A kind thought goes a long way

Originally posted December 2017.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leslie Odom Jr., singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from his “Simply Christmas” album. If you’re wondering who he is, he won a Tony as the first Aaron Burr in Hamilton. The song has had several iterations of its lyrics since it was written for the Judy Garland film Meet Me in St. Louis. It was sung by Garland’s character Esther, a girl in her late teens, to her five-year-old sister, and its original lyrics were pretty sad.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
It may be your last
Next year we may all be living in the past
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Pop that champagne cork
Next year we may all be living in New York
No good times like the olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who were dear to us
Will be near to us no more
But at least we all will be together
If the Lord allows
From now on, we’ll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Garland and the movie people asked that they be lightened up some, as did Frank Sinatra when he wanted to record it for his “A Jolly Christmas” album in 1957. These are the lyrics Sinatra sang:

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 Yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles, will be miles away
Once again, as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are 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

Mr. Odom sings the updated lyrics here.