Sir Elton John wrote and recorded two versions of "Candle in the Wind", one for Marliyn Monroe and the other for Princess Diana. As I was working and watching (several times, I might add) the "American Masters" documentary on the life of Judy Garland, Sir Elton's song kept haunting my mind. I hope he and the rest of you will accept this with my humble apologies. The girl formerly known as Norma Jean Baker had a far different screen image than the girl once known as Frances Gumm, but both were tragic figures in their own ways when the lights went down.

Goodbye Frances Gumm,

even though I never knew

you had the grace

to hold yourself when those around you fell.

But we fell in love

with the scared young Kansas girl

who was blown away into the Land of Oz.


Like Norma Jean,

you lived your life

as a candle in the wind,

never knowing who to cling to

when the rain set in.

and I wished I could've hugged you,

but I was just a kid,

your candle burned out long before

your legend ever did.


The glitz just was too much,

Judy was the toughest role you played

The Dream Factory made a star

and charged a price of pain.


And on the day you died,

there were no lemon drops,

just a sad old woman who

seemed to have lost her way.


Goodbye Frances Gumm,

though I never knew you

you had the grace to hold yourself

when those around you fell.


Goodbye Frances Gumm

from a kid watching on Channel 31,

who saw you as Dorothy

in the Land of Oz.