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 Star of the East
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweetest man in this town
I heard you say you was goin′ away
And leave me here to stay
I feel like I could cry
And here's the reason why
Daddy, you really know your stuffWhen you take me for a buggy ride
I like you when you got your habits on
You can shift your gear with so much pride
I gets a funny feelin'
When you gaze into my eyes
You give me so much thrill
You make my thermometer rise
I′m happy when you′re by my side
When you take me for a buggy ride
Daddy, you're as sweet as you can be
When you take me for a buggy ride
When you set me down up on your knee
And ask me to be your bride
When you hug and kiss me
It makes me feel fine
I gets this funny feelin′
Up and down my spine
You don't need no teachin′, you don't need no guide
When you take me for a buggy ride
Your lovin′ ain't so forte in the park
You ain′t so hot, what can it be
That makes me say?
"Daddy, take all of me
You always ready every time that I call
What I like about you, you never stall
You ain′t no preacher, you a good old soul
You done sent salvation to my very soul
I can't kick but I′m satisfied
When you take me for a buggy ride
The lyrics of the song "The Star of the East" by Judy Garland can be interpreted in different ways, depending on the perspective or context in which it is viewed. However, one possible interpretation is that the song is about a woman who deeply loves, desires, and appreciates her man, who she refers to as "Daddy." She expresses her happiness and gratitude when he is by her side, as he takes her for a "buggy ride" and gives her love and affection that makes her feel special.
Despite knowing that her man is leaving town, the woman cannot help but feel emotional and desperate at the thought of being separated from him. She admires the way he looks and moves when he has his habits on, and the way he gazes at her with passion in his eyes. She also enjoys the feel of his embrace, and how he takes care of her physical and emotional needs.
The lyrics also suggest that the woman's man may not be the ideal partner for everyone, but to her, he is perfect because of the way he treats her. She appreciates his attentiveness, his lack of hesitation when she calls for him, and his ability to bring her joy and peace. Thus, the song can be seen as a testament to the power of love and how it can transform a person's perception of another.
Line by Line Meaning
You're my man, you're so nice and brown
You are the man I love, with dark skin that I appreciate
Sweetest man in this town
You are the kindest and nicest man in our community
I heard you say you was goin' away And leave me here to stay
I heard you mention you were leaving, which makes me sad since I have to stay behind
I feel like I could cry And here's the reason why
I feel like shedding tears and the reason is related to the thought of you leaving
Daddy, you really know your stuff When you take me for a buggy ride
I love it when you take me for a ride in the carriage, dear
I like you when you got your habits on You can shift your gear with so much pride
It pleases me when you wear your favorite outfit and drive the carriage with great confidence
I gets a funny feelin' When you gaze into my eyes
I feel a strange sensation when you look into my eyes
You give me so much thrill You make my thermometer rise
You make me feel excited and stimulate my sexual desire
I'm happy when you're by my side When you take me for a buggy ride
Being with you and riding in the carriage makes me feel content and joyful
Daddy, you're as sweet as you can be When you take me for a buggy ride
My darling, you are so kind and lovely to me when we go out in the carriage
When you set me down up on your knee And ask me to be your bride
When you hold me and propose to me, asking to be your future wife
When you hug and kiss me It makes me feel fine I gets this funny feelin' Up and down my spine
Your embrace and kisses make me feel fantastic, like there's electricity running through my body
You don't need no teachin', you don't need no guide When you take me for a buggy ride
You don't require any instructions or guidance when it comes to taking me out in the carriage
Your lovin' ain't so forte in the park But you a lovin', poor creature in the dark
Your affection is not as passionate in public, but you are an animal in the bedroom
You ain't so hot, what can it be That makes me say? 'Daddy, take all of me'
You are not the most attractive man, yet for some reason, I cannot resist you and want to give you all of myself
You always ready every time that I call What I like about you, you never stall
You always answer my calls without hesitation and never make excuses or delay
You ain't no preacher, you a good old soul You done sent salvation to my very soul
You are not a holy man, but you are a kind and compassionate person who has saved me in your own way
I can't kick but I'm satisfied When you take me for a buggy ride
I have no complaints and feel content when we go out in the carriage together
Writer(s): George Cooper, A. Kennedy
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.