County of marker: St. Louis Independent city
Location of marker: Lindell Blvd. & DeBellevier Ave, Missouri Historical Museum Lawn (Jefferson Memorial), Forest Park
Marker text:
Plaque 1:
MEET ME IN STL LOUIS
On The
LOOP~TROLLEY
Clang, clang, clang went the trolley...Ding, ding, ding went the bell...Zing, zing, zing went my heart strings...For the moment I saw her I fell! Chug, chug, chug went the meter...Thump, thump, thump went the brake...Thump, thump thump, went my heart strings...When he smiled I could feel the car shake.
Judy Garland (Performed by Judy Garland in the film Meet Me In St. Louis), (1944). Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
Trolleys have played a key role in the development of the St. Louis region since the first clang, clang along Olive Street in 1859. From 1888 to 1966, electric trolleys (streetcars) have crisscrossed the streets of St. Louis. Trolleys were the primary form of transportation in the pre-auto-dominated era. Streetcar lines were extended to the western edge of St. Louis to get millions of fair goers to the 1904 World's Fair in Forest Park. Judy Garland would later memorialize the trolleys and the Fair in the 1944 movie "Meet Me In St. Louis."
With my high starched-collar and my high-topped shoes
And my hair piled high upon 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 heart strings
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 heart strings
When he smiled I could feel the car shake
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
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings
As he started to go then I started to know how it feels
When the universe reels
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 loved him so you couldn't even speak
Buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer
Plop, plop, plop went the wheels
Stop, stop, stop went my heart strings
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