What a difference a lyric makes

[VJOFan]

I usually play a song on the Christmas assembly at the school where I teach. I started to prepare today and wanted to refresh my memory of the lyrics to Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. In looking it up I found the lyric used in a movie with Judy Garland and the one recorded by Frank Sinatra.

A little bit of a difference in emotional tone between the two. If I keep the first one in my head I may need a little cry break after the bridge.

Original
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.

The More Well Known Version

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 Yule-tide 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

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
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

[JohnL]

The original lyrics really are quite dark; so dark that Hugh Martin was asked to make changes for the film (Meet Me in St. Louis) to make the song more "wistful but optimistic' and less "dark and depressing".

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.