This lecture investigates how and why the song ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ has become so popular, transcending its roots in the MGM musical Meet Me in St Louis to become a presence in the canon of secular popular Christmas songs.

Live and recorded examples from artists including Judy Garland and Sam Smith will explain both how this remarkable song works and the process by which it became so popular. What gives this song its prayer-like quality?

Professor Broomfield-McHugh will be joined by singer and actor David Bedella.

This lecture was recorded by Dominic Broomfield-McHugh and David Badella on 6th December 2023 at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/merry-little

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Anatomy of a Christmas Classic