Discussion » Statements » The original lyrics to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"/ Christmas Pet Peeve
WelbyQuentin

The original lyrics to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"/ Christmas Pet Peeve


Christmas Pet Peeve ~

I much prefer the original line in the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The song lyric, for the vast majority of recordings I've heard, has been changed.

The build-up to the line is "Through the years we all will be together, if the Fates allow" - -


original line follows "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow"

The changed line is now so very often - - "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough"


The original line adds a wondrous melancholy to the season -- the changed line is a silly ornament.








Posted - November 26, 2017
Tags : None

Responses


  • Those aren't alternate lyrics. They are just different verses.  The ones you are talking about are just a different verse that wasn't included in the Frank Sinatra version.
      November 26, 2017 6:53 PM MST
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  • 23576
    Thanks, Glis, you're probably right.
    I went by the original version by Judy Garland that I heard in the musical "Meet Me In St. Louis" from which the song came (I think). Perhaps I didn't listen closely enough to the song because, knowing me, I am struck so strongly with the "muddle through somehow" line that I probably blocked out anything else about the song, ha! It's definitely my favorite line in the song.

    Yet, any version I've heard lately by current and recent singers/artists only has the "shining star" line and no "muddling through."
    :)
    But I need to keep listening and avoid generalizing too much!
    Thanks for helping me out, Glis!
    :)
      November 26, 2017 7:00 PM MST
    1

  • The verse your looking for is the third and final verse.   I think it gets left out of recordings for radio time.
      November 26, 2017 7:07 PM MST
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  • 23576
    That's so very cool. Thanks again for helping me out, Glis!
    I should probably now delete my "original aM statement"  since I'm wrong but it all fascinates me now. I'll keep it here. I do like the song, too.
    :)

      November 26, 2017 7:11 PM MST
    1

  • 604
    you have to remember the context of the song as it related to the storyline of the movie....the 'muddle thru' was applicable in the movie as they were going to have to make a total change in their lives.....


    soooo to make it a big hit, the 'muddle thru' would not be appropriate for a popular Xmas song........it has no meaning to the spirit of the song as we like to think of it; that is, being an Xmas song and not related to the storyline in the movie.

    jeeeeze......amazed no one figured that out for themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    :-D

    :-D
      November 29, 2017 8:57 AM MST
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  • 23576
    I should have added to my question description what you just said, ben1011 -- I've always known that --  about the context of the song in the movie. But for me, I just love that line and I think it should be in the song regardless if it makes sense outside of the context of the movie! Ha!
    :)
    Thanks, ben1011! I'm with you all the way!

    (Sorry this took so long to respond -- I must have missed an alert!) This post was edited by WelbyQuentin at December 3, 2017 7:46 PM MST
      December 3, 2017 7:45 PM MST
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  • 10052
    Yeah, Glis was right - definitely different verses. Glis was cool. I liked his music polls. 

    I love this Christmas song and agree that the muddling is a great line. 
      September 3, 2022 8:24 AM MDT
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