Listen Free: | Apple Podcasts | Castbox | Pandora
In this special holiday episode, Aaron breaks down the surprising origin of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a song that was almost far too bleak for the movie it was written for. He explores how Judy Garland rejected the original lyrics, why Hugh Martin rewrote them, and how the shift turned the tune into one of the most emotional Christmas standards of all time. Aaron also compares the Garland and Sinatra versions, highlighting the lyric changes that shaped each performance. This short deep dive blends music history and storytelling to remind listeners what the holidays mean when life is heavy, hopeful, and real.
*Join Aaron Thursday Evenings for Night Stories LIVE! : A live, audio-first show inspired by classic late-night radio — it features raw reflections, spontaneous storytelling, and unexpected conversations with guests and listeners. Subscribe and hit the notification bell on The Night Stories Live! YouTube Page to tune in!
*Dive deeper into the 7MS Universe and connect with Aaron on...
The Team:
Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato
Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt
Additional vocals: Cori Calafato
Art: Pete Whitehead
Original Theme Music: thomas j. duke
Additional Soundscape Design: Isaac Gehring
*Songwriters: Irving Berlin / Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn / Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin / Richard B. Smith / Felix Bernard
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas lyrics © Berlin Irving Music Corp., Emi Feist Catalog Inc.
