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).
Who?
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's Sorry Now?
Who's heart is aching for breaking each vow?
Who's sad and blue?
Who's crying too?
Just like I cried over you.
Right to the end,
Just like a friend,
You had your way,
Now you must pay;
Judy Garland's song "Who's Sorry Now?" is a poignant reflection on the pain of lost love and the bitter irony of regret. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has been hurt deeply by a lover's false promises and betrayal. The question "Who's sorry now?" is directed at the former lover, and implies a sense of schadenfreude on the part of the singer, who takes some satisfaction in knowing that the tables have turned.
The repeated refrain "Who's heart is aching for breaking each vow?" emphasizes the theme of betrayal and the importance of keeping one's word. The singer is clearly hurt and devastated by the loss of the relationship, but also has a sense of vindication that the former lover is now experiencing the same pain. The line "You had your way, now you must pay" is a powerful statement of justice, suggesting that the former lover is getting what they deserve.
Overall, "Who's Sorry Now?" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the complicated emotions that come with it. The lyrics are simple and direct, but pack a powerful emotional punch that has resonated with audiences for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's Sorry Now?
Who is experiencing regret and apologizing now?
Who's heart is aching for breaking each vow?
Who is feeling the pain of breaking promises and causing heartache?
Who's sad and blue?
Who is feeling down and depressed?
Who's crying too?
Who is shedding tears along with the singer?
Just like I cried over you.
Similar to how the singer cried for the listener, who else is feeling this emotional turmoil?
Right to the end,
The singer remained loyal till the very end, without giving up or backing down.
Just like a friend,
The singer remained a true friend till the end, despite the listener's actions.
I tried to warn you somehow.
The singer made efforts to warn the listener, likely of the consequences of their actions or decisions.
You had your way,
The listener went ahead with their own course of action or decision, regardless of any warnings or advice given to them.
Now you must pay;
There are negative consequences or a price to be paid for the listener's actions, and they must face them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, Ted Snyder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Circus_ Satan
I always thought that the song started so quickly, like the first millisecond Judy starts to sing. Love this Extended version!💕
Kenneth Sloan
It's a shame the unused version was lost. Would love to see what was missing. Judy sound absolutely radiant.
csm
Love the trumpets section. I can say those were specific for MGM film music in the 40's, even in their cartoons.
Ted Watson
she is so beautiful here. her dancing is as amazing as her singing.
Grant Walker
Superb ! They had talent and style back in the day. The old time composers were romantics who had class. Musicals and songs of yesteryear are timeless.
Ann D Britch-Barney
Yes! So called romance now leaves nothing to the imagination.
R.J. Powers
Judy who was known for her sense of humour thought it hysterically funny that she was singing lines like "who stole my heart away" while she was nearly six months pregnant. And does she not look radiant!
Júlia G.
wasn’t there also a story about that treadmill (conveyor belt? i don’t know what it’s called in english) they were on at the beginning? apparently the “landing” was not smooth at all and she also joked about it. in fact you can see just milliseconds before the camera cuts that there’s a bit of a jolt there (1:01)
Axl Heck
i noticed that too .
Casey Jason Griffin
The first time that I heard the complete audio track for this number was 1995. I recall being quite impressed with it. Ms. Garland's phrasing and interpretation is both sophisticated and exquisite while singing her vocals for the second deleted portion (3:33-4:58) of this song. I hadn't heard this in ages, simply because I was too lazy to retrieve the CD from my collection of music that's still in the closet packed away after I had moved several years ago. With the accessibility of YouTube, I don't find the necessity of playing my CDs as all the music that I enjoy is available at my finger tips on YouTube!