James Taylor - Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

[jammab88]

snowflake button

[dgriff07]

Actually, They changed several lyrics just to make the song for Meet me in St.louis. the writers of the movie made them change them because they thought it was too dark. I agree, no one sings this like judy, But JT is a close second. And the song was written to talk about how the year is tough and how to look forward to christmas, And the happies ruined the best christmas song ever! Hang a shining star doesnt even fit in, U get mad when people sing it that way, Sinatra is an over rated dope!

[phisofide]

i love you, james taylor!

[ippukujack]

今年は一緒に過ごせないから、せめてゆったりとリラックスしたX­'masが過ごせますよに...愛しい君へ、優しいジェームスの­歌声をプレゼントさせて下さい。

[M0D3Mofficial]

@ippukujack 私の日本語は少し荒いですが、メリーあなたにクリスマス、そして­ハッピーニューイヤー。  :)

[theshingles100]

my favorite christmas song by my favorite singer

[tybeegirl16]

James actually released this song on his October Road CD in 2002 and had recorded the original lyrics to the song because it's just his style but I saw an interview with him that he chose this version to record as a reflection of the times....with 9/11 so fresh in our hearts and minds, he felt that this more solemn, melancholy version was indicative of our hearts and mindset.

[jeffreydebra1]

Nice.

[villasoliman]

Merry Christmas! to all ♥ [2011]

[Zebadane]

he is bald, i just wanna suck on it

[themannydanny]

What a wonderful version by a legendary entertainer!

[kidHays21]

"fuck face book in the face"

[bekindunlimited]

James Taylor can sing anything ...and i love him....all the troubles of this sad world seem a little further away when James Taylor treats us to a ballad or two ....any time of year

[cwnidog]

This song always takes me back to the late 50s/early 60s, when I was a little kid looking out my grandmother's living room window at all the Christmas lights at the houses on her street. And the snow was over my head (which was a lot closer to the ground back then). It's true, you never know what you've got 'til it's gone.

[daviemcf]

Best version ever!! JT's the greatest!

[mrchrisization]

I have watched this video for a couple of years now, and it still gives me chills. Love the spare arrangement, the sincerity of the vocal, the little personal touches James gives it. He is being himself and that is what matters, even if he had to check the lyrics, or if perhaps a higher key would have suited him more. Nobody has ever touched me by being perfect.

[Qwinkly3]

It's too low for him. Should have raised the key a bit. He's struggling, particularly in the beginning.

[darcon81]

Minstrel here! I made a warm and nostalgic love song on a cold lonesome Christmas day. It's called "Sweet December". Feel free to listen on my channel and get cozy. :) I also made a response to ds awesome video. :)

[bekindunlimited]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE IN THE WORLD

[visiocomb]

It's no fire & rain..

oh dear me

[darkoanton5]

Did anybody notice him checking the lyrics written on his palm at 1:50. Priceless.

[Brennna]

I love this by James. I have been madly in love with him since I was 14. I still love him at 53. He just gets better and better.

[NikolaMusic1]

Such a classic song. You can also check my live version of this song in my profile, I hope you'll like it. Comments and ratings are always appreciated.

[bekindunlimited]

James this is a bit early ..but HAPPY CHRISTMAS .......John ,Maeve ,Clare

[Anf26Hollister]

omg i hated him in dharma and greg now i even hate him more....

[Speedy94Retta]

@ xXmidnightXxXwriterXx

I'm glad I can say the same thing. I actually can't wait for Halloween to pass so everyone is in full Christmas mode. Haha Sorry it's just my favorite time of year.

[xXmidniteXxXwriterXx]

soooo im rlly glad im not the only one listening to christmas music in september..haha !!

[dytexplo]

a beautiful song sang by a beautiful man.

[KMurderful]

here we are.

[Scumata95]

This song make me sad..

[treu]

JT FOREVER FOR ME!

[IrishDaddi]

the one and the only great JT !!!

[tokyofujii]

Merry Christmas James.

Am looking forward to see your show in Japan coming April 2010. Wow

[pete9939]

James Taylor live, wow! Such a touching expression of this wonderful Christmas classic!

[dylf14]

AMAZIN

[RWHISTLEG]

Merry Christmas from Spain

[Guga28full]

Nice, nice your voice and your music.

Tu me recuerdas mi juventud.

Mari Lima-Peru

[TheProshooter]

have yourself a merry little christmas

[proworks]

JT much look better for me if he play his acoustic guitar..

[bsus1412]

I remember decorating the tree last christmas listening to this song. Now I've decided that it's THE song to listen to.

[Bacolodnon75]

Merry Christmas to my wife Mia and to my daughter Anezka May. Love Papa

[BACMusic]

his voice is amazing!

