Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- check out the original lyrics!

When I was shopping this morning (at Geezer Hour), one of the Christmas songs playing was "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". I liked the somewhat melancholic sense that "from now on our troubles will be out of sight" and "from now on our troubles will be far away." The sentiment seemed to be that yeah, okay, things aren't great this year with the pandemic, rapidly growing reported infection rates, etc., but next year should be better. It all seemed appropriate if not entirely uplifting.

So when I came I home I googled the lyrics and came across this site. WOW! Apparently the original lyrics were deemed unacceptable by Judy Garland (for good reason!!!) and so they were changed. Heavy emotions here:

Now you know the story, here are the full original lyrics…

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.

And here are the ones we sing today.

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.