"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a Christmas song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was credited to Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane, although during a December 21, 2006 NPR interview, Martin said that Blane had encouraged him to write it but had not had anything more to do with doing so. In 2007, ASCAP ranked it the third most performed Christmas song written by ASCAP members of the past five years.
Lyrics
- Christmas future is far away
- 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 will be out of sight
- 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
Appearances in Christmas specials
- Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
- The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
- Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
- John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together
- Emu at Christmas
- A Muppet Family Christmas
- Home Alone
- All I Want for Christmas (only the song's title is sung)
- Disney's Christmas Fantasy on Ice (instrumental)
- Prancer Returns
- "Ludachristmas"
- "Blue Christmas"
- "Glee, Actually"
Album releases
| Album | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas with the Chipmunks, Vol. 2 | 1963 | ||
| Merry Christmas from Sesame Street | 1975 | Sung by Ernie and Bert. This recording of the song later reappeared in the 1986 album Christmas on Sesame Street. | |
| A Christmas Together | 1979 | Sung by Rowlf the Dog and John Denver. | |
| Christmas Eve on Sesame Street | 1981 | ||
| Home Alone Christmas | 1990 | ||
| A Sesame Street Christmas | 1995 | ||
| A Flintstones Motown Christmas | 1999 | Performed by The Jackson 5. | |
| Jingle Jangle Jingle with Hi-5 | 2004 | Performed by Hi-5 | |
| Disney's Merry Little Christmas | 2006 | ||
| A Green and Red Christmas | 2006 | Sung by Kermit the Frog. | |
| Disney Channel Holiday | 2007 | Performed by The Cheetah Girls. | |
| The Archies Christmas Album featuring Betty & Veronica | 2008 | ||
| Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas | 2009 | Performed by Ella Fitzgerald and the Frank DeVol Orchestra. | |
| Mickey's Magical Holiday 2011 | 2011 | ||
| Chipmunks Christmas | 2012 | ||
| Glee: The Music, the Christmas Album Volume 3 | 2012 | Sung by New Directions, Puck, and Kurt. |
