Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
by Judy Garland

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland)

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a Christmas song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me In St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was credited to Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, although during a December 21, 2006 NPR interview, Martin said that Blane had encouraged him to write the song but had not had anything more to do with writing it. In 2007, ASCAP ranked "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" the third most performed Christmas song of the past five years. The song first appeared in a scene in Meet Me in St. Louis, in which a family is distraught by the father's plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri just before the long-anticipated Louisiana Purchase Exposition begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland's character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien.

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When presented with the original draft, Garland, her co-star Tom Drake and director Vincente Minnelli criticized the song as depressing, with lines such as "Have yourself a merry little Christmas / It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past" and "Faithful friends who were dear to us / Will be near to us no more". Though he initially resisted, songwriter Hugh Martin made several changes to make the song more upbeat. For example, the lines "It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past" became "Let your heart be light / Next year all our troubles will be out of sight". Garland's version of the song, which was also released as a single by Decca Records, became popular among United States troops serving in World War II; her performance at the Hollywood Canteen brought many soldiers to tears.

In 1957, Frank Sinatra asked Martin to revise the line "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow". He told Martin, "The name of my album is A Jolly Christmas. Do you think you could jolly up that line for me?" Martin's new line, "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough," has since become more widely recognized and sung than the original. Martin made several other alterations, changing the song's focus to a celebration of present happiness, rather than anticipation of a better future. Although the 1957 rewrite is the most familiar to listeners today, some artists, such as James Taylor, have issued more recent recordings with the original lyrics of the Judy Garland version. Quiet Company recorded the song most recently for the 2007 release of Peace on Earth: A Holiday Album. The album was made available for download directly from the web. All proceeds from sales went to Toys for Tots charity.

Track List for Judy Garland's Christmas Album on CD

1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
2. Consider Yourself - Judy Garland/Joe Luft/Lorna Luft
3. Steam Heat - Liza Minelli/Tracy Everett
4. Little Drops Of Rain - Judy Garland
5. Medley: Wouldn't It Be Lovely?/Lollipops And Roses - Jack Jones
6. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Lorna Luft
7. Alice Blue Gown - Liza Minelli
8. Medley: Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride/It Happened In Sun Valley/Winter Wonderland/Rudolph, The Red... - Judy Garland/Jack Jones/Liza Minelli
9. The Christmas Song - Judy Garland/Mel Torme
10. Medley: What Child Is This/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Good King... - Judy Garland/Mel Torme/Jack Jones/Carolers/Liza Minelli/Tracy Everett/Joe Luft/Lorna Luft
11. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland

Judy Garland's role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz is another Holiday classic enjoyed during every Christmas season. This movie will be available here shortly.

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