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).
This Heart Of Mine
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or the glamorous sky of blue
Maybe it was the mood I was in
Or maybe it was really you, really you
This heart of mine was doing very well
The world was fine as far as i could tell
And then quite suddenly i saw you, and i dreamed of gay amours
This heart of mine is gaily dancing now
I taste the wine of real romancing now
Somehow this crazy world has taken on a wonderful design
As long as life endures, it's yours, this heart of mine
These lyrics describe the sudden rush of emotions and feelings that overwhelm the singer when they see the person they love. The opening lines suggest that the setting and mood added to the magic of the moment, but it's ultimately the person themselves who captured the singer's heart. The singer goes on to describe how prior to seeing the person, their heart was content and at peace with the world. However, the person's appearance altered everything, and the singer begins to fantasize about a future with them, waking up singing "sentimental overtures."
The song then makes a more upbeat turn as the singer describes how their heart is now "gaily dancing" and how the crazy world they live in suddenly seems wonderful thanks to this newfound love. The singer declares that their heart belongs to this person for as long as they live, proclaiming their love and devotion.
Overall, these lyrics showcase the overwhelming and transformative effects of love, where even the most mundane things like the sky or music can take on new meaning once you've fallen for someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe it was the music
Perhaps it was the captivating melody
Or the glamorous sky of blue
Or the gorgeous azure color of the sky
Maybe it was the mood I was in
Perhaps it was the emotional state I was experiencing
Or maybe it was really you, really you
Or it could be that it was truly you who enchanted me
This heart of mine was doing very well
My heart was content and trouble-free
The world was fine as far as i could tell
Judging by what I perceived, everything was going well
And then quite suddenly i saw you, and i dreamed of gay amours
But suddenly, after seeing you, my heart was filled with visions of happy romances
At dawn i wake up singing sentimental overtures
Even when dawn breaks, I find myself singing sentimental love songs
This heart of mine is gaily dancing now
Now my heart is joyously dancing
I taste the wine of real romancing now
I have the experience of true romance
Somehow this crazy world has taken on a wonderful design
In some way, this chaotic world now appears wonderfully crafted
As long as life endures, it's yours, this heart of mine
For as long as my life goes on, my heart belongs to you
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR FREED, HARRY WARREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fickle My Tancy
she makes me cry instantly. Her voice is like a stab in the heart.
Elizabeth Dacosta
This is so beautiful, my God. I feel so sorry for the people who haven’t ever heard Judy Garland.
Bluejeans0701
Recently I downloaded an e-book called "Judy Garland: A Biography" written by Anne Edwards to my iPhone. The more I read the story, the more I had to get convinced of her agonized life. Judy Garland was an angel sent from up above. She remains a great jazz icon even after her tragic death in June 1969.
Júlia Maria F. Queiroz
Sou super fã desta maravilhosa, talentosa, fabulosa, atriz/cantora.
Free2Be
Beautiful, the first time I heard the song was Fred Astaire's interpretation in the Ziegfeld Follies. His version made me feel light and cheerful but hers makes me feel something deeper, almost melancholy. Judy Garland makes me want to cry tears of joy.
celia hilda busciglio
inolvidable judy la mejor cantante que haya existido en el mundo y esta música es maravillosa
Kingsley Pedlar
The great Harry Warren (Salvatore Guaragna) composer of this song. Born in Brooklyn 1893. Died in L.A. 1981. The 11th and youngest child of Italian immigrants. Was influenced by Puccini in his youth. Judy Garland does this song justice. As did Fred Astaire in the movie "Ziegfield Follies" 1946. Thanks for posting this.
Harry Warren Fans
Music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Arthur Freed. Come visit and "Like" us @ Harry Warren Fans on Facebook.
Júlia Maria F. Queiroz
Esta foto da Judy Garland é linda. E a música também.
Virginia Stock
I love this song.