The Little Match Girl

I was not much more than a toddler in 1955, when I first heard this song on my parents' Jimmy Boyd Christmas album. Even as a child I fell in love with the song's message of love, inclusion, forgiveness and hope. Many years later I would work up my own guitar arrangement to accompany myself singing "The Little Match Girl", a song loosely inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name. I assumed it was a traditional piece, but did a little digging and discovered it was written in 1952 by Irving Gordon, songwriter known for his novelty songs like "(What Did) Delaware", "(Throw) Mama from the Train" and "Mister and Mississippi", among others, as well as the folk-styled "Allentown Jail", the powerful Civil War song, "Two Brothers", and the unforgettable "Unforgettable", sung by Nat King Cole. I hope I managed to do "The Little Match Girl" justice, in spite of my fumble fingers, and that you enjoy the song as much as I did.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. :)