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- SUNDAY JAM: Hello, Darkness, my old friend (11/5/23)
- FRIDAY JAM: Plowin’ straight ahead, come what may (10/27/23)1
- WEDNESDAY JAM: Some folks say there ain't no bears in Arkansas (10/25/23)1
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24 Songs of Christmas, Dec. 13: 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' -- Judy Garland
I can never decide if this little number makes me happy or sad. Although, like a lot of good Christmas tunes I suppose it's a little bit of both.
It depends on whether you go with the "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow" or "Hang a shining star upon the highest bow" version.
They kind of send a different message.
In "Meet Me In St. Louis," the 1944 musical in which Judy Garland introduced the world to this song, she sings the "muddle through" version, so I guess we should go with that as definitive.
I suppose it's just a way of saying, "Look, things aren't great right now, but make the best of it on Christmas. Brighter days are ahead.
If you read the history of the song, though, it wasn't always that way. When Hugh Martin wrote the song, it was just a tad darker:
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.
What in God's name is that? I'm all for a slightly dark Christmas song, as evidence by my love of Country classics like "Pretty Paper" and" Hard Candy Christmas" but there needs to be some glimmer of hope.
Was Garland's character actually supposed to sing "It may be your last" to a little girl? That's twisted.
But a rewrite was demanded, and we ended up with a bittersweet Christmas classic. I'm OK with that.
Sometimes Christmas is bittersweet.
On tap for Day 14: "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Past Posts
The 24 days of Christmas (songs)
Dec. 1: 'Sleigh Ride' -- The Ronettes
Dec. 2: 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' -- Marty Robbins
Dec. 3: 'O Tannenbaum' -- Vince Guaraldi Trio
Dec. 4: 'Blue Christmas' -- Elvis
Dec. 5: 'Santa Baby' -- Madonna
Dec. 6: 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' -- Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
Dec. 7: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' -- Alvin and the Chipmunks
Dec. 8: 'Angels We Have Heard on High' -- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Dec. 9: 'White Christmas' -- The Drifters
Dec. 10: 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' -- Bing Crosby
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