"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Song by Judy Garland[1] in the 1944 musical Meet Me in St. Louis
from the album Meet Me in St. Louis
Published1944 (1944) by Leo Feist, Inc.
GenreChristmas music
Composer(s)Hugh Martin
Lyricist(s)Ralph Blane

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song written in 1943[2][3][4] by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics. In 2007, ASCAP ranked it the third most performed Christmas song during the preceding five years that had been written by ASCAP members.[5] In 2004 it finished at No. 76 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs rankings of the top tunes in North American cinema.

Meet Me in St. Louis

The song was written in 1943[2][3][4] for the film Meet Me in St. Louis, for which MGM had hired Martin and Blane to write several songs.[4] Martin was vacationing in a house in the neighborhood of Southside in Birmingham, Alabama, that his father Hugh Martin had designed for his mother as a honeymoon cottage, located just down the street from his birthplace, and which later became the home of Martin and his family in 1923.[6] The song first appeared in a scene in which a family is distraught by the father's plans to move to New York City for a job promotion, leaving behind their beloved home in St. Louis, Missouri, just before the long-anticipated 1904 World's Fair begins. In a scene set on Christmas Eve, Judy Garland's character, Esther, sings the song to cheer up her despondent five-year-old sister, Tootie, played by Margaret O'Brien.[7]

Lyrics and revisions

Some of the original lyrics penned by Martin were rejected before filming began.[8][9] When presented with the original draft lyric, Garland, her co-star Tom Drake and director Vincente Minnelli criticized the song as depressing, and asked Martin to change the lyrics. Though he initially resisted, Martin made several changes to make the song more upbeat. For example, the lines "It may be your last / Next year we may all be living in the past" became "Let your heart be light / Next year all our troubles will be out of sight". Garland's version of the song, which was also released as a single by Decca Records, became popular among United States troops serving in World War II; her performance at the Hollywood Canteen brought many soldiers to tears.[10]

In 1957, when Frank Sinatra approached Martin to record the song, he asked him to revise the lyrics to promote more positive themes; he particularly pointed out the line "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow," saying "the name of my album is A Jolly Christmas. Do you think you could jolly up that line for me?"[9] Martin's revised lyric was "hang a shining star upon the highest bough." Martin made several other alterations, changing from the future tense to the present, so that the song's focus is a celebration of present happiness rather than anticipation of a better future.[11] (However, Sinatra had recorded the original song's lyrics in 1948.) On The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special, Garland sang the song to her children Joey and Lorna Luft with Sinatra's revised lyrics.[12]

In 2001, Martin, occasionally active as a pianist with religious ministries since the 1980s, wrote an entirely new set of lyrics to the song with John Fricke, "Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmas," a religious version of the secular Christmas standard. The song was recorded by female gospel vocalist Del Delker with Martin accompanying her on piano.[13]

In a 2002 interview, NewSong lead singer Michael O'Brien claimed that the line "through the years, we all will be together if the Lord allows," was part of the original song but was purged and replaced with "if the fates allow" to remove religious reference when the song was released. O’Brien stated that while a pastor in a California church in 1990, he had met Martin, who played piano at the church where O'Brien was serving for an evening, and the pastor was told, "That's the original way I wrote it, so I want you to sing it this way."[14]

Collaboration controversy

Although Ralph Blane is credited with writing the music for many of Martin's songs, Martin claimed in his autobiography that he wrote both music and lyrics to all of the songs in Meet Me in St. Louis and that "all of the so-called Martin and Blane songs (except for Best Foot Forward) were written entirely by me (solo) without help from Ralph or anybody else."[15] His explanation for allowing Blane equal credit for the songs was: "I was reasonably content to let him receive equal screen credit, sheet music credit, ASCAP royalties, etc., mainly because this bizarre situation was caused by my naive and atrocious lack of business acumen."[15]

Cover versions

Judy Garland's 1944 version of the song reached No. 27 on the Billboard charts.[16]

In 2009, Keyshia Cole reached number 58 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with a version of the song.[17]

In 2011, Michael Bublé's version reached number 98 on the top 100 charts.[18] This version would reach a new peak of 41 in 2023.

In 2014, English singer Sam Smith released a cover version which debuted at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time a version of the song had charted on the Billboard list.[19][20] The song reached top ten on the US and Canadian adult contemporary charts and on the US Holiday chart. It also peaked inside the top forty in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

In 2016, Josh Groban reached number 1 on the US Adult Contemporary charts with a version of the song.[21]

In 2018, John Legend reached number 1 on the US Adult Contemporary charts with a version of the song from his album A Legendary Christmas, featuring Esperanza Spalding on duet vocals.[22]

In 2023, former Fifth Harmony members Ally Brooke and Dinah Jane released a new cover version of the song.[23]

Lorna Luft version

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
Single by Lorna Luft & Judy Garland
ReleasedDecember 4, 1995
GenreHoliday
Length3:16
LabelCarlton Sounds
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gordon Lorenz
Lorna Luft singles chronology
""Born Again""
(1989)		 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
(1995)		 "When You Wish Upon a Star"
(2011)
Music video
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on YouTube

In 1995, American singer Lorna Luft recorded a cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which was reworked as a "virtual duet" with her mother Judy Garland. It was produced by Gordon Lorenz and released as a CD single only in the UK by Carlton Sounds label. A music video featured Luft performing the song in a studio interspersed with classic footage of Garland singing to a then 11-year-old Luft on the 1963 Christmas episode of her CBS variety television series The Judy Garland Show, all placed on the same screen.[24]

Luft's version of the song peaked at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart on December 16, 1995.[25]

