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).
You're Nearer
Judy Garland Lyrics
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Nearer, than the wind is to the willow
Dearer, than the rain is to the earth below
Precious as the sun to the things that grow
You're nearer, than the ivy to the wall is
Nearer, than the winter to the fall is
Leave me, but when you're away, you'll know
The Judy Garland song "You're Nearer" has very simple and subtle lyrics that convey deep emotions. It hints at a love that is so strong and all-encompassing that it compares the presence of the person to basic natural elements that surround us. Garland initially compares her lover's closeness to her pillow and the wind to the willow tree, emphasizing the intimacy and comfort they provide her. She goes on to say that her lover is more precious than rain to the earth below and just as vital as the sun to the things that grow. These metaphors imply that the lover is a vital component of her life and existence, essential to her nourishment and growth.
Garland then makes a comparison with the ivy to the wall, indicating that her lover is inseparable from her life. Their closeness is comparable to the winter to the fall, signifying that they belong together, no matter the circumstances. When she asks her lover to leave, she says that even in absence, the person is still near because of the love she feels for them.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "You're Nearer" create a deep sense of longing and attachment that goes beyond the physical presence. Garland's voice carries the emotions of the song, and the lyrics capture a feeling of comfort, preciousness, and completeness that comes with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
You're nearer, than my head is to my pillow
You are incredibly close to me, even closer than my head is to my pillow when I sleep.
Nearer, than the wind is to the willow
Your proximity is even closer than the wind is to the willow. You are always near me.
Dearer, than the rain is to the earth below
You are more precious and valuable to me than the rain is to the earth below. Your presence brings life to me.
Precious as the sun to the things that grow
Your importance to me is exactly like the significance of the sun to the things that grow. You nourish me and help me blossom.
You're nearer, than the ivy to the wall is
Your presence is very much like ivy, which is always attached to the wall. You are always by my side.
Nearer, than the winter to the fall is
You are closer to me than the winter season is to the fall season. You are an inseparable part of my life.
Leave me, but when you're away, you'll know
Even if you decide to leave, you will realize the depth of our closeness when you are away.
You're nearer, for I love you so
My love for you keeps you nearer to me - we will always be close, because my love for you is strong.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind