A couple of days ago (I think), Michael Shayne posted the lyrics to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin from
Meet Me In St. Louis. I love this song and want to show the differences between the original movie lyrics and the out-of-the-context-of-the-movie happy version (just because I have nothing else to do at 1:30 in the morning, even though I should be asleep):
The original movie lyrics (compare the lyrics in bold):
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 are 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
The happy lyrics:
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 bowAnd have yourself a merry little Christmas now
The lyric changes seem subtle, but it’s a substantial difference in the tone of the piece. A friend of mine actually sang both versions in the same concert that he was in. Some people in the audience (other friends of mine) didn’t know that there ever were different lyrics.
Just had to share.
To be played in my CD player later in the day: the original Broadway cast recording of
Meet Me In St. Louis (with the movie lyrics). I don't have the movie soundtrack on CD.
Now I'm off to sleep.
(pretend that that's a smilie wearing a sleeping mask)