Track listing
  1. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Radio Edit)" – 3:16
  2. "Me And My Shadow / The Nearness Of You" – 4:38
  3. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Extended Edit)" – 4:02

Charts

Michael Bublé version

Chart (2014–2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 48
Global 200 (Billboard)[27] 52
Italy (FIMI)[28] 21
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 41
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[30] 24
US Rolling Stone Top 100[31] 25

Christina Aguilera version

Chart (2011–2018) Peak
position
Lithuania (AGATA)[32] 84
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[33] 95
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[34] 31
US Holiday Digital Songs (Billboard)[35] 18
US Holiday Streaming Songs (Billboard)[36] 14
US Hot RingMasters (Billboard)[37] 31

Sam Smith version

Chart (2014–2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[38] 47
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[39] 48
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[40] 53
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[41] 66
Canada AC (Billboard)[42] 8
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[43] 49
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[44] 36
Denmark (Tracklisten)[45] 33
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[46] 14
France (SNEP)[47] 95
Germany (Official German Charts)[48] 41
Global 200 (Billboard)[49] 106
Greece Digital Songs (IFPI Greece)[50] 70
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[51] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[52] 46
Lithuania (AGATA)[53] 38
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[54] 30
Norway (VG-lista)[55] 16
Portugal (AFP)[56] 46
Portugal Airplay (AFP)[57] 93
Scotland (OCC)[58] 57
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[59] 34
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[60] 26
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 38
UK Singles (OCC)[62] 53
US Billboard Hot 100[63] 90
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[64] 6
US Holiday 100 (Billboard)[65] 9

Certifications

Frank Sinatra version

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[66] Gold 400,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Sam Smith version

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[67] Gold 35,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68] Platinum 90,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[69] Gold 10,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[71] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Michael Bublé version

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[72] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[73] Platinum 100,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Studwell, William Emmett (1995). "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". The Christmas carol reader. Routledge. p. 136. ISBN 1-56023-872-0.
  2. 1 2 Gilbert, Sophie (December 22, 2015). "'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas': An Ode to Seasonal Melancholy". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019. ...the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was written in 1943 by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane before filming began, during World War II.
  3. 1 2 "Meet Me In St Louis, Production Notes". Thejudyroom.com. The Judy Room. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019. 12/04/1943: Judy pre-records "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".
  4. 1 2 3 Martin, Hugh (2010). The Boy Next Door. Trolley Press. ISBN 978-0-615-36507-7.
  5. ↑ "ASCAP Announces Top 25 Holiday Songs" (Press release). ASCAP. November 12, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
  6. ↑ Martin, Hugh (2010). The Boy Next Door. Trolley Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-615-36507-7.
  7. ↑ Dirks, Tim (1996). "Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)". The Greatest Films. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
  8. ↑ Martin, Hugh (2010). The Boy Next Door. Encinitas, CA: Trolley Press. pp. 196–197. ISBN 978-0-615-36507-7.
  9. 1 2 Willman, Chris (December 22, 2006). "There's Something About Merry". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ Collins, Ace (2001). Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-310-23926-5.
  11. ↑ "What's the best Christmas song?". Maclean's. Toronto. December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  12. ↑ "The Christmas Special". The Judy Garland Show. Season 1. Episode 15. Los Angeles. December 22, 1963. 1:54 minutes in. CBS. CBS Television City.
  13. ↑ "The Carpenter and the King". The Voice of Prophesy. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Christmas Shoes". CBS.COM. 2004. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007.
  15. 1 2 Martin, Hugh (2010). The Boy Next Door. Trolley Press. pp. 390–392. ISBN 978-0-615-36507-7.
  16. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 170. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  17. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (December 20, 2014). "ARIA Singles: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars Stay At No 1". Noise11. Noise Network. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Single by Sam Smith". iTunes Store (US). December 5, 2014.
  20. ↑ Gary, Trust (December 19, 2014). "Hot 100 Chart Moves: Sam Smith Brings 'Merry Little Christmas' to Chart for First Time". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. December 24, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Adult Contemporary". Billboard. December 22, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  23. ↑ Hanna Wickes (November 30, 2023). "OMG: Fifth Harmony Reunion? Ally Brooke 'Is Trying' To Make It Happen, Collabs With Dinah Jane on New Christmas Single". j-14.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Luft records duets with mom Garland". Variety. October 20, 1995. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  25. ↑ "UK Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. December 16, 1995. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. January 3, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Michael Buble Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 52" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Michael Buble Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Michael Bublé Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone. December 24, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  32. ↑ "2018 52-os SAVAITĖS (gruodžio 21-27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 28, 2018. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Christina Aguilera – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Single Top 100. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Holiday 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Holiday Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Christina Aguilera Chart History (Holiday Streaming Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Christina Aguilera – Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corp. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  40. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  44. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201851,52 into search. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  45. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Tracklisten. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Sam Smith: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 52, 2022)" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Digital Singles Chart (International) Εβδομάδα: 51/2018" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  51. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  52. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Sam Smith". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  53. ↑ "2022 52-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  54. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". VG-lista. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  57. ↑ "TOP 100 - Lista". Audiogest. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  58. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  59. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201851 into search. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  60. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Sam Smith – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  63. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  64. ↑ "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Sam Smith – Chart Results: Holiday 100". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  66. ↑ "British single certifications – Frank Sinatra – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  67. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  68. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Sam Smith – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  69. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Sam Smith – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  70. ↑ "British single certifications – Sam Smith – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  71. ↑ "American single certifications – Sam Smith – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  72. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Michael Bublé – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  73. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Michael Bublé – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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