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).
Melody
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That fills the city late and early.
I long to hear the music of the used-to-be
That mother nature made for me.
I want to wander where the skies are blue,
Where birds are singing all the long day through,
The music that I love to listen to
The cowbells tinkle in the early morn.
The bees are buzzin' 'round a field of corn,
To tell me that another song is born
Down on melody farm.
The lazy river is drifting along
While daffodils dance on a hill
And while it's drifting it composes a song
To a water lily.
The morning sings the golden melody,
The evening brings the moonlight symphony,
For all the world is wrapped in harmony
Down on melody farm.
I'm gonna pack my bag,
I'm gonna clear my brain,
And then I'm gonna buy a one-way ticket
On the fastest choo-choo train.
I'm gonna try to find
A little peace of mind.
I wanna leave the sound of rivets
And the horns of taxis way behind.
I want to run through the fields of the new-mown hay
And at the close of day
Let me stray
Where I hear the organ playing.
Just a song at twighlight
When the lights are low.
I wanna go,
I wanna go
I wanna be a little country girl in calico.
The morning sings the golden melody,
The evening brings the moonlight symphony,
For all the world is wrapped in harmony
Down on melody farm.
In the song "Down On Melody Farm" by Judy Garland, the singer expresses her longing for a simpler, more peaceful life away from the noise and chaos of the city. She dreams of a place where the skies are blue, birds are singing, and the beauty of nature creates music. She describes the sounds of cowbells, bees buzzing around the fields, and a lazy river composing a song to a water lily. She wishes to leave behind the constant noise of the city and the rush of life, which has caused her to lose her peace of mind.
The lyrics of "Down On Melody Farm" represent the yearning for a simpler life and a closer connection to nature. The singer seeks to escape from the distractions and disturbances of urban life, and to find true harmony in the natural world. The song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the pursuit of inner peace and happiness, and the importance of finding balance between the demands of modern life and the need for restorative time in nature.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of the noise and hurly-burly
I am exhausted and weary of the loudness and chaos
That fills the city late and early.
Which is constantly present in the city at all hours of the day
I long to hear the music of the used-to-be
I yearn to listen to the songs of olden times
That mother nature made for me.
Which were created by nature just for me
I want to wander where the skies are blue,
I desire to roam around where the skies are blue
Where birds are singing all the long day through,
Where birds are singing non-stop throughout the day
The music that I love to listen to
The music that is dear to my heart
Down on melody farm.
Can be heard on Melody Farm
The cowbells tinkle in the early morn.
The early morning is filled with the tinkling of cowbells
The bees are buzzin' 'round a field of corn,
Bees are buzzing around in a cornfield
To tell me that another song is born
Signaling that a new song has been created
Down on melody farm.
On Melody Farm
The lazy river is drifting along
The calm river is flowing gently
While daffodils dance on a hill
And daffodils sway gracefully on the hill
And while it's drifting it composes a song
As it moves, it creates a melody
To a water lily.
For the enjoyment of a nearby water lily
The morning sings the golden melody,
The morning hums a beautiful tune,
The evening brings the moonlight symphony,
The evening brings a gentle, peaceful melody,
For all the world is wrapped in harmony
Because the world is full of harmony and balance
Down on melody farm.
At Melody Farm
I'm gonna pack my bag,
I plan to pack my belongings
I'm gonna clear my brain,
I want to clear my thoughts
And then I'm gonna buy a one-way ticket
Next, I'll get a non-return ticket
On the fastest choo-choo train.
To catch the fastest train possible
I'm gonna try to find
I’ll attempt to locate
A little peace of mind.
Some tranquility for my mind
I wanna leave the sound of rivets
I desire to escape the noise of machines
And the horns of taxis way behind.
As well as the honking of taxis behind me
I want to run through the fields of the new-mown hay
I aspire to run freely through fields of fresh hay
And at the close of day
And when the day comes to an end
Let me stray
Allow me to wander
Where I hear the organ playing.
To where I can hear the sound of an organ playing
Just a song at twilight
Perhaps a song at dusk
When the lights are low.
When the lights are dim
I wanna go,
I want to leave
I wanna go
I want to go
I wanna be a little country girl in calico.
I desire to be a simple girl wearing calico in the country
The morning sings the golden melody,
The morning sings a beautiful song
The evening brings the moonlight symphony,
The evening brings a gentle and mellow melody
For all the world is wrapped in harmony
Because the world is peaceful and in perfect balance
Down on melody farm.
At Melody Farm
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Take my Hand
Lyrics
Rock a bye, your baby
With a Dixie melody
When you croon, croon a tune
From the heart of Dixie
Just hang my cradle, mammy mine
Right on that masoned, Dixen line
And swing it from Virginia, to Tennessee
With all the love that's in ya
Weep no more, my lady
Sing that song again, for me
Sing on black Joe, just as though
You have me on your knees
A million baby kisses, I'll deliver
If you will only play that Swanee river
Rock a bye your rock a bye baby
With a Dixie melody
Oh, weep no more, my lady
Sing that song again, for me
Sing on black Joe, just as though
You have me on your knees
A million baby kisses, I'll deliver
If you will only play that Swanee river
Rock a bye your rock a bye baby
With a Dixie melody
lala
judy wasn't for the faint of heart. when she belted out a song, you knew she was there. rip, judy, you're missed more than you know.
Joel Graciano
Amen.
Allan Roser
I had the extraordinary privilege of seeing Judy in Sydney. I will never forget that night. I miss her every day. God bless her.
joey burrell
She had a golden voice from the very beginning, but seasoned with Father Time, you can’t beat it. Like fine wine aged. 👍👍👍
happychildhood
This brings tears to my eyes! What an incredible multi-talented woman Judy was! We love you Judy!
Nanci Lucey
You and me both! It gives me chills, she is sooo good!
camil0091
you can't beat her voice. The best of all time.
David Hajjar
The greatest female singer of the 20th century ! Judy rocks !!
Letha Luks
I agree 100% and Barbra Striesand is #2
Micah Woodard
I can't help but to smile. What an abosolute gift and treasure she was and still is. Unmatched talent