muddling through the holidays

There's religious Christmas music, funny Christmas music, happy Santa-and-snow Christmas music...and sad Christmas music. Some of the best holiday songs are about separation and loss, and loneliness. One of the classics, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," began its musical life as one of those sad ones, all about how we have to "muddle through" the season in the absence of loved ones, but over the years, it mutated into one of those "gather-round-the-hearth" ones. Someone on YouTube made this video, with Sinatra singing the original lyrics:Then there's The Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling," where Karen, who did Forlorn as well as just about anyone, delivers a heartbreaking vocal. And "Blue Christmas," and on and on...On this Christmas Eve, I hope there's joy in Mogville, but for those who like their holiday music more melancholy, here are The Everly Brothers.