Day 13: We Wish You the Merriest

I love Christmas carols, love to hear them, love to sing them. Today I attended a madrigal feast at one of my high schools and was able to enjoy the many choral groups and individuals sing a wide range of sacred and secular Christmas songs. The kids did a wonderful job, and I liked almost everything…

…except the singing of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Now, the young lady who sang it did a fine job, but she did one thing (I'm certain without knowing it) that bugs me about this song.

As most know, the origin of the song was in the musical Meet Me in St. Louis written by Hugh Martin and Robert Blane. Judy Garland sang the song to her sister at a sad point of the story as the family faced separation and loss. The concept of a “merry little Christmas” is that they should take the little joy and solace that they can from this Christmas, and hope for better days ahead.

Here are the original lyrics

Have yourself a merry little christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little christmas
Make the yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, well have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Over time these lyrics have been adapted by pop singers to remove most of the sad references. The line “Next year all our troubles will be out of sight” is revised to the more saccharine “From now on our troubles will be out of sight.” Several similar changes are made throughout the song, culminating with the replacement of “Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow,” to the sweet sounding (but unrelated to anything else) “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.”

Of course most modern renditions are completely separated from the original context, and I understand why a singer would want more upbeat sentiments. However, without the painful nostalgia of the original lyrics, there is no logic to the idea of a merry “little” Christmas. Why, when everything is so great, would we want to wish a merry little Christmas to someone? It feels a little like the Christmas machine is uncomfortable with the suggestion that anything about Christmas could be less than ecstatic. I appreciate the fact that this song talked about other types of Christmases, ones that are the reality for many.

The original is sweet, sad, and nostalgic. The updated version makes no sense to me, and it grates on me any time I hear it, even when sung beautifully by a great high school student.

As always, I welcome you comments.

Image: 'Christmas Spirit'

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13907834@N00/5270349562 Found on flickrcc.net

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