Many radio stations have made the switch to Christmas music and the rich baritone voice of Frank Sinatra can be heard belting out, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas.” The song is just as iconic as the man singing it. Interestingly the song has had a bit of a transformation. It was originally sung by Judy Garland, and its first edition lyrics are quite different from the ones that many have come to know and sing along with Sinatra.
The version we are most familiar with blends a message of yearning for the past while still looking to and hoping for the future. We hear the line, “Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore” which would have one at least think of the past but recognize the present. Other lines include, “From now on our troubles will be miles away,” which gives us hope that things will become better.
Now take a moment to compare those lines with the original. “Have yourself a merry little Christmas. It may be your last.” Are you starting to feel a little sad? It only gets even more dismal: “Faithful friends who were dear to us, will be near to us no more.” There is a slight bit of relief in the original found in the line, “But at least we all will be together.”
While the two versions seemingly couldn’t be any different, both are a reality that anyone could experience during the Christmas season. There are many who will be heavy hearted this holiday season due to grieving the loss of someone or something close, while others will feel as if they are living their best lives and have a jubilant outlook on the present and for the future. Still other will simply muddle through because Christmas has lost its luster in the hustle and bustle of a cram packed calendar.
Truth be told, there are many versions of this song that circulate today. Some of the versions that can be heard combine some of the original lyrics with the old. So one song, in all of its versions, effectively captures what a person may be feeling this season.
There is one more difference that should not be overlooked between the original and second version. Fate determines a person’s destiny in the second edition, while it is the Lord in the original. Stop and let that sink in. The melancholy version is the one that credits the Lord, and the more positive version accredits fate. Is that really the message of Christmas?
Real hope can be found in another Christmas classic. Charlie Brown struggles with Christmas, like many do. He looks for purpose in being involved in the holiday trappings like producing a play. Ultimately he ends up breaking down and asking, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” His friend Linus steps forward and quotes the birth narrative of the Lord from the Gospel of Luke and ends by saying, “That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”
Charles Schulz, the writer, illustrates what this really means in a powerful way that often gets overlooked. Earlier in the show Charlie Brown was asked to buy a Christmas tree, and he picks the most pitiful little tree possible. He is made fun of for the tree he picks, but something phenomenal happens to that little tree. After Linus gives his speech, Charlie Brown takes the tree and exits the stage and begins to walk home. He stops at Snoopy’s dog house and takes off one bulb to place on the tree, but the bulb bends the tree, and Charlie thinks he has killed it. Charlie exits the scene in despair.
Linus follows behind, stops at the tree, and says something to the effect of, “It never was a bad little tree. All it needs is some love.” The next scene shows the rest of the gang gathering around the tree and Charlie Brown returning in awe because that pitiful little tree was transformed into a thing of beauty.
The powerful transformation of that little tree captures the essence of Christmas. The transformation of the tree takes place after the good news of the birth of Jesus has been announced. Christ still has the power to transform our lives as well. Christ has the power to transform our Christmas experience. Let’s not leave it to fate. Allow the Lord’s presence to lift your spirits if you’re feeling blue this Christmas. Allow the Lord’s presence to calm you in the hustle and bustle. Allow the Lord’s presence to transform you in whatever situation you find yourself. Have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
