Song lyrics to ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ - originally sung by Judy Garland in ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’, but oddly enough the song didn’t become truly popular until it was rewritten for and recorded by Frank Sinatra

There’s actually quite a story behind the classic holiday song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  It was originally written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for Meet Me in St. Louis, where a melancholy Esther Smith (Judy Garland) was to sing it to her younger sister, Tootie (Margaret O’Brien).  The original version, however, was so sad that the actors refused to perform it, and Hugh Martin was persuaded to rewrite the lyrics—resulting in a happier version.  However, the song did not become a big hit at that time—instead, another song from the movie, The Trolley Song was nominated for an Oscar.  It did, however, become very popular with U.S. troops overseas during World War II.

In 1957, Frank Sinatra (who had already recorded a version of the ‘melancholy’ version of the song) asked Hugh Martin to change the lyrics for his new album, A Jolly Christmas, asking him to “jolly it up a little.” Hugh Martin agreed, and the 1957 version of the song has become the more popular version by far.  For completeness sake, all three versions are listed here:

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - original, melancholy version

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
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

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - (1944) Judy Garland Version

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
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

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (1957) Frank Sinatra version

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
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

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