London's 35-year acting career began in films in 1944 and included playing opposite Gary Cooper in Man of the West (1958) and Robert Mitchum in The Wonderful Country (1959). She achieved continuing success in the TV medical drama Emergency! (1972–1979), co-starring her real-life husband, Bobby Troup, and produced by her ex-husband, Jack Webb, in which London played the female lead role of nurse Dixie McCall. She and Randolph Mantooth, who played one-half of her medical students, a paramedic, in the series, were very close to her family, until her death in 2000.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, she was the daughter of Jack and Josephine Peck, who were a vaudeville song-and-dance team. When she was fourteen the family moved to Los Angeles. Shortly after that, she began appearing in movies. She graduated from the Hollywood Professional High School in 1945.
London began singing under the name Gayle Peck in public in her teens before appearing in a film. She was discovered by talent agent Sue Carol (wife of actor Alan Ladd), while working as an elevator operator. Her early film career, however, did not include any singing roles.
London recorded 32 albums in a career that began in 1955 with a live performance at the 881 Club in Los Angeles. Billboard named her the most popular female vocalist for 1955, 1956, and 1957. She was the subject of a 1957 Life cover article in which she was quoted as saying, "It's only a thimbleful of a voice, and I have to use it close to the microphone. But it is a kind of oversmoked voice, and it automatically sounds intimate."
London's debut recordings were for the Bethlehem Records label. While shopping for a record deal, she recorded four tracks that would later be included on the compilation album Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955. Bobby Troup backed London on the album, for which London recorded the standards "Don't Worry About Me", "Motherless Child", "A Foggy Day", and "You're Blasé".
London's most famous single, "Cry Me a River", was written by her high-school classmate Arthur Hamilton and produced by Troup. The recording became a million-seller after its release in December 1955 and also sold on reissue in April 1983 from the attention brought by a Mari Wilson cover. London performed the song in the film The Girl Can't Help It (1956), and her recording gained later attention in the films Passion of Mind (2000) and V for Vendetta (2006). The song "Yummy Yummy Yummy" was featured on the HBO television series Six Feet Under and appears on its soundtrack album. London's "Must Be Catchin'" was featured in the 2011 premiere episode of the ABC series Pan Am. Her last recording was "My Funny Valentine" for the soundtrack of the Burt Reynolds film Sharky's Machine (1981).
Other popular singles include "Hot Toddy", "Daddy", and "Desafinado". Recordings such as "Go Slow" epitomized her career style: her voice is slow, smoky, and playfully sensual.
She was married to Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame. Her obvious beauty and self-poise (she was a pinup girl prized by GIs during World War II) contrasted with his pedestrian appearance and stiff-as-a-board acting technique (much parodied by impersonators). This unlikely pairing arose from his and her love for jazz; their marriage lasted from July 1947 to November 1953. They had two daughters, one who was killed in a traffic accident in the 1990s and one who survived London. In 1954, having become somewhat reclusive after her divorce from Jack Webb, she met jazz composer and musician Bobby Troup at a club on La Brea Blvd. They married on December 31, 1959 and remained married until Troup's death in February 1999. Together, they had one daughter and twin sons.
London suffered a stroke in 1995, and was in poor health until her death in Encino, California, at the age of seventy-four, survived by four of her five children. She died on18th October 2000, and was buried in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.
You Go to My Head
Julie London Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Like the kicker in a julep or two
The thrill of the thought that you might give a thought to my plea
Still I say to myself get a hold 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
You go to my head
The lyrics of Julie London's song "You Go to My Head" are a beautiful expression of how someone can fill our thoughts and emotions to the point of intoxication. The singer compares her lover to a haunting refrain, a bubble in a glass of champagne, and a sip of sparkling Burgundy brew that consumes her mind and senses. The mere mention of him is like a kicker in a julep, stirring up the intoxicating feeling even more. The thrill of the possibility that he might return her love casts a spell over her, even though she knows deep down that it cannot be.
The song depicts a love that is all-consuming, and despite the singer's attempt to tell herself to get a hold of herself, she cannot resist the allure of her lover's smile, which makes her temperature rise like a summer with a thousand Julys. His eyes intoxicate her soul, even though she knows that her heart doesn't stand a chance in this crazy romance. The repetition of the line "You go to my head" emphasizes the power of his presence in her life, and how he has become an obsession that she cannot shake off.
In summary, "You Go to My Head" is a beautiful love song that portrays the overwhelming feeling of being in love with someone who may not feel the same way. The singer's words express a sense of helplessness and surrender to the power of her lover's presence, despite the impossibility of their love story.
Line by Line Meaning
You go to my head and you linger like a haunting refrain
You constantly occupy my thoughts and emotions, like a memorable tune that echoes in my mind.
And I find you spinning 'round in my brain
I keep thinking about you and cannot shake the feeling, as if my mind is swirling in circles.
Like the bubbles in a glass of champagne
Your presence in my mind is as effervescent and intoxicating as the bubbles in a celebratory drink.
You go to my head like a sip of sparkling Burgundy brew
The mere thought of you excites and enlivens me, like a delicious and effervescent glass of wine.
And I find the very mention of you
Even just hearing your name can evoke strong emotions in me.
Like the kicker in a julep or two
Similar to the refreshing kick of mint in a refreshing cocktail, the thought of you adds a jolt of excitement to my day.
The thrill of the thought that you might give a thought to my plea
The excitement and possibility of you considering my desires produces a rush in me.
Cast a spell over me
Your allure and charm has captivated me in a powerful way.
Still I say to myself get a hold of yourself
Despite my intense feelings, I try to remind myself to remain level-headed and logical.
Can't you see that it never can be
I'm aware that our romance will never materialize, despite my feelings.
You go to my head with a smile that makes my temperature rise
Your smile elicits strong emotions and physical reactions in me, such as blushing or feeling hot.
Like a summer with a thousand Julys
Your presence in my life feels endless and infinite, like a long and hot summer filled with countless days.
You intoxicate my soul with your eyes
Your gaze has a powerful and entrancing effect on me, affecting me at a deep, soulful level.
Though I'm certain that this heart of mine
Despite my feelings, I'm aware that the chances of us being together are slim.
Hasn't a ghost of a chance in this crazy romance
My heart's desire to be with you is unrealistic and unlikely given the reality of the situation.
You go to my head
Overall, you have captured my mind and heart in a profound way that I cannot shake.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J.F. Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind