How Judy Garland Made 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' Less Depressing Than Its Original Lyrics

Mar. 15, 2025

Judy Garland in ‘Meet Me in St. Louis.'.Photo:MGM

MGM

The song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a holiday classic, but its genesis goes back toJudy GarlandinMeet Me in St. Louis. It turns out, she helped this melancholy Christmas tune stay on the right side of the Christmas spirit.

In the 1944 film, Garland plays Esther Smith, a spunky girl living with her family in the title city. She also sings “The Trolley Song” inone of the movie’s most memorable scenes. Esther’s father announces just before Christmas that the family will be leaving St. Louis for New York City, and they’re all heartbroken.

Garland’s Esther tries to comfort her little sister, Margaret O’Brien’s Tootie, and sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

Judy Garland in ‘Meet Me in St. Louis.'.Getty

Getty

Garland told Martin, “I cannot sing that,” Judy Garland biographer and friend of Martin John Fricke toldThe New York Timesin an article published Dec. 18. “The audiences will think I’m a monster singing that lyric to that little girl.”

Martin promised to rewrite the song, but Tom Drake — who played Garland’s love interest — convinced him not to scrap it. “He said, ‘You stupid son of a bitch! You’re gonna foul up your life if you don’t write another verse of that song!’ " Martin toldEW. The lyrics were changed to, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas; let your heart be light. Next year, all our troubles will be out of sight.”

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But the song wasn’t a runaway hit when the film was released. In 1957,Frank Sinatrahelped make it a hit when he recorded it, but he thought the lyrics were still too dour. He had Martin rewrite the lyrics, and “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” turned into “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” The song also became not about the future but about the present.

Margaret O’Brien (left) and Liza Minnelli in ‘Meet Me in St. Louis.'.Getty

Liza Minnelli — daughter of Garland andMeet Me in St. Louisdirector Vincent Minnelli—told PEOPLE earlier this monththat the song remains her favorite Christmas Carol. “It’s a family tradition that makes us all laugh and cry,” she said.

source: people.com