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).
Old Devil Moon
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something in your eyes I see
Soon begins bewitching me
It's that old devil moon
That you stole from the skies
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
You and you glance make this romance
Stars in the night
Blazing their light
Can't hold a candle
To your razzle-dazzle
You've got me flyin' high and wide
On a magic carpet ride
Full of butterflies inside
Wanna cry, wanna croon
Wanna laugh like a loon
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
Just when I think
I'm free as a dove
Old devil moon
Deep in your eyes
Blinds me with love
Judy Garland's rendition of Old Devil Moon is a romantic tune that speaks of the power of love. The song starts with the singer looking into the eyes of their lover and being enchanted by the old devil moon. The moon is described as having been stolen from the skies and being the source of the bewitchment that begins to take hold of the singer. The starry sky that pales in comparison to the encompassing razzle-dazzle of the lover's glance further amplifies the intensity of the romantic atmosphere.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more consumed by their emotions. They describe the feeling of being on a magic carpet ride full of butterflies, expressing their desire to cry, croon and laugh like a loon. The old devil moon in their lover's eyes is what fuels these intense reactions, leaving the singer with a feeling of being both captivated and blinded by love. The lyrics suggest that the singer has lost control and has surrendered themselves entirely to the feelings their love inspires.
Overall, Old Devil Moon speaks to the power of love, and how it can be both overwhelming and all-consuming. The lyrics capture the way love can feel like a magical, uncontainable force beyond anyone's control.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at you and suddenly
Once I lay my eyes on you, I experience an overwhelming feeling
Something in your eyes I see
I observe a certain captivating quality in your gaze
Soon begins bewitching me
I am entranced and put under a spell by your allure
It's that old devil moon
The source of my enchantment is the bewitching influence of a magical moon
That you stole from the skies
You took the moon's captivating spell and made it your own
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
The captivating qualities of the moon are now housed within your gaze
You and you glance make this romance
Our connection and your gaze bring about a sense of romance
Too hot to handle
The depth of our relationship is emotionally intense and difficult to contain
Stars in the night
The stars in the sky
Blazing their light
Shining their light
Can't hold a candle
Are unable to compare
To your razzle-dazzle
To your dazzling charm
You've got me flyin' high and wide
You have sparked within me a sense of excitement and elation
On a magic carpet ride
Taking me on delightful flights of fancy
Full of butterflies inside
Filled with a sense of nervous excitement and anticipation
Wanna cry, wanna croon
The intensity of my emotions make me want to either cry or sing
Wanna laugh like a loon
I am filled with a sense of ridiculous delight and feel like laughing in a boisterous manner
It's that old devil moon in your eyes
All of these intense emotions are brought about by the captivating qualities of the moon that reside within your gaze
Just when I think
Right when I believe
I'm free as a dove
I am without worries or constraints
Old devil moon
The bewitching influence of the moon
Deep in your eyes
Residing within your gaze
Blinds me with love
Overwhelms me with a sense of affection and devotion
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Lane, E. Y. Harburg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DANBOLLENBACHER
There never been a bad Judy performance, but some are better than others. This is one is near the top! Simply perfection!
@bcmcbeth
Judy wasn't lipsyncing here. They wouldn't have waisted the musicians time if this was pre-recorded. She did do some pre-recording for her shows but this gem definitely isn't.
@jstellamedialv
She knew the show was history, yet she give THIS AMAZING PERFORMANCE. Never did Garland phone it in. BRAVA!
@ralphewell8398
Great arrangement!!!
@imonthebox1148
This song had music by composer Burton Lane, with lyrics by E.Y. Yip Harburg. The song is from Finian's Rainbow. It was Burton Lane who discovered Judy Garland singing in a night club under her real name of Frances Ethel Gumm....
@sarahprice659
I looked for this song and was quite surprised (and pleased) at how many relatively recent productions of Finian’s Rainbow there have been.
@BruceWayneOfOz
Yep...Judy...Perfection!!
@SaxonC
Judy was always great, even when she had to prerecord & lipsync, some songs for "TJGS" due to voice problems. I'm sure anyone who remotely has a talent to sing isnt always in "Good Voice" Judy who had the best set of "pipes" in Show Business history was still human & had to lipsync @ times. During her MGM yrs when she Lip synced to her prerecorded songs she always looked as though whenever she sang, it looked like she was singing live. ALL in ALL, she was/is incredible!
@bradly2007
Garland never had voice problems during amazing series always in top form as this incredible performance shows
@lenwelch2195
She only did this 3 times in 26 shows - this was live. Why bring up lip synching ? Nonsensical - when she did it had dancing to it and camera couldn’t keep up worth the unsophicated sound system.