Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart

I’ve been singing “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” all day. Written by James F. Hanley and long associated with Judy Garland, the song has romantic lyrics and a lovely melody. 

Dear when you smiled at me, I heard a melody

It haunted me from the start

Something inside of me started a symphony

Zing! Went the strings of my heart

’Twas like a breath of spring, I heard a robin sing

About a nest set apart

All nature seemed to be in perfect harmony

Zing! Went the strings of my heart

Your eyes made skies seem blue again
What else could I do again
But keep repeating through and through
"I love you, love you"

I still recall the thrill, guess I always will
I hope 'twill never depart
Dear, with your lips to mine, a rhapsody devine
Zing! Went the strings of my heart

Judy Garland first sang the song on November 16, 1935, when she appeared on the NBC radio program ”The Shell Chateau Hour.” The 13-year-old had made her national radio debut the month before on the same program where she told the host, Wallace Beery, “I wanna be a singer, Mr. Beery; And I wanna act, too!” This time for her second appearance she sang “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” which would become one of her signature songs. Her performance that evening had a special meaning for Judy. Her father, Frank Gumm, was in hospital suffering from spinal meningitis. A radio was placed next to his bed so he could listen to his youngest daughter. He passed away the next morning before Judy could say good-bye.

Judy would go on to sing the song in Listen, Darling (1938) and make a Decca recording in 1939 in addition to performing the song during countless concerts. Yet probably no rendition was as important to her as the one she sang that night.

To hear the original radio performance (listen to Beery mistakenly say Judy is 12), visit here.