Three Songs that Got Away

Three Songs That Got Away:
“I’m Off the Downbeat,” “Green Light Ahead,” and “Dancing Partner”

In advance of the imminent publication of the webzine Garlands For Judy (formerly a paper publication under the direction of the late Scott Schechter and soon to be an online version under the direction of The Judy Room founder and webmaster Scott Brogan) and the celebrations related to what would have been Judy Garland’s 90th birthday on June 10th, The Judy Room is proud to publish the sheet music to the three songs that were written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for A Star Is Born, but went unused: “I’m Off the Downbeat,” “Green Light Ahead,” and “Dancing Partner.”

All three songs, none of which Garland recorded and only one of which – “Green Light Ahead” – has been published, were intended to show Judy’s star quality, but after being rejected by Warner Bros. and producer Sid Luft, they were scrapped in favor of the “Born in a Trunk” medley. “Green Light Ahead,” as sung by 2012 Drama Desk Award-winner Judy Kaye, is commercially available on the 1994 CD Harold Arlen: “Amercanegro Suite.” “I’m Off the Downbeat” will be performed by Amélie Munier at the June 10th Radio France tribute to Garland in Paris, which will be recorded for later broadcast. “Dancing Partner” has never been recorded.

    
Left to right:  “Green Light Ahead” – “Dancing Partner” lead sheet – “Dancing Partner” lyrics
Each image is a link to PDFs of those documents.