Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas might just be the very best Christmas song there is. Holistically Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is the song that best captures the essence of what Christmas should be right down to the title. Christmas doesn't have to extravagant but it should be happy,nice,peaceful,comfortable,and enjoyable. If it weren't for Frank Sinatra we wouldn't have the lyrics to this song we know and love today. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas originated in 1944 in a time period where many meaningful Christmas songs such as White Christmas and I'll Be Home for Christmas were emerging. The original version had somewhat different lyrics. The most notable difference is that the original version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas had a line that was sung. "In a year we all we will be together if the fates allow. Until then we'll just have to muddle through somehow." Sinatra called songwriter Hugh Martin and told him "I like your Christmas song" but that he needed that line "jollied up" to include the piece on his Christmas album. Sinatra said "The name of my Album is A Jolly Christmas. Do you think you could jolly that line up for me?" And,of course,as Martin put it "You don't say no to Frank Sinatra." The new lyrics in this line became "Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow. Hang a shining star upon the highest bough." Frank Sinatra then became the artist to perform Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas with the improved lyrics. Frank Sinatra's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is THE original version of Have Yourself a Merry Christmas and gets 5 out 5 stars hands down. :)