When “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” was first released in 1969 it was not intended to be a Christmas song, but it became one for me once it was included in the 1988 film Scrooged. The song was co-written and originally performed by Jackie DeShannon. That original version was a hit for DeShannon reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August of 1969. The single was originally released and a big hit during the summer of 1969, so no direct connection to Christmas. But if you listen to the lyrics, it certainly feels like a natural fit for the Christmas season.
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it's getting late
Oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won't let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world) will be a better place
All the world (and the world) will be a better place
For you (for you) and me (and me)
You just wait (just wait) and see, wait and see
Take a good look around
And if you're looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
When looking for a climactic song to use at the end of Scrooged, a 1988 Richard Donner directed modern re-telling of A Christmas Carol, they enlisted Annie Lennox of Eurythmics and Al Green to record a duet version of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” for the soundtrack. Instead of a more traditional choice like “Joy to the World”, this version of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” worked perfectly in my opinion. After Bill Murray’s character has experienced his Christmas miracle, Alfre Woodard’s character leads the cast in their own version of the song in the happy ending scene you can watch right here…
I love how Bill Murray breaks the fourth wall and attempts to get the movie theater audience to sing along. Then as the film’s closing credits begin to roll, the official version performed by Lennox and Green plays. 
“Put a Little Love in Your Heart” was released as a single again about 19 years after DeShannon’s original recording and went on to spend 17 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #9 in mid-January of 1989. It also reached #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart while reaching the Top 40 in at least seven other countries as well. The song was produced by Lennox’s partner from Eurythmics Dave Stewart. Eurythmics hadn’t had a major hit single since “Missionary Man” in 1986 though they did have a great version of “Winter Wonderland” on the 1987 charity album A Very Special Christmas. For most of the ’80s, Green had focused on gospel music almost exclusively, so this duet marked his return to secular music and the song became Green’s first Top 10 pop hit since 1974. So the duo of Lennox and Green was a little surprising, but it certainly worked creating a beautiful song (which also ranks on our Top Songs of the ’80s with Love in the Title list).
Here is the official music video for “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” by Annie Lennox & Al Green…
We can certainly use more love in this world and in our hearts all year round, but especially fitting at Christmastime. As Bill Murray’s character Frank Cross says in the film Scrooged, “It’s Christmas Eve! It’s… it’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we… we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.” And this song fits perfectly.
There are a few non-traditional Christmas songs from the ’80s and we have covered the Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” and Wham’s “Last Christmas” previously, but “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” is another special song of the season that came from that decade. And it’s one that puts a little more love and a little more ’80s in my heart each time I hear it.
Be the first to comment