Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. In 2007, ASCAP ranked Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas the third most performed Christmas song during the preceding five years that had been written by ASCAP members. In 2004 it finished at #76 in AFIs 100 Years...100 Songs rankings of the top tunes in American cinema. Some of the original lyrics that were penned were rejected before filming began. They were: 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. When presented with the original draft lyric, Garland, her co-star Tom Drake and director Vincente Minnelli criticized the song as depressing, and asked Martin to change the lyrics. Though he initially resisted, 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. Garlands 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 well 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? Martins new line was Hang a shining star upon the highest bough. Martin made several other alterations, changing the songs focus to a celebration of present happiness, rather than anticipation of a better future. Merry Christmas!!
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 16:43:37 +0000
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