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“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was written by Hugh Martin in 1943. He was writing the score for the MGM musical “Meet Me in St. Louis,” starring Judy Garland. The song was written for Judy Garland to sing to comfort Margaret O’Brien, who was playing her younger sister. In the movie, their family was moving from St. Louis to New York right before Christmas and the girls were sad to leave their home and friends.
These are the original lyrics:
It may be your last
Next year we may all be living in the past
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Pop that champagne cork
Next year we may all be living in New York
No good times like the olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us no more
But at least we all will be together
If the Lord allows
From now on, we’ll have to muddle
through somehow
So have yourself a merry
little Christmas now
Judy Garland heard the song and loved the music, but was worried about the lyrics. She thought they were too gloomy and asked Hugh Martin to make them more cheery. After a quick rewrite, this version was born:
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we’ll have to muddle
through somehow
So have yourself a merry
little Christmas now
This was more to the liking of the producers and stars and became a favorite Christmas song to many. Then, in 1957, Frank Sinatra chose to include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in his new album, A Jolly Christmas. He asked Hugh Martin to “jolly up” the line “until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow.” Martin complied and wrote the line ”hang a shining star on the highest bough.” So Frank Sinatra sang:
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be
out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles
will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry
little Christmas now
Although this is the most widely used version today, many people prefer the Judy Garland version because it expresses the melancholy many experience during the holidays and also the hope that things will get better.
Whichever version you find yourself singing in December, have yourself a merry little Christmas this year!
