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).
On the Bumpy Road to Love
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a road that leads to happiness,
I know we can find it.
Although it's full of hills an spills, darling, we won't mind it.
I've got you, You've got me who cares how rough the road might be,
We'll go bumpty-bumpty bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love.
Remember this when anything goes wrong,
We'll get rich or we won't, but who cares whether we do or don't
We'll go bumpty-bumpty bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love.
Hi-ho whadda we care. We're on our way but we don't know where.
We'll go bumpty-bumpty bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love
Let's all join in and sing this tune, Dottie, Buzz, and Danny Boom
We'll go bumpty-bumpty bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love
We'll never need a silver lining for we'll never ever have a cloud
Give three cheers for four Musketeers!
[Dottie:]
Only four?
[Pinkie:]
Just four
[Buzz:]
Just four?
[Pinkie:]
No more, for five would be a crowd, yes!
[Buzz:]
Rah-rah-rah!
[Dottie:]
Sis-boom-ba
[Billie:]
Hey diddle diddle
[Pinkie:]
And Oo-la-la. We'll go bumpty-bump, bumpty-bump, we'll go bumpty-bump on the
bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love.
[All:]
Hail! Hail! The gangs all here!
[Pinkie:]
Home sweet home is in the rear.
Bumpty, bumpty, bumpty bump on the bumpy road
to love.
The lyrics of Judy Garland's song, On the Bumpy Road to Love, convey a feeling of optimism and positivity towards life. The song admonishes the listener to remember that happiness is attainable despite the hills and spills of life. The opening line addresses the existence of a road to happiness, which Pinkie promises they will find. The chorus reinforces the message, stating that regardless of how rough the road might be, they will keep bumping along on the bumpy road to love.
The song's mood is upbeat, and the singer expresses confidence that everything will turn out fine in the end. Judy Garland sings assertively, announcing that she has got the love of her life and that they will stick together through thick and thin. She encourages her audience to take heart and join in the singing, declaring that they will merrily roll along, rich or poor, through the ups and downs of life.
Overall, the lyrics of On the Bumpy Road to Love advocate for determination, resilience, and hope, characteristics that are necessary for anyone who wants to live a happy life. The song encourages listeners to stay positive and to have faith that things will eventually work out for the best.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a road that leads to happiness,
We believe that happiness is attainable and we are determined to find the way to it.
I know we can find it.
I am confident that with perseverance we can achieve happiness.
Although it's full of hills an spills, darling, we won't mind it.
Even though the journey towards happiness will be challenging and difficult, we will not be deterred.
I've got you, You've got me who cares how rough the road might be,
As long as we have each other, we can overcome any obstacle or difficulty in our path towards happiness.
We'll go bumpty-bumpty bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love.
We will joyfully continue on our journey together, despite its bumps and difficulties.
Remember this when anything goes wrong,
We will recall this promise to each other when things get tough.
Remember this we'll merrily roll along.
We will proceed on our journey towards happiness with a cheerful and optimistic disposition.
We'll get rich or we won't, but who cares whether we do or don't
Financial success is not important to us as long as we are together and pursuing our happiness.
Hi-ho whadda we care. We're on our way but we don't know where.
We are unconcerned about where our happiness will take us, as long as we are together and enjoying the journey.
Let's all join in and sing this tune, Dottie, Buzz, and Danny Boom
We invite our friends to join us in our journey towards happiness.
We'll never need a silver lining for we'll never ever have a cloud
Our love for each other will never falter, and therefore we will never encounter any significant difficulties.
Give three cheers for four Musketeers!
We celebrate and raise a toast to our group of four friends embarking upon this journey together.
Only four?
Dottie is unsure why the group is limited to just four people.
Just four
Pinkie confirms that there are only four people in the group.
Just four?
Buzz is perplexed by the small size of the group.
No more, for five would be a crowd, yes!
Pinkie believes that a larger group would not be as harmonious and enjoyable.
Rah-rah-rah!
Buzz expresses his excitement and enthusiasm for the journey.
Sis-boom-ba
Dottie adds to the group's enthusiasm with her own cheer.
Hey diddle diddle
Billie adds an element of playful nonsense to the group's proceedings.
And Oo-la-la. We'll go bumpty-bump, bumpty-bump, we'll go bumpty-bump on the bumpty-bump on the bumpy road to love.
With a final burst of excitement and energy, the group joyfully continues their journey towards happiness.
Hail! Hail! The gangs all here!
The group acknowledges their unity and solidarity.
Home sweet home is in the rear.
The group is moving forward towards the unknown, leaving behind their familiar homes and routines.
Bumpty, bumpty, bumpty bump on the bumpy road to love.
The group continues to proceed joyfully and energetically towards happiness, regardless of the challenges they may face.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL HOFFMAN, AL LEWIS, TED MURRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BeatlesFanSonia
I never heard this song before. I love it! Well, I love everything Judy Garland did! I was afraid for that little boy in the car. He looked like he could fall out!
Derek Llewellyn
I love jump off the street from home hollywood movies on money made into store story about how much money does it mean when you get a chance and pay pal picture of the same message from home magic of the same place New oasr awesome picture awards TCM hollywood Judy Garland she's made it back to look at set up for Derek Llewellyn in few feel like I feel it take on
Mark Whitman
Judy had a voice from the beyond! This is all that needs to be said!
BeatlesFanSonia
That's Mary Astor driving the car! She was a great actress that didn't get enough recognition. I loved her as the mother in Meet me in St Louis too.
Mark Whitman
And very late in life she did a cameo in "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" and left a durable impression!
loren rohrich
I'm obsessed with this song it's so upbeat and catchy I doubt anyone could sing it as good as Judy though her tone and technique are without peer.
Thomas McGhee
LOVE this song. The Movie isn't bad either. One of Judy Garland's Best.
Terry Smith
This is such an adorable film. Everyone is very good in their roles. Seven years later Judy and Mary Astor would be cast again as Mother and Daughter in a marvelous story called Meet Me In St. Louis..Judy was very excited about working with Miss Astor again. But, as the story goes, apparently Miss Astor didn't feel quite the same way. Miss Astor was a little cool towards Judy during the shooting of St.Louis. The film turned out to be a tremendous smash hit. It was just a sweet story about the Smith family and the St.Louis Worlds Fair. The musical score was great after some adjustments. Judy refused to sing the song HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. She said I can't sing that song to a little girl, the audience will hate me. The lyrics were very dark and depressing, and she flat out refused to sing it as written. The Studio suspended her until she would agree to sing the song. After a rewrite she agreed to sing it, it turned out to be a wonderful song. Thanks to a stubborn Judy a great scene was saved in a wonderful film.
Ian Thaddiam
Even with frivolous material that talent is meteoric.
ALONDRA PEREZ-RAMIREZ
What a lovely little gem of Judy's.