White Christmas, and the mention of Los Angeles


The song "White Christmas" is hugely popular. When it was recorded by Bing Crosby, it touched everyone who was away from home during the holidays, especially people in the armed services. It's still a wonderfully touching song for anyone who is wishing to be back home at Christmas. And for me, it hit me the hardest when I lived in Los Angeles. And I would wait to hear a recording with the original lyrics, which were:

The sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway, there's never been such a day, in Beverly Hills, LA. But it's December the 24th, and I'm longing to be up north. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...

 Yep, those were the original lyrics. Go and Google them if you don't believe me, I'll wait. Kind'a silly, I'll admit. I mean, Beverly Hills, LA? It's probably just as well that most singers don't include that. It does seem hard to get all emotional for a songwriter who's in Beverly Hills during the winter. But Irving Berlin was homesick. And as nice as it was there in Los Angeles, he dreamed of a White Christmas.

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