Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, not the cheeriest holiday tune ever written was introduced by Judy Garland in 1944 before the end of World War II, from the movie Meet Me in St. Louis. Certain lyrics were replaced with those more optimistic, as requested by Frank Sinatra in 1957. My favorite version of the song is a little more sprightly & swingin’, less melancholy, though Ella retains the original lyrics:
Given the troubles economic and otherwise both national and global the last year (or eight), this tune is speaking to me more than ever this Christmas. But also personally, as the last 9 1/2 months have been a test and struggle for me and my family since I had a severe accident in March. And since mid-May/early June, I’ve been dealing with post traumatic stress. in some ways more challenging than healing physically.
So, we’ve learned a bit, sometimes the hard way, and are trying our best to appreciate more each other and the time we have together, as well as fiends and relatives abroad. This Christmas tune tells us not everything will always necessarily be easy, we may have to face adversity and muddle through, somehow.
Another fine version, this from James Taylor:
We’ve come through all this closer than ever as a couple and family, though we’re not through it all yet. And while 2010 may not bring all happiness and cheer, there is good in us and all around us. We are blessed and have so much for which to be thankful.
So, have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now.
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I took a look at the Wikipedia entry for the song. I found …
“In 2001 the 86-year-old composer Hugh Martin, occasionally active as a pianist with religious ministries since the 1980s, wrote an entirely new set of lyrics to the song with John Fricke, “Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas”, a religious version of the secular Christmas standard. The song was recorded by gospel female vocalist Del Delker with Martin accompanying her on piano.[7]”
Is John Fricke a relation perhaps?
Interesting! No relation, I think, but he sounds like a neat guy, if a tad obsessed with Judy Garland. I might have to seek out his books on Baum and Oz.
So it seems the lyrics to this song have evolved, decidedly more cheery than Hugh Martin originally envisioned. I find his original lyrics to be too dark, the first revision spot on, bittersweet, then too sentimental after that.