Have Yourself A Merry Little Cristmas
Garland Judy Lyrics


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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 yuletide 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 we'll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Overall Meaning

Judy Garland's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is a song all about maintaining hope and finding joy in spite of hardships, and the lyrics capture that message perfectly. The first stanza speaks of the hope that next year, all troubles will be out of sight, breeding positivity and happiness. These words resonate with the listener and uplift the Christmas spirit. The second stanza is about nostalgia, recalling joyful memories of past Christmases and hopeful expectations of spending time with friends and loved ones. The final stanza is a reminder that even if the future is uncertain, we should cherish this moment and make the most of it.


The lyrics also suggest that Christmas is not only a holiday for children but for adults as well. Christmas is a time for all to celebrate life, love, and the prospect of a bright future. Through sorrow and joy, the song reassures us that we can make it through and find comfort in the promise of a brighter future. It reminds us that tomorrow’s joy is the reason for the season.


Line by Line Meaning

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
May you fully enjoy this holiday season


Let your heart be light
Be carefree and optimistic


Next year all our troubles will be out of sight
We hope that the coming year would be better and we leave our problems behind


Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Once again, we wish you happiness throughout the celebration


Make the yuletide gay
Enjoy the festive season with laughter and joy


Next year all our troubles will be miles away
We have hope that our problems will vanish into the distance in the upcoming year


Once again as in olden days
We long to experience happy moments from the past


Happy golden days of yore
A reference to a joyous time in the past


Faithful friends who are dear to us
Our loyal companions who hold great value for us


Will be near to us once more
We will be able to enjoy the company of those who we hold dear


Someday soon we all will be together
We hope that our loved ones will soon reunite


If the fates allow
If everything goes according to plan


Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow
Until our situation improves, we will have to manage and struggle through our problems


So have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Therefore, we hope you will be able to find happiness and bliss at this moment




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@celestryrose6687

But these are the first original lyrics to the song:

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



@thorn262

​ emcanet  "What is it?" I'll take this as asking the question, what was the zeitgeist of 'the muddled times of 1944'? It's important to remember that daily life surrounding the 'entertainment' of 'Meet Me in St. Louis' and 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,’ was mostly dire and unforgiving. The depression era had not yet subsided, and the murky question was left lingering in the conscience of the public, ‘Are we going to lose this war?’ (and that had been since the beginning of the U.S. engagement, not to mention that of Europe. The Nazis and Japanese were not to be struck dead in a moment). Hence, the devastating, emotional prying-effect of Judy Garland’s song, the ramifications of which FAR overshadowed the literal meanings of the film. Here, two notable call-outs from reviews/essays that give some of the (forgotten) sense of the times:

The American Christmas Songbook: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1943)
(The lyrics were) even more devastating when you consider that 'Meet Me in St. Louis' was released during World War II. Had the original lyrics been kept, the (song) would have sent moviegoers into hysterics.
https://www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/newsevents/9980/

'How to have yourself a merry little Christmas with an edge'
The two aspects of the picture - the warm nostalgia and the stabbing hysteria - give 'Meet Me in St. Louis' a special flavour, both sweet and astringent. This (was) no doubt (due to the producers) making an escapist film while the war was at its height and allies were counting down to D-day.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/dec/02/christmas.film



@JohnSimpson36

The OG lyrics before Judy asked to change it;
"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."



All comments from YouTube:

@arthurnakane2654

Let this singing of Judy Garland be a lesson to those contemporary singers who tend to oversing this song. Judy Garland was famous for her powerful voice, but for this sentimental and self-encouraging song, she sings so tenderly and masterfully, respecting the original intention and the mood of the song. My hat's off and my bravo over the rainbow !

@Tonetwisters

Well said. It's all about "feeling."

@daphneepaul3737

Arthur Nakane exactly it’s about the mood

@xorih1089

Arthur Nakane cough Ariana grande cough

@crysingucci3827

THANK YOU!

@crysingucci3827

@XORIH ha true

106 More Replies...

@krummhorn2824

Judy Garland should be the only one allowed to sing this song. No one has done it better since.

@dgkallday68

Mac Demarco did it better

@lovescatsforever

Agreed!!!!

@lokipax

Rosemary Clooney's version is stunning

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