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 Go to My Head
Judy Garland Lyrics
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And you linger like a haunting refrain
And I find you spinning 'round in my brain
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne.
You go to my head
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
And I find the very mention of you
The thrill of the thought
That you might give a thought to my plea
Casts a spell over me
Till I say to myself
Get ahold of yourself!
Can't you see that it never can be?
You go to my head
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Like a summer with a thousand Julys.
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes.
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Hasn't a ghost of a chance
In this crazy romance,
You go to my head.
The song “You Go To My Head” by Judy Garland is a love song that reflects on the intensity and depth of emotions that arise when one falls in love. The lyrics express that the person the singer is in love with, lingers in their thoughts like a haunting melody, and the mere thought of them triggers an emotional response. The song metaphorizes the effect of falling in love to that of alcohol, where its intoxicating effect overwhelms and takes over one’s senses. The singer’s reference to “bubbles in a glass of champagne” and “sparkling burgundy brew” are symbolic of the euphoria that love brings.
The lyrics also reveal the inner battle that the singer faces as they come to terms with their feelings. The thrill of the mere thought of being on the mind of the one they love, casts a spell over them, and they lose control over their emotions. Conflicted by the idea that their love might not be reciprocated, the singer reminds themself that it’s a futile attempt and advises themself to get ahold of themselve attributing their response to the love that has intoxicated them. The song ends with the singer expressing that although they believe that their love might not be returned and that they might not stand a chance, they can't stop thinking about their lover, and they continue to intoxicate their soul.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to my head
You are constantly on my mind and in my thoughts.
And you linger like a haunting refrain
You stay with me, persistent and inescapable like a memorable melody.
And I find you spinning 'round in my brain
You become the main focus of my thoughts, swirling around in my mind.
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne.
You are effervescent and exciting, much like the bubbles in a celebratory drink.
Like a sip of sparkling burgundy brew
You are delicious and intoxicating, like a tempting drink that I can't resist.
And I find the very mention of you
Just hearing your name is enough to grab my attention and bring you to the forefront of my thoughts.
Like the kicker in a julep or two.
You add a little extra something to my day, like the minty flavoring in a classic cocktail.
The thrill of the thought
The excitement and possibility that comes with contemplating the idea
That you might give a thought to my plea
That you might consider my request or desire for attention.
Casts a spell over me
Has a powerful effect on me, capturing my attention and imagination.
Till I say to myself
Until I remind myself
Get ahold of yourself!
Take control of your thoughts and emotions, and shake off the obsession.
Can't you see that it never can be?
There is no chance for us to be together; it's an impossible desire.
With a smile that makes my temperature rise
Your smile elicits a physical response in me, raising my body temperature and making me feel excited and aroused.
Like a summer with a thousand Julys.
You bring warmth and light to my life, like a summer that never ends.
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes.
Your gaze has a powerful effect on me, making me feel emotionally overwhelmed and carried away by the intensity of my feelings.
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Even though I know for sure that my emotions are strong and intense
Hasn't a ghost of a chance
There's no way that my feelings can become reciprocated or lead to anything meaningful.
In this crazy romance,
Despite the fact that this attraction is irrational and impractical in real life
You go to my head.
You are a powerful force in my life, an obsession that I can't shake, no matter how irrational or impractical it may be.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: J Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind