never liked judy...or her voice...or her daughter or her voice...sound like a parrot with its neck caught in a washing machine wringer. (Hmmmm...did that date me??)
> Next year we may all be living in New York.
That’s terrible!
OK, all teary-eyed here now. The Christmas song that reduces me to a blubbering idiot though is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”. Just thinking about the lyrics brings me to tears.
If you want happy, try “The Trolley Song” instead.
I’d heard it wasn’t a happy song, but didn’t realize how glum it originally was.
A fascinating read. I’m glad they re-wrote it.
GREAT story behind the song! What a difference in outlook between the original and the final iteration.
I think that’ll preach.
For just a little revisionist history, consider the date of the song and its first use in the movie. 1944. The height of WWII. Europe was in ruins, American soldiers sailors Marines and airmen were dying daily and no one knew when it would end. The song seems a lament to when loved ones at home would ever see their loved ones who were at war again, if ever.
It was WW2 and parents were dealing with the idea they would never have another Christmas with their child. It’s probably why several songs then were not that uplifting. People overseas were feeling homesick. It was a bad time to be merry and bright.
Things weren’t going well in Italy and the Ardennes. The Pacific was always a crap shoot. At least we knew we were going to win the war.
It’s intetesting that Sinatra covered, (stole?) two songs from a mother and daughter. Merry Little Christmas from Judy Garland and New York New York from Liza Minelli the originals were better.
Thanks for posting.
“Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song
and he told me it was the perfect country and western song
I wrote him back a letter and told him it was NOT the perfect
country and western song because he hadn’t said anything about
Momma, or trains, or trucks, or prison, or gettin’ drunk.”
~David Allan Coe
Some of ya’ll might realize a tweak is sometimes all it takes.
The original was really dark. There is no way that would be a popular Christmas Carol today. Yuck.
If you don’t like that version, try this: