Having Had a Merry Little Christmas Only Yesterday or A Riff Concluded
So, as we’ve reached the end of our 2020 holiday season—and I certainly hope that yours were as merry and bright as mine—-I know that it’s time for me to come full circle with my appreciation of the revised lyric to Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine’s 1944 Holiday classic, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. If you’re just coming in to part two of my diatribe, you might consider taking a trip on the way back machine to my December 24th Post.
So—permit me to wrap up the last of my Holiday packages for this year...
During the height of the Eisenhower period, Frank Sinatra recorded his classic Christmas LP for Capital Records. The story has it that he approached the song’s lyricist, Ralph Blaine with a request. Was it possible to lighten the song up a little with a new lyric to replace the film’s original. Blaine consented, worked on it—and so today we’ve come to know as standard the often reviled revised version of the lyric—give a listen to Sinatra's recording...
Reviled? Hmmm...Well, from my small-ish camp, I beg to differ.
Why?
Well, Garland herself sang the new lyric many years later on her Christmas show and I would have to believe that it was her choice to do so. This might possibly be the last time that Judy sang this song on either a telecast or a recording. As we all know, by the time the show had aired in 1964, she had already been running an emotional marathon. In the special, the song is framed similarly to Meet Me In St. Louis. This time there are two children that she’s singing to—her own. Lorna and Joey look sweet and vulnerable with her; almost like her protectors at this point. There’s considerable weight in watching this in perspective. Judy, as frightening as ever in her ability to balance professionalism and raw emotion, takes the new lyric and soars with it. It’s as if she’s pointing towards something that's quite possibly unattainable. But, nevertheless she’s actively investing in it. She sees the star shining. And she prays for it’s help. There’s nothing maudlin or self pitying about in her rendition. She’s strong and hopeful. No confusion here. No muddling. If only for her children, she has a purpose. And, I contend that it’s a much more moving song for Blaine's revision.
Regardless of Mr. Sinatra’s original lighthearted request,,the song has somehow managed to point each singer in that same direction. Whether belting or in more introspective renditions, the best of those singers all point towards hope for the best in a world of unknowables.
It would be hard for them not to strive considering the vowel placements as the song ascends.Listen for Judy’s phrasing of..."Shining star upon the highest bough”.
The song is now a prayer in hope of something better than what we’ve come to know.
So, let’s continue to reach for those quixotic unattainable stars. Stars may be unknowable objects. But, their light continues to emanate and inspire us. There’s apparently life in what science has taught us is no longer living. Reach for it. Be inspired by it.
Be well.
And, stay engaged.
