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).
Why Was I Born?
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do I get? What am I givin'?
Why do I want a thing I daren't hope for?
What can I hope for? I wish I knew
Why do I try to draw you near me?
Why do I cry? You never hear me
I'm a poor fool, but what can I do?
Why was I born? Why am I livin'?
What do I get? What am I givin'?
Why do I want a thing I daren't hope for?
What can I hope for? I wish I knew
The lyrics of Judy Garland's song Why Was I Born? reflect the confusion and turmoil of an individual who is trying to make sense of their existence. The first stanza articulates the dichotomy of the singer's life - on one hand, they want something desperately but are too afraid to hope for it, while on the other, they question the purpose of their existence. This is a common existential dilemma that most humans face at some point in their lives.
The second stanza delves into the interpersonal dynamics of the singer. They wonder why they try to draw 'you' near them, and why they cry when 'you' never hears them. The use of the third person pronoun suggests that 'you' is distant and unattainable, and therefore the singer's attempts at drawing them near are futile. The stanza ends with the singer questioning why they even bother trying, despite being a 'poor fool.'
The refrain is a repetition of the questions posed in the first stanza, driving home the confusion and despair that the singer feels. Overall, Why Was I Born? is a poignant song that captures the essence of what it means to grapple with the existential questions of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Why was I born? Why am I livin'?
What is the purpose of my existence and why do I continue living?
What do I get? What am I givin'?
What is the meaning behind my actions and what do I receive in return?
Why do I want a thing I daren't hope for?
Why do I desire something that I know is impossible to attain?
What can I hope for? I wish I knew
I am uncertain about what to expect and wish for in my life.
Why do I try to draw you near me?
Why do I attempt to bring you closer to me?
Why do I cry? You never hear me
Why do I shed tears when you never listen to me?
I'm a poor fool, but what can I do?
I acknowledge that I may be a foolish person, but I do not know how to change my situation.
Why was I born to love you?
Why was I brought into this world only to love you, without the possibility of ever being with you?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, OSCAR II HAMMERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Darwinia Zhang
Oh how love Judy with all my heart..... she says so much in her songs... she had so much inside of her. I started loving Judy when I was 6, she died I was 9, and felt I had lost a relative. I have felt that way my entire life. I think Judy made people feel that way. xoxoxox's Dawn
Anthony Cilano
A once in a lifetime talent! I saw her perform live at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, NY in 1961(?). People in the audience were sobbing with joy. She was absolutely, incomparably fabulous. Her voice, her presence, her connection with the audience, wonderful beyond description. One of my greatest, most memorable evenings. To see her, to hear her, is to fall in love with her. RIP dear Miss Garland.
989rob
what a range of emotions this girl had!
Tom Nobles
Norrie Paramor... The London Recordings...Before her Second Act.
Cruse12
I think this is the saddest rendition of this song.Judy’s voice throbs heartbreak.So talented...
Anthony Cilano
The fabulous, one and only, Judy! I saw her in Rochester NY in 1961 or 62. The audience was in tears with love for her. No words to describe how great she was.
LC60
Anthony Cilano You are so lucky to have seen this once in a lifetime performer!
Abby Strehle
I think her voice was nice form here, maybe a little heavier than usual, but she still sounds maravlous . The arrangment was spot on and the song, as always, is touching.
matt mammone
+Abby Titus its the middle age and pregnancy hormones, women have a hard time keeping their voices approaching 40, she also just aged her voice naturally, and sang differently as a belter, not in her MGM voice. people smoked then too but that wasn't her fault ano one knew like now. IMO her best years were 53- 62. 55 and 61 being great.
briansky10
A very sad song performed so well. This certainly reflects on Judy's life during that time. She and her husband, Sid Luft had been forced to sell their lovely home in LA and had moved to London, where this song was recorded. On top of it all, their marriage was dissolving. 1960 was certainly an uphappy time for Judy Garland. But she found happiness in her relationship with her children and performing in London, where crowds totally adored her.