HISTORY OF HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Gavin Degraw: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
From Sounds Of The Season: The NBC Collection (EMI, 2004)

I always love reading about the history of music, especially about the root origins of songs. This is especially true of standards. Songs such as “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” are so ingrained into Christmas culture now that it's hard to imagine December 25th rolling by without hearing it.

This great article explains its history of how it came to be, how it almost didn't become a standard, and its numerous versions. Of particular note, it finally explains to me why the song musically sounds mismatched with its upbeat theme. Well, that was made possible by a slick rewrite in a few lines as asked for by.... well, you'll just have to read the article to find out.

This example is of pop star Gavin Degraw singing the original lyric toward the end.

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow

Somber indeed, but a beautiful song emerges from it.