The Carpenters' melodic pop charted a record-breaking score of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts, becoming leading sellers in the soft rock, easy listening and adult contemporary genres. The Carpenters had three #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and fifteen #1 hits on the Adult Contemporary Chart (see The Carpenters discography). In addition, they had twelve top 10 singles (including their #1 hits). To date, The Carpenters' album and single sales total more than 100 million units.
During their fourteen-year career, The Carpenters recorded eleven albums, five of which contained top 10 singles (Close to You, Carpenters, A Song for You, Now & Then and Horizon), thirty-one singles, five television specials, and one short-lived television series. They toured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Their recording career ended with Karen's death on February 4, 1983. Karen passed away after cardiac arrest due to complications of anorexia nervosa. Extensive news coverage of the circumstances surrounding her death increased public awareness of the consequences of eating disorders.
Their first recordings were not successful, and the recording studio that was recording them, dropped them. That's when their 'savior' came in. Herb Alpert of A&M records heard a couple of their songs and said that he felt that they had good potential. Thanks to him, and his ability to see/hear quality when it appears, we had the GREAT performers of The Carpenters.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Carpenters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Christmas past is past
Christmas present is here today
Bringing joy that will last
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Make the yuletide 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
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
The Carpenters' Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is a classic holiday tune that celebrates the present and looks to the future with optimism. The lyrics acknowledge that Christmas past is in the past, and the future is yet to come. However, the song encourages us to focus on the present, with Christmas "present" bringing lasting joy. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with its message of hope and perseverance.
The chorus contains the iconic line "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, let your heart be light." This line is a reminder to focus on the joy of the season and to let go of the worries and troubles that can weigh down our hearts. The second half of the chorus expresses the hope that these troubles will be "out of sight" and "miles away."
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas future is far away
The future of Christmas is distant and uncertain
Christmas past is past
The past of Christmas has come and gone
Christmas present is here today
The present moment of Christmas is here and now
Bringing joy that will last
Bringing happiness that will endure beyond this moment
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Wish yourself a joyful, pleasant Christmas
Let your heart be light
Allow yourself to feel free from worry and burden
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
In the future, our problems will disappear
Make the yuletide gay
Celebrate the holiday season with joy and happiness
From now on our troubles will be miles away
In the future, our worries will be far removed from us
Here we are as in olden days
We are together once again just as we were in the past
Happy golden days of yore
A reference to a joyful past and treasured memories
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Loyal companions who hold a special place in our hearts
Gather near to us once more
Come together again, close to us
Through the years we all will be together
Over time, we will remain united
If the fates allow
If destiny permits
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
Place a radiant star high above us as a symbol of hope and good fortune
And have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now
Find joy in this moment and have a peaceful, happy Christmas
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind