A Gresham College 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.

Professor Broomfield-McHugh will be joined by singer and actor David Bedella who will be singing 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', 'The Boy Next Door' and 'The Trolley Song', which are the three main songs from the film Meet Me in St Louis.

Professor Domonic Broomfield-McHugh is a Visiting Professor of Film and Theatre Music.

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?