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).
Poor Little Rich Girl
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a bewitched girl,
Better take care.
Laughing at danger,
Virtue a stranger,
Better beware!
The life you lead sets all your nerves a-jangle,
You love affairs are in a hopeless tangle,
Your life's a wild typhoon!
In lives of leisure,
The craze for pleasure
Steadily grows;
Cocktails and laughter,
But what comes after?
Nobody knows!
You're weaving love into a mad jazz pattern,
Ruled by Pantaloon,
Poor little rich girl,
Don't drop a stitch too soon!
You're only a baby,
You're lonely, and maybe
Someday soon you'll know
The tears you are tasting
Are years you are wasting,
Life's a bitter foe!
With fate it's no use competing,
Youth is so terribly fleeting;
By dancing much faster
You're chancing disaster,
Time alone will show.
Poor little rich girl,
You're a bewitched girl,
Better take care.
Laughing at danger,
Virtue a stranger,
Better beware!
The life you lead sets all your nerves a-jangle,
You love affairs are in a hopeless tangle,
Though you're a child, dear,
Your life's a wild typhoon!
In lives of leisure,
The craze for pleasure
Steadily grows;
Cocktails and laughter,
But what comes after?
Nobody knows!
You're weaving love into a mad jazz pattern,
Ruled by Pantaloon,
Poor little rich girl,
Don't drop a stitch too soon!
The song "Poor Little Rich Girl" by Judy Garland is a cautionary tale about the dangers of a wealthy and indulgent lifestyle. The lyrics describe a young woman who is caught up in a whirlwind of parties, love affairs, and superficial pleasures. Despite her youth and innocence, she is consumed by a reckless pursuit of pleasure, which leaves her vulnerable to danger and heartbreak.
The first verse warns the girl to beware of her impulsive and reckless behavior. She is described as "bewitched" and in need of caution. The second verse speaks to the allure of a life of leisure and pleasure but also the uncertainty of what comes after the party is over. The chorus emphasizes that although she may be young and innocent, her life is already a "wild typhoon" due to her lack of control over her impulses and relationships.
The lyrics suggest that the girl is headed for disaster unless she changes her ways. The third verse describes the loneliness and bitterness that can come from wasting one's life on fleeting pleasures. The final verse echoes the warning of the chorus, urging the girl not to drop the stitch too soon, to be more deliberate in her choices.
Overall, the song speaks to the dangers of excess and the importance of balance and control. Despite being written in the 1930s, it remains relevant today as we continue to struggle with the impact of wealth and privilege on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor little rich girl,
Although you are wealthy, you still seem unhappy and lost.
You're a bewitched girl,
It feels like you're under a spell or curse that you can't escape from.
Better take care.
You need to be cautious and be aware of the potential consequences of your actions.
Laughing at danger,
You're ignoring or not taking seriously the risks and problems that come with your behavior.
Virtue a stranger,
You're not living a life of morality or principles, and are essentially a stranger to these concepts.
Better beware!
You need to protect and look out for yourself, as the path you're on is dangerous.
The life you lead sets all your nerves a-jangle,
Your lifestyle is causing you a great deal of stress and anxiety.
You love affairs are in a hopeless tangle,
Your romantic relationships are chaotic and hopeless.
Though you're a child, dear,
Despite your age, you're still naïve and inexperienced in the ways of the world.
Your life's a wild typhoon!
Your life is turbulent and destructive, much like a typhoon.
In lives of leisure,
When you have a lot of free time and money to spend,
The craze for pleasure
There's an intense desire for enjoyment and fun
Steadily grows;
This craving for pleasure keeps getting stronger and stronger.
Cocktails and laughter,
You're indulging in partying and other carefree activities.
But what comes after?
You're not thinking about the consequences or aftermath of your actions.
Nobody knows!
No one can predict what will happen next, or what the future holds for you.
You're weaving love into a mad jazz pattern,
Your love life is chaotic and unpredictable, much like jazz music.
Ruled by Pantaloon,
You're being controlled or dominated by an older, foolish man (a reference to a character in Italian commedia dell'arte).
Poor little rich girl,
Your wealth doesn't protect you from the troubles and problems that everyone else faces.
Don't drop a stitch too soon!
Don't make a mistake or take a misstep that will cause everything to unravel and fall apart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NOEL COWARD, NOEL PIERCE COWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bluejeans0701
I love every song which Judy Garland sang for us. This is amazing.
Cristian Ra
Estas canciones son como un tesoro para mí
LeCieri
Judy is the Greatest of All Time
Sprongo
Every version of this is too slow compared to Coward's own.