[powerkor]

his whole face is amazing!

[powerkor]

when did "have to muddle through somehow" replace "hang your star from the highest bough" ?

[DylMek13]

James Taylor can do whatever the fuck he wants

[apnagra]

Wikipedia "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." You'll read the back story and original lyrics.

[trvwatson]

Don't you mean when did hang a shining star replace muddle through, Judy Garland started this song, and she sang muddled through, it related to the film, but commercialized Versions put in hang a shing star to make it less depressing and more appealing as a chritmas song.---i have no idea why, because the early version is more heartfelt and warm.

[gboot2786]

@trvwatson It was Frank Sinatra that asked the songwriters Blaine & Martin to change line to "lighten it up".

[trvwatson]

Was it, well ive learned something new today, as this is my favorite christmas song of all time--have you heard the version by Jane Mcdonald she is my favorite artist to cover this song.

[gboot2786]

@trvwatson No I have not. But the best version I've heard is from Luther Vandross. It's on youtube you should check it out.

[vdeogirl]

@trvwatson

I agree 100% I hate the "Hanging a Shining Star" version ... I lyrically doesn't make sense anyway .... I am glad James sung it properly!

[trvwatson]

Yes at least someone agrees with me--When was the last time you hung a shining star on the highest bow--but i can tell you how many times ive muddled through, old lyrics do make more sense.

[trvwatson]

@vdeogirl --check out Jane mcdonald version its the best, and she sings the original muddled through lyrics.

[canucktheclown]

Well, he is putting a jazzy spin on it which he is not usually known for. He is a folk/rock singer-songwriter and musician. I like it. It's my number two favourite non-traditional Christmas song of all-time currently.

[gnukev]

@trvwatson The Judy Garland original lyrics (which JT sings here) came out during WWII, when millions of soldiers were away from their families under dangerous circumstances, so the "muddle through" was appropriate for the time. Later, someone changed the lyrics to "highest bough" to reflect happier times. My mother (who was a teenager during the war) cried when I played the JT version two Christmases before she died and I'll always remember how she reacted and how my family felt. I miss her so.

[utubuser10]

@gnukev i feel for you, man. peace...

[NYChica23]

@trvwatson I have no idea why they changed the lyrics either ♥♥

[trvwatson]

Its true, Christmas is not all tinsel and candy-cane--and i always feel sorry for the ones that have lost family or are alone for some reason and are bombarded with constant images of happy families and happiness, it seems such a shame that people cant have a Christmas song that represents being sad at Christmas, A Christmas carol is still the best holiday film to be seen at Christmas, and thats all about a miserable old man and ghosts, but i guess there was Elvis lonely this christmas

[cowtime13]

@trvwatson Last year I heard the writer, Hugh Martin, interviewed on Fresh Air. He said that Frank Sinatra was going to do the song but objected to the line about muddle through somehow, that it was too sad. He asked if it could be changed. So it was changed to hang a shining star...etc. I always think of that when I hear this tune. I much prefer the original lyrics and this version is my favorite.

[angeljenny55]

Thanks for the posting of this--JT is awesome!

[SexyProfess]

Beautiful version of James Taylor's. I love the slow, jazzy feel. ;-)

[ff621]

Great song..

[musicase64]

I love James Taylor's singing, but that was a sour note at 2:03

[weltschmierz5]

no one's perfect

[cgn82]

i love his version of this song, its my favorite.

[ZhEnA92]

Ohh I love this song *-*

[km2711]

SOME MORE OF THE ORIGINAL DARKER LYRICS (THAT JUDY GARLAND REFUSED TO SING--SAYING THAT THEY WERE TOO DARK...)--->> " HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, IT MAY BE YOUR LAST...

NEXT YEAR WE MAY ALL BE LIVING IN THE PAST."

Talk about dark!!!

[CyckOne]

I like the fact that he decided to stick with the darker lyrics "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow". I always preferred that over hanging stars on boughs or whatever.

[gottamatch]

I completely agree! The original lyric sung in Meet Me in St Louis that you mentioned is much more fitting, after all it's the intended lyric so it should be sung! =)

[sarieltheseraphim]

A beautiful rendition

[dsb188]

James Taylor is the shiz. I don't know what it is with his voice but it drives me crazy!!!!

[odeonpacific]

I agree it does not get any better than this !!!

[grannyrain]

Thank you.

Blessings always,

Grannyrain

[mavaega02]

This is probably the best version I've heard...it puts me in the Holiday spirit all the time

[spartanloki555]

James Taylor is awesome. I grew up listening to his music.

[garyblech]

James' Christmas album is the best!

[IPwnYou00]

wow that story makes me want to cry

[ilov2talk]

what story? my story?

