"Did you ever notice how stupid the lyrics to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are? Specifically, the second to last line:
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
I always thought it was weird, because the melody has such a wonderful melancholy undertone to it, but the lyrics don't match it at all, and that one particular line seems jarringly out of place. You're whispering to me that we'll always have each other, and then you suddenly command me to decorate a Christmas tree? Well, fuck you. That's not the kind of relationship I want to last through the ages.
Well, guess what? I did some research on the subject, by which I mean I Googled the song title and looked at the first few websites, and it turns out I have a good perception of editing. The "shining star" line is a revision of this original verse:
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
Much better. Now the whole verse makes sense. The first three lines aren't a throw-away line about how happy we are together, but actually a hope that someday we'll be together."
Read the whole thing.
I've heard this a few times this Christmas season, and I always sing along with the original lyrics.
7 comments:
I heard a version today by James Taylor that had those lyrics. It makes more sense in the context of the film that way.
btw, the "word verification" is "chrost". I think that's whose birthday it really is.
Have yourself a merry little Chrostmas.
That comment started out fine. Then it got really weird.
I can't remember if I commented on Zhubin's original post, so I don't want to be redundant, but these are two verses of the same song. The way I've typically heard it performed is with the "until then..." line the first time through, and "hang a shining..." the second time through. I'm not sure where this conspiracy theory about songs being edited on a grassy knoll somewhere got started, but I'd wager it's just one of those "Excuse me while I kiss this guy" misunderstandings, and not a purposeful deception.
Also, Jeannette is not quite as insane as she sounds. I refreshed the page several times, and your word verifications are all pronounceable nonsense words instead of the usual random mix of letters. It's kind of cracking me up. (Examples from the past ten seconds or so: flitfrog, propory, doodia.)
Chrost, though--hilarious. What are the odds?
Joe, the conspiracy is real. I don't know if you've been compromised, or if you honestly don't believe, but--wait, what's this red dot on my forhead...
Scott, NOOOO!
(Leaps forward to save him, but comes up just inches short.)
(Kneeling, Joe cradles Scott's lifeless body, rocking it gently and trying to make sense of the madness.)
Chrost, what have I done?!
(Chrost descends from Hoeven.)
CHROST: The prophecy has been fulfilled. Now the age of ripening shall commence. Don your traditional carrot helmets, and dance the dance of Shomomel. So it has been written in the holy Boble.
lyrics to the judy garland version:
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 yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be
miles away
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were 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.
this is the complete version of her song. note the suspcious lack of boughs.
i love this version. :)
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