Even today, at 87 years old, she looks back fondly on the experience. She even remembers a moment when her co-star’s suggestion to edit lyrics to one of the movie’s memorable songs helped turn it into a powerhouse holiday composition.
“I often wondered what would it have been like if those lyrics had been sung in the movie.”
The 1944 film is now considered a classic. After its debut, it was nominated for several awards. O’Brien also garnered industry recognition, winning an award from the National Board of Review for her portrayal of the youngest child of the Smith family. She also received the Academy Juvenile Award, previously nicknamed the “Juvenile Oscar,” from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for her work on the film.
O’Brien’s impressive acting skills aren’t the only reason the Library of Congress added “Meet Me in St. Louis” to the United States National Film Registry for preservation in 1994.
A sentimental, melancholy song featured in a poignant scene between O’Brien and Garland took on a life of its own, eventually becoming one of the most popular Christmas songs ever.
A Lyrical Dilemma
In 1943, composer Hugh Martin and his songwriting partner, Ralph Blane, were hired to write music for the upcoming film, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” While the duo was credited for their songwriting work for the film at the time of its debut, later in his autobiography, “The Boy Next Door,” Martin admitted he was the sole writer for the project.
Garland was cast as Esther Smith, older sister to Tootie, and one of four daughters of the Smith family. The movie tells the story of the daughters as they anticipate the arrival of the 1904 World’s Fair. The popular attraction was an exhibition celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, a historic event that secured America’s control over the far-reaching Mississippi River.
One scene featured Esther’s character attempting to comfort her sister Tootie when they get word that they may have to move away from their beloved St. Louis home. The scene in the film was sad. Naturally, Martin got to work penning a somber tune. After finishing it, ironically, he named the composition after the song’s hook, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
The song already boasted the catchy, languid melody we all sing today. But, there was a problem. To Garland, the lyrics Martin wrote were far too sad for her to sing to a teary-eyed O’Brien while filming.
A Stirring Performance
There are three different versions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” The original version Martin wrote for the film features forlorn lines like, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas/It may be your last,” and, “Faithful friends who were dear to us/Will be near to us no more.”When Garland approached Martin about changing some of the lyrics for the film, he was confused. After all, the climactic scene was emotional, with Tootie asking if she’d be able to take her most treasured items with her when they moved. But Garland felt some of the original lyrics would make the scene too emotionally draining. During their conversations, she told Martin, “If I sing that to that sweet little Margaret O‘Brien, they’ll think I’m a monster!”
At first, Martin refused to do a re-write, but he eventually came around to her way of thinking. Garland’s co-star, Tom Drake, who played her character’s love interest, John Truett, advised Martin to listen to her suggestions.
Martin changed several lines in the beginning verses. After his edits, the song began with lyrics similar to what we’re familiar with today:
“Have yourself a merry little Christmas/Let your heart be light/Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.”
The changes were good enough for Garland, who delivered a stirring performance of the succinct ballad that helped make the tune the film’s signature song. It also gained traction among fans of the film, who continued to sing it during each holiday after it debuted.
The Bravado of a Star Lyric
Three years after the film’s debut, Frank Sinatra released a version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with the lyrics Martin updated for Garland. In 1957, Sinatra decided to record the song again for his upcoming Christmas album, “A Jolly Christmas.” Feeling the lyrics were still a bit too somber, he asked Martin if he could tweak them. The songwriter once again found himself editing his precious lines.
Today’s version contains the resounding lyric, “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.” In the earlier versions of the song, Martin originally included the lyric, “We’ll have to muddle through somehow,” in its place.
When asked about his reasoning for liking that lyric in particular, Martin said it was a “down-to-earth” line: The lyrics spoke to the sobering nature of the film as the Smith daughters grappled with possibly moving away from their childhood home.
“I love the bravado of ‘hanging the shining star,’ because it gets past the layers of anxiety to find that little beacon of hope and bravery.”
A Transcending Legacy
Now, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” has a legacy that transcends “Meet Me in St. Louis.” In 2020, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed the gentle ballad in the top 10 of its most performed holiday songs.Sinatra’s version remains the go-to choice for many over the holidays. Garland’s version is another popular choice because of its old Hollywood nostalgia. But many other covers of the song have been released over the years, including renditions by Michael Buble and Josh Groban.
Both cheerful and guarded, the nuanced “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” reminds listeners to not only cherish memories that range from bittersweet to joyous, but to also look ahead to the future with hope and quiet determination. It remains an integral part of Christmas music traditions that celebrate the comfort and joy of the holiday season.
