Not that there's anything wrong with gaiety
December 25, 2010 1:11 AM Subscribe
Can you help me find a recording of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with the ORIGINAL original lyrics?
The lyrics of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" have mutated repeatedly.
The original lyrics were written for the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis", and they were downright depressive (I reproduce them below). Then they were rewritten to be cheerier before the movie was released. Then, 15 years later, they were rewritten again, to be even cheerier, for Frank Sinatra. That gives us the rosy version we hear now ("Hang a shining star upon the highest bough").
I'm interested in finding a recording with the original original lyrics, grim although they are. Especially if it's otherwise similar to the second version, the Judy Garland version that can be heard here. (Sort of an upsetting clip.)
Does anyone know where I can find such a recording?
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
No good times like the olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us no more
But at least we all will be together
If the Lord allows
From now on, we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now
The lyrics of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" have mutated repeatedly.
The original lyrics were written for the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis", and they were downright depressive (I reproduce them below). Then they were rewritten to be cheerier before the movie was released. Then, 15 years later, they were rewritten again, to be even cheerier, for Frank Sinatra. That gives us the rosy version we hear now ("Hang a shining star upon the highest bough").
I'm interested in finding a recording with the original original lyrics, grim although they are. Especially if it's otherwise similar to the second version, the Judy Garland version that can be heard here. (Sort of an upsetting clip.)
Does anyone know where I can find such a recording?
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
No good times like the olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us no more
But at least we all will be together
If the Lord allows
From now on, we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now
The article, in the midst of recounting a conversation with the songwriter, calls this "the never-recorded couplets" - so I think you already have your answer...
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 9:44 AM on December 25, 2010
posted by OneMonkeysUncle at 9:44 AM on December 25, 2010
Response by poster: Yeah, I did notice that unfortunate "never-recorded" -- I'm hoping someone will have recorded it whom the article's research didn't turn up, perhaps after the article was written. (Heck, maybe someone will be inspired to post a version to MeFiMusic...)
posted by foursentences at 11:51 AM on December 25, 2010
posted by foursentences at 11:51 AM on December 25, 2010
Best answer: Here you go: link
I found it pretty quickly by Googling "Next year we may all be living in New York" and "mp3."
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:19 PM on December 25, 2010
I found it pretty quickly by Googling "Next year we may all be living in New York" and "mp3."
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:19 PM on December 25, 2010
Best answer: Oh, here's a better link where you can download it.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:34 PM on December 25, 2010
posted by Pater Aletheias at 1:34 PM on December 25, 2010
Best answer: http://music.metafilter.com/2842/Have-Yourself-a-Merry-Little-Christmas
posted by useyourmachinegunarm at 7:29 PM on December 25, 2010
posted by useyourmachinegunarm at 7:29 PM on December 25, 2010
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posted by Rash at 5:30 AM on December 25, 2010