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 song "Yah-Ta-Ta Yah-Ta-Ta" by Judy Garland and Bing Crosby is a playful conversation between two friends about various topics, including fashion, golf, and the art of conversation. The song begins with Bing complimenting Judy on her skimmer hat and asking where she got it. There are various interruptions as they banter back and forth, with Judy telling the story of how she got the hat and Bing describing his recent golf game.
The chorus of the song is a playful rebuke from Judy to Bing, asking him to stop "ya-ta-ta-ing" and talk less, especially when they are out on a date. She offers a list of various topics that he could discuss, but ultimately suggests that they just enjoy each other's company in silence. However, the song ends with a playful kiss, showing that they are still friends despite their banter.
Overall, "Yah-Ta-Ta Yah-Ta-Ta" is a lighthearted and humorous song that captures the easy rapport between Judy Garland and Bing Crosby. It is a snapshot of a bygone era of popular entertainment, where clever wordplay and witty banter were just as important as the music itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Love your skimmer Judy, where did you grab it?
Bing compliments Judy on her hat and asks where she got it.
My hat?
Judy responds to Bing's question with confusion.
Oh Bing, how nice of you to ask me that.
Judy thanks Bing for asking about her hat.
Because there's a very interesting story
Judy explains that there is a story behind her hat.
Connected with this hat, there really is.
Judy emphasizes that there is indeed a story behind her hat.
I was walking down the street the other day,
Judy starts telling the story behind her hat.
Ran into Millicent Palmer, you know Millicent Palmer,
Judy explains who Millicent Palmer is to Bing.
A very dear friend of mine.
Judy emphasizes that Millicent Palmer is a close friend.
Well we walked around the corner for what passes
Judy continues telling the story about how she got her hat.
For a millinery shop and she looked in the window and
Judy and Millicent walked around the corner to look at a millinery shop window.
Saw my hat and said, "that is for you"
Millicent saw the hat and told Judy that it was perfect for her.
I went in, the saleslady put it on my head and I
Judy went inside the shop and tried on the hat.
Thought it was a little matronly
Judy didn't think the hat was exactly her style.
Oh, now wait, no wait
Bing interrupts Judy to change the subject.
When I got my arm around you and we're going for a walk
Judy starts singing about being close to Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, talk, talk, talk
Judy doesn't want Bing to talk so much when they're together.
When we're sitting close together in a cozy taxi cab
Judy continues to sing about being close to Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, gab, gab, gab
Again, Judy asks Bing not to talk so much.
Aristotle, mathematics, economics, antique chairs
Judy lists off topics that Bing talks about too much.
The classics, the comics, darling, who cares?
Judy implies that she doesn't care about Bing's topics of conversation.
There's a brand new moon this evening and the weather should be fine
Judy sings about enjoying the nice weather and night.
If you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
Judy again asks Bing not to talk so much.
I'll politely close your lips with mine
Judy threatens to kiss Bing if he continues to talk too much.
How's your golf Bing?
Judy changes the subject and 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 how well he is playing golf lately.
I had a sixty-nine Sunday, should have been a sixty-five.
Bing tells Judy about his golf score from the previous Sunday.
Terrific wind blowing, couldn't drop a single putt, it was murder
Bing explains why he didn't score as well as he could have.
And of course the equipment, you just can't get any golf balls anymore
Bing complains about the state of golf equipment.
The actors are hoarding them all...and the caddies, huh they want an
Bing continues to complain about the lack of golf balls.
Annuity for eighteen holes. You've got to take an option on one to be sure
Bing jokes about the high price of a golf ball.
Sorry
Bing apologizes for going on about golf too much.
When the parlour lights are lowered and the family isn't in
Judy sings about being alone with Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, chin, chin, chin
Judy doesn't want Bing to talk so much when they're alone.
When there's music softly playing and I'm sitting on your lap
Judy again sings about being close to Bing.
Must you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, yap, yap, yap
Judy doesn't want Bing to talk, even when they're alone and close.
Forward passes, second baggers, or a jockey who is hot.
Judy lists off topics that Bing talks about too much.
Or boxing, or hockey, darling, so what?
Judy implies that she doesn't care about Bing's interests.
I'll attempt some other evening.
Judy suggests they talk later instead of now.
Well you can call for me at nine
Judy tells Bing when he can call her.
Calling?
Bing is surprised that he has to call Judy to talk to her.
But if you ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, ya-ta-ta, same old line
Judy again threatens to kiss Bing if he talks too much.
What do you mean the same old line?
Bing is confused by Judy's threat.
Same line
Judy reminds Bing that he talks too much.
You asked me about my hat,
Judy reminds Bing of the original topic of conversation.
You've been standing there for an hour and a half talking your big fat head off
Judy scolds Bing for talking too much.
I thought
Judy interrupts herself to think about something else.
About golf
Judy again changes the subject to golf.
I just
Judy once again interrupts herself.
You didn't even let me finish my story
Judy is upset that she wasn't able to finish her story about the hat.
I told you what I would do
Judy reminds Bing that she threatened to kiss him.
Oh darling, let me finish
Judy wants to finish telling her story about the hat.
Steady, steady
Judy calms down after getting upset with Bing.
Oh
Judy finishes telling the story about the hat.
It's so nice to close your lips with mine.
Judy and Bing kiss.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Blizerton
I love this song!
@Trombonology
Brilliant performance by these two kids. ... One would almost think they did a little acting on the side.
@stevecharman8420
At 42 Bing was a little past the kid's stage
@Trombonology
@@stevecharman8420 Since you obviously missed it, I was referencing the tone of the lyric -- not Harry Lillis' chronological age.
@stevecharman8420
@@Trombonology Yes, that's the problem with irony. It's certainly easy to misunderstand it sometime. :)
@joshualawn8721
This is such a fun song.