It’s now day number ten of twelve days of classic Christmas songs and the classic Christmas song of the day is “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne, it’s forever associated with mellow crooner Dean Martin.
Sammy and Jule were a world famous songwriting team, responsible for such Great American Songbook classics as “Time After Time,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “The Things We Did Last Summer,” “I’ve Heard That Song Before,” and another holiday tune, “The Christmas Waltz.” In the summer of 1945, on the hottest day in July, Sammy was visiting Jule at his office in L.A and the heat was getting to them. Sammy remembers what happened next:
“The song ‘Let It Snow’ was written on Hollywood and Vine on the hottest day of the year. I said to Jule Stein, ‘Why don’t we go down to the beach and cool off?’ He said, ‘Why don’t we stay here and write a winter song.’ I went to the typewriter. ’Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful, and since we’ve got no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.’ Now why three ’let it snows’? Why not two or four? Because three is lyric.”
“Let It Snow!” was first recorded by Vaughn Monroe in late 1945; that version topped the Billboard charts for five weeks in early 1946. Frank Sinatra released his version in 1950, Jo Stafford recorded it in 1955, and Ella Fitzgerald released a swingin’ version in 1960. It was Dean Martin’s 1959 version (re-released in 1966), however, that we remember today. Dean’s easygoing insouciance was just perfect for the song’s mellow lyrics; he sings it as if he’s never been in a hurry to get anywhere, especially if it’s snowing out.
One last thing. Even though “Let It Snow!” is classified as a Christmas song, it doesn’t once mention Christmas or any other holiday in its lyrics. It’s just that we associate snow with Christmas, I guess, that makes it one of our holiday favorites.
