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 Girl That I Marry
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As soft and as pink as a nursery
The girl I call my own
Will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne
Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
'stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'
A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be
Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
'stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'
Next to her and she'll purr like a kitten
A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be
The opening line of the song, "The girl that I marry will have to be, as soft and as pink as a nursery" sets the tone for this traditional love song. It describes the ideal woman that the singer would like to marry. The girl he wants to call his own must be soft, gentle and have a feminine appearance, as represented by the metaphor of a pink nursery. The singer then goes on to describe the appearance and demeanor that he wants in his bride-to-be. He wants her to be dressed in luxurious fabrics such as satin and lace, and to have a pleasant scent of cologne. Her nails will be well-manicured, and she will wear a gardenia in her hair, an elegant touch to her beauty.
Furthermore, he anticipates that with her by his side, he will never have to look for entertainment again. The notion of flitting from person to person will become irrelevant since he will have found his purring little kitten-like love interest. The final line, "A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be" implies that the woman he desires is almost like a trophy he can carry and display, a literal embodiment of his perfect love.
Overall, this song speaks to traditional gender roles and the idea of finding the perfect partner who embodies a classical femininity. Though the lyrics may not be politically correct by today's standards, they are representative of the culture of the time when the song was written, which was in the 1940s.
Line by Line Meaning
The girl that I marry will have to be
The woman I choose to marry must meet certain standards and expectations.
As soft and as pink as a nursery
She must have a gentle demeanor and a soft appearance that reminds me of a calming nursery.
The girl I call my own
The woman who belongs to me, who I choose to have as my partner in life.
Will wear satins and laces and smell of cologne
She will dress in luxurious fabrics and have a pleasing scent about her.
Her nails will be polished and, in her hair,
She will take care of her appearance, paying attention to the details such as her manicure and hairstyles.
She'll wear a gardenia and I'll be there
I desire for her to wear a specific flower, a gardenia, which I associate with romantic love, and I will be there by her side to enjoy it.
Stead of flittin', I'll be sittin'
Instead of being restless and unsettled, I will be content and relaxed in her presence.
Next to her and she'll purr like a kitten
She will respond to my affection with a contented and affectionate purr, like a contented kitten.
A doll I can carry, the girl that I marry must be
I desire for her to have a delicate and petite appearance, like a doll, that I can physically carry and hold close.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind