Signing Off For 2009

Sung by Judy Garland to Margaret O'Brien in the 1944 film Meet Me In St Louis. If you think this is just a tad miserablist, check out the 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 will 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 Fates allow,
From now on we'll have to muddle through somehow.
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Garland and director Vincent Minnelli pressured songwriter Hugh Martin into changing the lyrics; later, Frank Sinatra had him revise the line 'Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow' to 'Hang a shining star upon the highest bough', the version probably best known now. But this is the original and best, poignant yet imbued with a fragile hope, and absolutely perfect in its historical context. America was at war. When the song was released as a single, it was a huge hit with US troops; when Judy Garland sang it to soldiers in the Hollywood Canteen, many were reduced to tears.

So, I'm done for the year, apart from some fettling on notes for a future project. Take care. Business resumes in the Year We Make Contact.