(no subject)

[oakenguy]

This just appeared in the most recent 'Entertainment Weekly', but I feel it's worth passing along here because it's possibly the most emo song I've ever heard (and keep in mind, this is from someone who experienced the Putnam County 'I Love You' song, Concrete Blonde's 'Joey', and 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' in one afternoon yesterday).

But this tops them all. And it even gets extra points for a) seeming to equate moving to New York with imminent death, and b) being written specifically from the POV of an older sister trying to comfort a seven-year-old.

I give you, no lie, no joke, the original version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

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 dear 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

Comments

[spenceraloysius.livejournal.com]

And, if you watch the movie, Judy Garland cries while singing the entire thing.

[fightguy.livejournal.com]

I myself frequently comfort seven-year-olds by encouraging them "pop that cork"... the bubbly tends to put them soundly to sleep for three or four days, allowing me extra time to perform household chores.

[ronsonbeck.livejournal.com]

empheliath and I were marveling over that last night. Talk about a downer...anyone already depressed over the holidays would surely hang themselves after hearing that cheerful little ditty.

[sistahraven.livejournal.com]

ROFL. :) I applaud your determination. If you want to get a real kick, go look up the intention behind "Jingle Bells" (there are a host of websites about its rather lewd subject matter). Now *that* is some serious holiday spirit - nook in a snowbank ;) It always brings me a good laugh hearing it sung this time of year

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

Here's the Lux Radio Theatre version of the movie (a 1-hour adaptation) with Judy Garland reprising her role and, yes, singing that song. It's from 1946.

Incidentally, I also recommend the 1943 Lux version of The Maltese Falcon, with Sam Spade played by Edward G. Robinson. He's good.

[lixie.livejournal.com]

My library has the Lux Radio version on cassette! It's good!

(disclaimer: i have never seen the movie and i totally forgot the song is from the movie but my lame excuse was that i was opening tax return envelopes)

[kip-w.livejournal.com]

The movie is really better than the radio version, if only for the one scene where Tootie goes out on Halloween. You can feel her fear as she goes on her lonely mission. A great look into the past -- not to take anything from Ms. Garland, but Tootie's movie is more interesting than hers.

[cktraveler.livejournal.com]

... wow.

I've always loved the Christmas on Sesame Street version of the song, but this is actually even better.

[sylvari.livejournal.com]

What does EW say about these lyrics? These are not the ones I remember from the movie.

[oakenguy.livejournal.com]

Nope! Judy Garland (and almost everyone else in the production) demanded the lyrics get changed so she wouldn't sound like an utter monster. The songwriter now admits they were right, but at the time he apparently had a giant fit about it.