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).
The Birthday of a King
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of Bethlehem
There lay
A child one day
And the sky was bright
With a holy light
O'er the place
Where Jesus lay
Alleluia
O how the angels sang
Alleluia
How it rang
And the sky was bright
With a holy light
'Twas the birthday
Of a King
Humble birthplace
But O
How much God gave
To us that day
From the manger bed
What a path has led
What a perfect holy way
Alleluia
O how the angels sang
Alleluia
How it rang
And the sky was bright
With a Holy light
'Twas the birthday
Of a King
The song "The Birthday of a King" by Judy Garland is a traditional Christmas carol that recounts the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. The song begins by describing the humble birthplace of Jesus as a small village in Bethlehem where he was born. The sky is depicted as bright and holy, shining down upon the place where Jesus lay. The chorus of the song celebrates the joyous occasion of Jesus' birth, and the angels are praised for singing "Alleluia" in honor of the new King. The second verse highlights the significance of Jesus' birth, as it marks the beginning of a new path towards a perfect and holy way of life.
The overall message of the song is one of hope and praise, emphasizing the importance of Jesus' birth and the positive impact it has had on humanity. It encourages listeners to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of Jesus, and to remember his teachings of love, peace, and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
In the little village
In a small town
Of Bethlehem
Called Bethlehem
There lay
A baby was laying
A child one day
On a particular day in history, a child was born
And the sky was bright
The sky was filled with light
With a holy light
A light that is sacred
O'er the place
Above where the child was born
Where Jesus lay
Where the child was lying was where Jesus was born
Alleluia
A word of praise
O how the angels sang
Angels sang loudly
How it rang
How it echoed
And the sky was bright
The sky was filled with light
With a holy light
A light that is sacred
'Twas the birthday
It was the day on which the child was born
Of a King
Of a ruler
Humble birthplace
A simple place of birth
But O
Despite being simple
How much God gave
God gave so much
To us that day
To those of us alive on that day
From the manger bed
From where the baby was lying
What a path has led
The journey that followed
What a perfect holy way
A journey that was righteous and without fault
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Catherine Morrison
Judy had such a beautiful voice. Love hearing her sing this Christmas carol. Thank you for posting this. ♥️
Nora Steel
Happy to hear Judy sing Christmas Carols! Thank you for sharing with us!
Marlin Pals
Yes, Republicans will have a nervous breakdown hearing Judy, (and Frank), sing about Jesus. Republicans are vicious and have to tear down every thing decent.
BirdsnBlooms1
Beautiful. Judy had such a great voice.. I love the song.
maple1255
Very beautiful with dear Judy's voice, so fine to hear this time of the year ☺
Logo Archive Collection Company
1939
maple1255
@*****
It is so good to see you here today, Gabriella! I am having a similar thing today with Patty working probably until 4 pm, then giving her a ride home but will try to check in again after my nap :) ✩ T.
gabriella280659
+maple1255 As you I love the voice of Judy Garland... I did not know this wonderful hymn. ✩ Thank you very much for sharing, my friend ✩ g.
Steven Cohn
This version by Mrs. Garland in my humble opinion is a top ten classic Christmas song of all time!!
Morris petty jr
Thank you for such an amazing job on this beautiful song!