are free
In this song, Judy Garland sings about being content with having second-hand belongings and not caring what others think of her. She mentions wearing second-hand shoes and clothes, even having someone else's initials on her pajamas. She also recalls a time when a girl pointed out her old fur coat while they were walking through the Ritz. However, Garland is not bothered by these things as she believes in the simple life and does not see the point in worrying or stressing about these trivial things. She prefers mashed potatoes and tomatoes to pheasants and is happy with having nothing.
Garland then sings about having plenty of nothing and that nothing is plenty for her. She has no car or mule, but she cherishes the free things in life such as the stars in the sky. She also mentions the Great Depression with the line "Brother can you spare a dime?" indicating that times were hard for everyone. She moves on to the fact that nobody really cares for you when you are down and out, and people only seem to care once you are back on your feet. Garland finishes the medley by singing about her background as Second Hand Rose from the lower end of Manhattan, and that love is something that is freely given to anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm wearing second hand shoes
I cannot afford new shoes and have to settle for used ones.
Second hand hose
I have to wear used stockings.
All the girls hand me
Other girls give me.
Their second hand clothes
Their used clothes.
Even my pajamas when I darn 'em
Even when I fix my own clothes.
Have somebody else's
Belonged to someone else before.
Initials on 'em
Their initials are still on them.
Second hand rings
I wear a used ring.
Mmm... second hand things
In general, I have to make do with used items.
I never get what other girlies do
Other girls seem to have it better than me.
Once while strolling
One day while I was walking.
Through the ritz a girl got my goat
While walking through the Ritz, a girl upset me.
She nudged her friend
She elbowed her friend in the side.
And said oh look there goes
She pointed me out and said.
My old fur coat
That's who used to own my fur coat.
I don't believe in
I don't agree with.
Frettin' and grievin'
Worrying or getting upset over things is not worth it.
Why mess around with strife
Why put yourself in stressful situations.
I never was caught out
I have never been embarrassed.
To step and strut out
To show off or make a big production.
Give me the simple life
I prefer a life without complications.
Some find a pleasant dining on pheasants
Some people enjoy fancy meals.
Those things roll off my comb
Those things are not important to me.
Just serve me tomatoes
Give me something simple to eat.
And mashed potatoes
And potatoes mashed up.
Any place I hang my hat is home
I am comfortable wherever I am.
Oh, I got plenty o' nothin'
I don't have much to my name.
And nothin's plenty for me
But I don't need much to be happy.
I got no car, I got no mule
I don't own any transportation.
I got no misery
But I don't have any serious problems.
Don't you see
Can't you understand.
I got no lock on my door
I don't have any real security.
That's okay with me
But I am content with what I have.
Cause the things that I prize
The things I value most.
Like the stars in the skies are all free
Are available to anyone without cost.
Once I built a railroad
I was once quite successful.
Made it run,
I made it work.
Made it race
I made it go fast.
Against time
Despite all the pressures.
Now it's done
But it is now over.
Brother can you spare a dime?
Can you help me out with some money?
Say don't you remember
Do you recall.
They called me al
I used to have a nickname.
It was al all the time
Everyone called me by that name.
Say don't you remember
Don't you reminisce.
I'm your pal
We were friends.
Buddy can you spare a dime?
But can you still lend me some money?
Nobody knows you
People forget about you.
When you're down and out
When you're broke and alone.
In your pocket's
Without any money.
Not one penny
Without even a penny.
And your friends
And even your so-called friends.
Well, you haven't any
Don't really care about you.
Soon as you get on your feet again
Once you have money again.
Everybody
Suddenly everyone.
Is your long lost friend
Becomes your friend again.
It's mighty strange
It's quite curious.
Without a doubt
But certainly.
But nobody knows you
But no one really knows you.
When you're down and out
When you're broke and alone.
Oh every one knows
Everyone is aware.
That I'm just second hand rose
That I am a person who relies on used items.
From second avenue
From the less affluent part of town.
Ya can't beat the egg-creams
The only good thing about it is the egg-creams.
From second avenue
The only thing I have to make me feel good is egg-creams.
There is more between me
The distance between me.
And fifth avenue
And the wealthy part of town is vast.
Than three blocks
More than just the distance of three city blocks.
The flowers in spring
The beauty of springtime blooms.
The robins that sing
The melody of the robin's song.
The sun beam that shines
The warmth from the sun's rays.
They're yours, they're mine
These are things we can all enjoy without ownership.
And love can come to anyone
Regardless of their possessions.
Because the best things in life are free
Because the most valuable things are not purchased with wealth.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN GILLIES, DANIEL JOHNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tom Muscatello
One after the other after the other...a train of powerhouse gems. Real time.. Alone. With an orchestra. No pieced editing. No augmentation. A comet burning with supernatural talent.
john parker
Close in time and spirit to the Carnegie Hall concert. You can hear how good her voice was at that general time, but if anything it accentuates just what an astonishingly perfect performance Carnegie Hall was. Oh to have been in the audience. Pure magic!
J L
Thank goodness we have these
videos of Judy still at her peak!
Kate Donnelly
My favourite video. True Judy at her best. You can see how alive she is performing.
Saxon C
This woman was and still is, peerless! ❤️
Terry Hammond
🎹 This is Judy at her greatest. I cried all the way through it. Thanks a Zillion for posting this great clip. 💖💖💖
stephen caldwell
ELECTRIFYING, GOOSE BUMPS—SIMPLY THE VERY BEST VOCALIST EVER ❤
Chris Heinrich
If singing were an Olympic sport, Judy would have been a gold medalist many times over. Just wow!
cynthia warren
She is so talented!
Frank Barnes
Legendary!!! 🤍