Here’s another NYT article which you can read in full for free – I seem to be on a roll here!

During filming for “Meet Me in St. Louis” in 1943, Garland did not want to sing what she saw as an overly melancholic song.

An early version, written by Hugh Martin (Ralph Blane shared writing credits), had harsher lyrics than the ones we know today: “Have yourself a merry little Christmas; it may be your last,” went the draft. “Next year, we may all be living in the past.”

“I cannot sing that,” Garland told Martin, according to John Fricke, a Judy Garland biographer and friend of Martin. “The audiences will think I’m a monster singing that lyric to that little girl,” Garland said.

Martin stewed about this and then vowed to completely rewrite the song. But Tom Drake, who played Garland’s neighbor and paramour in the film, sought to preserve the melody, taking Martin out for coffee and pushing him not to scrap it.

Frank Sinatra still thought they were too dark and insisted on more changes in his 1957 recording.  Martin obliged: “Next year, all our troubles will be out of sight” became “From now on, our troubles will be out of sight.” Another line, “Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow,” became “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.”