How Frank Sinatra Created the Most Moving, Versatile Christmas Song of All Time
The popular “Sinatra lyrics” of this Christmas standard — or the somber original ones — allow it to fit any condition of life…
Frank Sinatra rarely wrote lyrics but his reworking of a World War II-era Christmas song made it one of the most popular of all time: the third most recorded Christmas song and one of the top-ranked of all songs.
Modifications prove a few changes can transform a song
The two versions of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” truly make this classic two very different songs, a moving ballad for people going through a depressing or difficult challenge and an optimistic upbeat somg of love and hope. A rarer third version makes the song even more versatile.
The original ballad for people going through hellish times
The 1943 World War II song written for the film, “Meet Me in St. Louis” was perfect for a time of war and global calamity. The original lyrics were adopted by James Taylor for a moving ballad version that came out right after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.