[IPwnYou00]

yes

[SantaBarbaraDianne]

Now I can go to bed and sleep with sugar plum dreams in my hand thanks to this little song sung by Sweet Baby James. Goodnight and Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

[ilov2talk]

at 1:10 and alot of other spots, he goes Out of tune

[loranalary]

yep.., so?

Don't you like the song? Stop listening to cds and go out more often.. see live shows for a change. There's no perfection, the important thing is the feeling you send to the audience.. here there's sooo much good vibes.

:)

[ilov2talk]

yea im not a retard. i know everyone makes mistakes. but he just makes alot of them. and please dont tell me to go out more. just to let you know, i am paralized from the waist down. it happened after a car accident about a year ago. so its very hard for me to get around. please dont say things like that until you know who you're talking to.

[loranalary]

how could I have known that?!

I was just joking.. AND saying that live is just live.. there,s mistakes. On the quantity of live vids I have from him it's not so bad.. plus, the song is so good that I just forgive the mistakes..

most of the time it's because you can't hear yourself very well, or just a bad night.. I've had some on stage myself.

:)

no insult intended

nothing personal

ok?

peace

:)

[ilov2talk]

ok i forgive you. sometimes, i just get really upset about my situation because im not used to it yet. thanks for not getting to heated. it was my fault not yours. :) peace and god bless. :)

[loranalary]

Merry Christmas to you my friend!

:)

[ilov2talk]

Merry christmas to you too! :D Thank you for all your kind support

[30millioncrabs]

Now that we know your paralyzed,......GET OUT MORE. I have NO sympathy for invalids that use their,....situation, to get by with NOT LIVING. I think your lieng anyway,.....if not. Think of Tiny Tim,....in a Christmas Carol,........

[ilov2talk]

just to let you know, i am still living and trying to live a normal life. but it is really hard for me because of my disability. i did not ask for this. so please don't taunt me or make fun of me. I try do be as 'normal' as possible. its people like you that give me low self esteem and set me back. and by the way, i've never seen a christmas carol... i'll watch it soon....

[30millioncrabs]

I apologize.

[ilov2talk]

Thank you. I accecpt your apology.

[readingleejh]

lol and he knew it

[MrDannyWelch]

These aren't mistakes or sour notes, he's intentionally changed the music to strike a more melancholy mood.

[tedsgarage]

Such patience, phrasing and relaxation. All "American Idol" contestants should listen to this before they try to overwhelm a song.

[loranalary]

they won't listen..

anyway they don't deserve it!

let them play "star",and get manipulated all right by the "machine" and let's keep the good songs with a nice feeling for us..

:)

[zombfan]

Thanks for sending me this clip :) And to all of you: Merry Christmas from Belgium.

[funkysoulguy]

love this version.....

[ilov2talk]

at 1:20 - 1:29, if you hum it kinda like you're at 2:28, its really good harmony

:D

[saezacct]

JT ... I LOVE YOU.

[bamapagedesign]

James Taylor gave the greatest concert I ever attended.

[zedLavjune]

His voice calms my soul....

[downie123]

he's amazing.

It always amazes me how he can sing so well when it doesnt even look like he's trying.

[ivanalisavac]

Amazing- he is a legend who transcends generations

[LazzariJ]

** Merry Christmas **

[rodrigormendonca]

Thank you very much for posting this sweet video! My favourite Xmas song! Full of best feelings!!!!!! Hugs from Brazil! Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

[pizzaROX]

beautiful bass guitar

[bluejacketsfan57]

wow breathtaking...everything i thought it would be

[samnaps1]

I seriously don't know how he sings like that....he doesn't look like he can sing at all

[NikonPhoto07]

a legend singing my favorite Christmas song

[rodrigormendonca]

Amazing moment... Full of sweet feelings! Great artist! My favourite Xmas song!

Merry Christmas from Brazil!

[MurdocKicksAss]

I love James Taylor. His voice is amazing and so soothing ^^

[lbm97]

hes cool!! my mom likes him...........

[ny13isles39]

your mom likes me too ;)

[JASONWCACURA]

LOL

[grandcranium]

JT is still underrated. That's how good he is. The best.

[wihimvandorst]

And the great Larry goldings on piano.

[jromanr01]

way to go J.T

[dfszczepan]

Awesome! JT at his best! His voice just mellows with age.  Happy Holidays everyone!!!

[oysterpippo]

Her Highness is singing Christmas!

[punkrocklola]

positively my fave version of the song! Go james!!

Woo

[heiwa2007]

wonderful!

[fradry]

grandissimo James..

[Captaind41]

James is the best! Thanks for posting.

[Floro920]

este james es crack