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 Wizard Of Oz: We're Off To See The Wizard
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Follow the yellow brick road
Follow, follow, follow, follow
Follow the yellow brick road
Follow the rainbow over the stream
Follow the fellow who follows a dream
Follow, follow, follow, follow
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
We hear he is a whiz of a wiz
If ever a wiz there was
If ever, oh ever a wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
We hear he is a whiz of a wiz
If ever a wiz there was
If ever, oh, ever a wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
The song "We're Off to See the Wizard" is a playful and optimistic anthem that encourages its listeners (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion) to follow the yellow brick road in order to find the Wizard of Oz. The opening lines of the song - "Follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow brick road" - set the stage for the journey and frame it as a task that is both exciting and a bit daunting. The song then continues by describing the journey as one that involves following a rainbow over a stream and following someone else who is also following a dream. The lyrics then pivot to focus on the Wizard himself, painting him as a truly remarkable figure - "The wonderful Wizard of Oz, we hear he is a whiz of a wiz, if ever a wiz there was." The chorus repeats the idea that the Wizard is special and capable of doing incredible things - "Because of the wonderful things he does" - and that the group is eager to meet him and learn from him - "We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz."
One possible interpretation of the song is that it reflects the themes of growth and self-discovery that are central to "The Wizard of Oz" as a whole. The journey down the yellow brick road can be seen as a metaphor for the process of personal growth and self-discovery, with each character facing and overcoming various challenges along the way. The idea of following a dream or applying oneself to a purpose that one believes in is also a common motif in the story, and is echoed in lines such as "Follow the fellow who follows a dream." Ultimately, the song is an upbeat and catchy rallying cry that encourages a spirit of adventure and optimism in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow the yellow brick road
Keep following the path made of yellow bricks that leads to our destination
Follow, follow, follow, follow
Continue to follow the path without wavering
Follow the rainbow over the stream
Go across the stream while following the rainbow
Follow the fellow who follows a dream
Follow the person who has a strong passion and motive to achieve their goal
We're off to see the Wizard
We're embarking on a journey to meet the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wizard in Oz who is known to be incredible
We hear he is a whiz of a wiz
We've heard that the Wizard is an expert in his field
If ever a wiz there was
If there was ever a true wizard, it would be him
The Wizard of Oz is one because
The person known as the Wizard of Oz is a real wizard because
Because, because, because, because, because
There are many reasons why he is a wizard
Because of the wonderful things he does
One of the reasons he is considered a wizard is because of the amazing things he is capable of doing
We're off to see the Wizard
We're still on our way to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
Once again, we're talking about the incredible Wizard of Oz
If ever a wiz there was
If there was ever a true wizard, it would be him
If ever, oh, ever a wiz there was
Absolutely, without a doubt, he is the real deal
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Once more, we're affirming that the Wizard of Oz is a genuine wizard
Because, because, because, because, because
There are a multitude of reasons why he is a wizard
Because of the wonderful things he does
Again, one of the reasons he is considered a wizard is because of the amazing feats he can accomplish
We're off to see the Wizard
As before, we're still on our way to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
As we draw nearer to our destination, we continue to talk about the Wizard's magnificence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: E.Y. HARBURG, HAROLD ARLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Iggywiggywoo
This is always the first song that comes to mind whenever I skip or I see someone else skipping.
@wendydrummond9141
This is now needing a 1 hour loop
@FinnWolfhardANdTomHollandMINE
Fr yes
@nefariousboy4159
YES.
@sallyspreadbury6008
Every time I watch this movie I say that I'm off to see the Wizard
@thedizzysissy6958
Those 'sets' look so enchanting
@tylerleblanc520
Me leaving my house after the spider disappears
@tirano099
Peace to the actors
@alexaforgionedisneygirl13423
i love this
@camronchristopherpoellnitz7456
ease on down the road