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The Trolley Song Judy Garlandsong from Meet Me in St Louis (1944) Christmas musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, clip from original soundtrack performed by great screen legend Judy Garland, music and lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. Song ranked #26 America's Greatest Music in the Movies by AFI's 2004 list 100 Years 100 Songs. Along with The Boy Next Door and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas from the same movie, all three songs have become hits after the film was released making Garland famous. |
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Lyrics with picturesCHORUS:  Clang, clang, clang went the trolley!
Ding, ding, ding went the bell! Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings As we started for Huntington Dell.  Chug, chug, chug went the motor!
Bump, bump, bump went the brake! Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings As we glided for Huntington Lake. The day was bright, the air was sweet. The smell of honeysuckle charmed me off my feet. I tried to sing but couldn't squeak. In fact, I felt so good I couldn't even speak.  Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Time to all disembark. Time to fall went my heartstrings As we got off at Huntington Park, As we got off at Huntington Park! JUDY GARLAND: With my high starched collar and my high-top shoes And my hair piled high up on 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 heartstrings 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 heartstrings When he smiled I could feel the car shake. CHORUS: Clang, clang, clang JUDY GARLAND: 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. Chug, chug, chug went the motor Plop, plop, plop went the wheels Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings  As he started to go then I started to know
How it feels when the universe reels. CHORUS: 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 love him so you couldn't even speak. JUDY GARLAND: Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer Plop, plop, plop went the wheels Stop, stop, stop went my heartstrings 
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. 
CHORUS: Zing went my heart! Heart! |
TrailerBrief notesMartin and Blane were twice nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Song, for "The Trolley Song" in 1944. Esther hopes to meet John again the following Friday on a trolley ride from the city to the construction site of the World's Fair. Esther is disappointed when the trolley sets off without any sign of him, but cheers up when she sees him running to catch the trolley mid-journey. In a 1989 National Public Radio interview, Ralph Blane said the song was inspired by a picture of a trolleycar in a turn-of-the-century newspaper. In 1974, he had said that the picture was in a book he'd found at the Beverly Hills Public Library and was captioned "'Clang, Clang, Clang,' Went the Trolley." The song as conducted by Georgie Stoll for Meet Me in St. Louis has a very complex, evocative arrangement by Conrad Salinger featuring harmonized choruses, wordless vocals, and short highlights or flourishes from a wide range of orchestral instruments. |
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