A Christmas Caroling We Will Go

The foototeMaven has invited Genea-bloggers to come Christmas caroling with her today. Of course, she's stipulated that we put down our favorite Christmas carol, and as everybody knows I'm too wishy washy to have a favorite. But here is one that I often hum to myself during this time of year. Judy Garland first performed the song in 1944 in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis." Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine, below is the version that most of us know. 

In 1957, as Frank Sinatra was recording his album, "A Jolly Christmas," he asked for a rewrite of one of the lines. The line went from "Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow" to "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough." 

 The original version that Martin and Blaine wrote, was even darker with the first two lines reading, "Have yourself a merry little Christmas, It may be your last."

 Below is the Frank Sinatra version:

  Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

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 Yule-tide 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.

© 12 December 2007, Desktop Genealogist Unplugged, Teresa L. Snyder