Judy Garland Sings Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

For the movie, "Meet Me In St. Louis", released in 1944, Judy Garland sang the first performance of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

The context of the song in the film is Judy's attempt to console her little sister, played by Margaret O'Brien. The family has just been advised by their father that they will be moving away from their beloved St. Louis so that he can pursue a career opportunity in the big city.

But for the original audiences, trying to sustain themselves into the fourth year of war and separation from loved ones, the song no doubt had deeper and personal resonances.

With its minor chords and Garland's usual undertone of sadness the song is also very appropriate in our time, especially for those with family serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

God bless us, every one.