The current "thing that is following me around" would be The Ghost of Judy Garland Past. I am not in the Christmas spirit, and am not really seeking anything of the sort. This year I am in the Judy Garland spirit. I was at my least favorite thrift store on 3rd and 83rd street. The man behind the counter is this very fluffy, snotty guy. We never really talk to each other – but I needed his assistance. Playing in the background was Judy. I have never really been interested in Judy. But the song playing was from a Judy concert in Paris, and it made me feel like Christmas. So after asking him for the Vaurnet’s, I then asked if the Judy was for sale. Both him and the fag hag next to him start choppy laughing, asking me if I am insane.
“Not really.” I replied.
“Well anyway, this album is not for sale.” kackle kackle.
“Yes. I am okay with that. Do you think I could look at the cover?”
So I examine the cover and resolve that other than the Big Lebowski CD that I had received two days earlier – I wanted nothing more than this rare Judy CD.
The cover picture, and the stories that the fag hag bragged - about Judy showing up two hours late, drunk, combined with the pill popping stories that Doug always tells about Judy openly raiding medicine cabinets at parties, and no one saying a word – jump starteded my admiration.
On Saturday I purchased the Judy Garland 1961 Carnegie Hall concert. The album has nothing more than clicked with the feeling I am feeling this December. My favorite track is the Gershwin number – ‘Do It Again’.
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"Do It Again" lyrics: (i know, its annoying that I post lyrics- so just scroll through it - but the lyrics have a message. so eat it.)
You really shouldn’t have done it
You hadn’t any right
I really shouldn’t have let you
Kiss me.
And although it was wrong
I never went strong.
So as long as you’ve begun it
And you know you shouldn’t have done it.
Oh.
Do it again.
I my cry no. no. no. no. no. no.
But do it again.
My lips just ache
To have you take the kiss
That’s waiting for you
You know if you do
You won’t regret it
Come and get it.
Oh.
No one is near
I may cry oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh
But no one can hear.
Mamma may scold me
Cuz’ she told me
It was naughty but then
Please,
Do it again.
Yes do it again. And again and again and again and again and again
Turn out the light.
And hold me close
In your arms
All through the night.
I know tomorrow morning
You will say
Goodbye and Amen.
But until then...
Please do it again.
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Whew. Geez. Heavy! So, this morning I woke up to the radio, as always, and who were they doing a clip on?? Judy Garland's signature number “Over The Rainbow”, as part of the NPR series called “No Place Like Home”. Did you know that they weren't even going to include the number in the movie? shame. Its all about being homesick. Just to annoy the crap out of you, I am going to put the lyrics in for Over the Rainbow too. Click on this link to see the full effect.
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Somewhere over the Rainbow lyrics:
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
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What better than a pill popping, drunk, 30 years dead, singing to you in your warm fuzzy Manhattan apartment? Theres no place like home.