Trolley Song
Judy Garland
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
With my high starched-collar and my high-topped shoes And my hair piled high upon my head I went to lose a jolly hour on the trolley And lost my heart instead With his light brown derby and his bright green tie He was quite the handsomest of men I started to yen so I counted to ten Then I counted to ten again Clang, clang, clang went the trolley Ding, ding, ding went the bell Zing, zing, zing went my heart strings From the moment I saw him I fell Chug, chug, chug went the motor Bump, bump, bump went the brake Thump, thump, thump went my heart strings When he smiled I could feel the car shake He tipped his hat, and took a seat He said he hoped he hadn't stepped upon my feet He asked my name, I held my breath I couldn't speak because he scared me half to death Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer Plop, plop, plop went the wheels Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings As he started to go then I started to know how it feels When the universe reels The day was bright, the air was sweet The smell of honeysuckle charmed you off your feet You tried to sing, but couldn't squeak In fact you loved him so you couldn't even speak Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer Plop, plop, plop went the wheels Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings As he started to leave I took hold of his sleeve with my hand And as if it were planned He stayed on with me and it was grand just to stand With his hand holding mine to the end of the line
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Historical Context"The Trolley Song" was featured in the 1944 musical film "Meet Me in St. Louis," where Judy Garland stars as the central character, Esther Smith.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by a picture of a trolley car in a turn-of-the-century newspaper.
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SongwritersThe famous song was written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin, a songwriting duo known for creating other memorable numbers in the same movie, like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
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Performance Legacy"The Trolley Song" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song in 1945 but lost to “Swinging on a Star” from "Going My Way."
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Charts and SalesDespite not winning the Oscar, "The Trolley Song" was a commercial success and reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts.
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Cultural ImpactJudy Garland's lively performance of the song in the film made it one of her signature songs and is iconic in American film and music culture.
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Recordings"The Trolley Song" has been covered by numerous artists since its release, including baritone singer Michael Feinstein and jazz artist Dave Brubeck.
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Lyrics InspirationThe lyrics of the song supposedly stem from a story found by songwriter Hugh Martin in a book about the first electric trolley called the “clang, clang, clang” of the trolley.
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Musical ArrangementThe upbeat pop arrangement of the song makes it a standout in Garland's repertoire, showcasing her range and prowess as a performer.
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Film PerspectiveIn the film, the song is set on a trolley on the way to the Fairgrounds, and serves as a backdrop for Judy Garland's character Esther to express her love interest, John Truett.
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American Film Institute RankingIn 2004, the American Film Institute ranked "The Trolley Song" as number 26 on its list of the greatest songs in American cinema.
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Citation
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"Trolley Song Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1007289/Judy+Garland/Trolley+Song>.
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