It's a Great Day for the Irish

Listen online

The Norrie Paramor Orchestra, Judy Garland

About It's a Great Day for the Irish

"It's a Great Day for the Irish" is an Irish-American song that was written in 1940 by Roger Edens, one of the many musical directors at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios under the leadership of Arthur Freed for inclusion in the film version of the George M. Cohan 1922 Broadway show Little Nellie Kelly, directed by Norman Taurog. The rights of the show were sold to MGM by Cohan as a starring vehicle for Judy Garland. The song was partly written to capitalize on Garland's identification with her Irish roots (Garland was a quarter Irish through her maternal grandmother Eva Fitzpatrick). The new song was to be used in a recreation of New York's famed annual St. Patrick's Day Parade marching up Fifth Avenue. It was to be a major production number requiring the New York Street set on the backlot to be enlarged, involving the main characters of the film and showcasing Garland's enormously strong voice and engaging performance style as she sang and danced up the avenue with her father, played by George Murphy, her stereotypical grandfather (played by Charles Winninger) and her boyfriend (Douglas McPhail). The movie was well received, but is now most remembered for the rousing song it introduced into Irish-American culture and as Garland's only death scene on film. 


Year:
2008
2:33
102 
#1

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Judy Garland

Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American actress, singer and vaudevillian. Described by Fred Astaire as "the greatest entertainer who ever lived" and renowned for her contralto voice, she attained international stardom throughout a career that spanned more than 40 years as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage. Respected for her versatility, she received a Juvenile Academy Award and won a Golden Globe Award as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the remake of A Star is Born and for the Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg. She remains t… more »

4 fans

11 facts about this song

Album Release
"It's a Great Day for the Irish" is featured on the album "That's Entertainment!," which was released in 1960.
Song Origin
The song is from the movie "Little Nellie Kelly" released in 1940, where Judy Garland acted as the daughter and the mother.
Actress and Singer
Judy Garland, best known for her role as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," performed the song. She was also a highly acclaimed singer, known for her contralto singing voice.
Singing Style
Judy Garland performed "It's a Great Day for the Irish" in a traditional Broadway style, demonstrating her versatile vocal ability.
Song Theme
The song is a celebration of Irish pride and heritage, commonly associated with St. Patrick's Day.
Composer
"It's a Great Day for the Irish" was composed by Roger Edens, a noted Hollywood composer and Garland's longtime musical arranger.
Legacy
It has become a favorite among fans of Judy Garland and is often played in St. Patrick's Day celebrations around the world.
Notable Performances
The song was performed in Madison Square Garden at a St. Patrick's Day event in 1948, and it received vast acclaim.
Other Recordings
The song has been recorded and performed by numerous artists, including Bing Crosby, The Irish Tenors, and Maureen McGovern.
Popularity
In Ireland, it's considered an unofficial national anthem due to its cheerful melody and bright lyrics reflecting Irish enthusiasm.
Modern Usage
It's also often played during parades and events celebrating Irish culture, both in Ireland and across the diaspora.

Discuss the It's a Great Day for the Irish Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "It's a Great Day for the Irish Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14534474/Judy+Garland/It%27s+a+Great+Day+for+the+Irish>.

    Powered by CITE.ME Cite.Me

    Missing lyrics by Judy Garland?

    Know any other songs by Judy Garland? Don't keep it to yourself!

    more tracks from the album

    The Best of Judy Garland [Primo]

    Browse Lyrics.com

    #ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

    Our awesome collection of

    Promoted Songs

    »

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "Oh, the sound of Christmas coming to town, Fills the air like snow falling all around..."
    A Bigger Than The Universe
    B The Sound of Christmas
    C Game Over
    D Africa

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Judy Garland tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io

    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!