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).
Yah-Ta-Ta Yah-Ta-Ta
Judy Garland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My hat?
Oh Bing, how nice of you to ask me that.
Because there's a very interesting story
Connected with this hat, there really is.
I was walking down the street the other day,
Ran into Mllicent Palmer, you know Millicent Palmer,
How do I get involved?
Well we walked around the corner for what passes
For a millinery shop and she looked in the window and
Saw my hat and said, "that is for you"
I went in, the saleslady put it on my head and I
Thought it was a little matronly
Time
Oh, now wait, no wait
Cut
When I got my arm around you and we're going for a walk
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, talk, talk, talk
When we're sitting close together in a cozy taxi cab
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, gab, gab, gab
Aristotle, mathematics, economics, antique chairs
The classics, the comics, darling, who cares?
There's a brand new moon this evening and the weather should be fine
If you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
I'll politely close your lips with mine
How's your golf Bing?
My golf? Ho-ho I'm really moving that ball out there, striking it a ton.
I had a sixty-nine Sunday, should have been a sixty-five.
Terrific wind blowing, couldn't drop a single putt, it was murder
Oh, I lost my head with this question
And of course the equipment, you just can't get any golf balls anymore
The actors are hoarding them all...and the caddies, huh they want an
Annuity for eighteen holes. You've got to take an option on one to be sure
He'll show up.
Cut
Sorry
When the parlour lights are lowered and the family isn't in
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, chin, chin, chin
When there's music softly playing and I'm sitting on your lap
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, yap, yap, yap
Forward passes, second baggers, or a jockey who is hot.
Or boxing, or hockey, darling, so what?
I'll attempt some other evening.
Well you can call for me at nine
Calling?
But if you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
What do you mean the same old line?
Same line
You asked me about my hat,
You've been standing there for an hour
And a half talking your big fat head off
I thought
About golf
I just
You didn't even let me finish my story
I told you what I would do
Oh darling, let me finish
Steady, steady
Oh
It's so nice to close your lips with mine.
The lyrics to Judy Garland's song Yah-Ta-Ta Yah-Ta-Ta represent a humorous conversation between Judy and Bing regarding her hat and their conversation topics. The opening line, "Love your skimmer Judy, where did you grab it?" refers to Judy's hat, to which she responds by sharing a story about how she got the hat from her friend Millicent Palmer. She initially thought it was a little matronly, but she wears it anyway. The conversation topic then shifts to golf, with Bing talking about his recent game and equipment issues.
The second half of the song focuses on Judy's frustration with Bing's incessant talking. She asks him to stop yapping and enjoying the moment instead of continuously conversing. She urges him to stop discussing topics like forward passes, second basemen, or jockeys who are hot, implying that she wants to spend quality time with him instead. The song ends with Judy politely closing Bing's lips with hers, conveying that she would rather be silent and enjoy each other's company.
Overall, the song is a light-hearted and playful song about the importance of enjoying the present moment and spending quality time with loved ones, without unnecessary conversation.
Line by Line Meaning
Love your skimmer Judy, where did you grab it?
Bing compliments Judy's hat and asks where she got it.
My hat?
Judy responds with a questioning tone.
Oh Bing, how nice of you to ask me that.
Judy expresses gratitude towards Bing for showing interest in her hat.
Because there's a very interesting story
Judy hints at a deeper story regarding her hat.
Connected with this hat, there really is.
Judy confirms that there is indeed a story related to her hat.
I was walking down the street the other day,
Judy begins to recount the story behind her hat.
Ran into Millicent Palmer, you know Millicent Palmer,
Judy mentions bumping into her friend Millicent Palmer.
A very dear friend of mine.
Judy expresses her affection towards Millicent.
Well we walked around the corner for what passes
Judy explains the direction they took on their walk.
For a millinery shop and she looked in the window and
Judy narrates that they stopped at a millinery shop.
Saw my hat and said, "that is for you"
Judy quotes Millicent as saying the hat was meant for her.
I went in, the saleslady put it on my head and I
Judy describes how she tried on the hat.
Thought it was a little matronly
Judy's initial reaction to the hat was that it was old-fashioned.
Oh, now wait, no wait
Judy interrupts Bing before he can speak further.
When I got my arm around you and we're going for a walk
Judy starts singing about a romantic moment with Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, talk, talk, talk
Judy asks Bing to stop talking so much.
When we're sitting close together in a cozy taxi cab
Judy describes another intimate scenario between her and Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, gab, gab, gab
Judy repeats her request for Bing to stop talking too much.
Aristotle, mathematics, economics, antique chairs
Judy lists off topics Bing frequently talks about.
The classics, the comics, darling, who cares?
Judy dismisses Bing's interests and questions their relevance.
There's a brand new moon this evening and the weather should be fine
Judy changes the subject to a romantic evening setting.
If you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
Judy warns Bing not to repeat himself with his romantic lines.
I'll politely close your lips with mine
Judy implies that she will kiss Bing if he continues to speak too much.
How's your golf Bing?
Judy asks Bing about his golf game.
My golf? Ho-ho I'm really moving that ball out there, striking it a ton.
Bing boasts about his golf skills.
I had a sixty-nine Sunday, should have been a sixty-five.
Bing describes his recent golf score.
Terrific wind blowing, couldn't drop a single putt, it was murder
Bing attributes his poor score to the difficult playing conditions.
Oh, I lost my head with this question
Judy admits that asking about golf was a mistake.
And of course the equipment, you just can't get any golf balls anymore
Bing complains about the difficulty of obtaining golf balls.
The actors are hoarding them all...and the caddies, huh they want an
Bing complains about the high prices of golf equipment and services.
Annuity for eighteen holes. You've got to take an option on one to be sure
Bing jokes about the high costs of playing golf.
He'll show up.
Bing expresses confidence in his golf caddy or partner showing up on time.
When the parlour lights are lowered and the family isn't in
Judy imagines a romantic scenario at home.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, chin, chin, chin
Judy repeats her request for Bing to stop talking too much.
When there's music softly playing and I'm sitting on your lap
Judy describes another intimate scene with Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, yap, yap, yap
Judy again asks Bing to stop talking so much.
Forward passes, second baggers, or a jockey who is hot.
Judy lists off sports-related topics Bing might start talking about.
Or boxing, or hockey, darling, so what?
Judy dismisses these topics as uninteresting.
I'll attempt some other evening.
Judy suggests they try another evening for a romantic date.
Well you can call for me at nine
Judy agrees to see Bing at a specific time.
Calling?
Bing questions if he should call for Judy.
But if you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
Judy reiterates her warning against Bing repeating the same romantic lines.
What do you mean the same old line?
Bing is confused by Judy's warning.
Same line
Judy clarifies that Bing should avoid using the same romantic lines he always does.
You asked me about my hat,
Judy reminds Bing about her hat story.
You've been standing there for an hour
Judy complains that Bing has been talking too much for too long.
And a half talking your big fat head off
Judy playfully insults Bing's excessive talking.
I thought
Judy begins to tell her hat story again.
About golf
Bing interrupts Judy's story to bring up golf again.
I just
Judy tries to continue her story.
You didn't even let me finish my story
Judy complains about Bing's interruptions.
I told you what I would do
Judy reminds Bing of her warning not to talk too much.
Oh darling, let me finish
Judy pleads with Bing to let her finish her story.
Steady, steady
Judy calms herself down after getting worked up about Bing's talking.
Oh
Judy finally tells the story of her hat.
It's so nice to close your lips with mine.
Judy returns to her romantic flirtations and implies kissing Bing.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind