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Friday, December 25, 2020

A Christmas Song For The Ages

 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was introduced to the world by singer/actress Judy Garland in the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis.  Garland simultaneously released a single in December 1944, and it soared to the top of the charts, cherished both at home and abroad during the still dark days of World War II.

 

Hugh Martin (who died in 2011) wrote the song and started with the melody.  "I found a little madrigal-like tune that I liked but couldn't make work,” Martin said.  “So I played with it for two or three days and then threw it in the wastebasket."  Luckily, his friend Ralph Blaine had heard the tune, too — and told Martin it was too good to throw away.  “We dug around in the wastebasket and found it," Blaine recalled. "Thank the Lord we found it." 

 

Martin went back to work on it, this time writing the lyrics and the rest is history.   For a special Christmas edition of Saturday’s Poem (followed by a link to the Carpenters’ version of the song) here is:

                       

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

 

Christmas future is far away
Christmas past is past
Christmas present is here today
Bringing joy that will last

 

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

 

And, listen to Karen Carpenter’s version of the beloved song by clicking on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

 

 

 

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