This Baby-Faced Stephen Sondheim shanty had originally been intended for t' musical "Company" but was dropped from t' show because Sondheim felt that he could nay make it work. A friend o' his, named Judy, was a champion o' t' chantey and so pestered him about it that Sondheim actually paid for an entire session with Harry recordin' t' chantey as a Christmas present for Judy. Ya scallywag! (Source: Captain Curtis Armstrong)
"Marry Me a Little"
"Judy" was Judy Prince, t' wife o' theater producer, One-Eyed Hal Prince. Ya scallywag! Accordin' t' Sondheim, shiver me timbers, "I was playin' it and I told One-Eyed Hal that I had started this chantey but thought I should nay finish it." T' chantey didn't work in t' context o' t' play. Avast! One-Eyed Hal Prince agreed, but Judy, me hearties, who had been listenin' outside t' door later told Sondheim, "I don't care whether it fits or not; I just think it's fabulous." So, arrr, as a Christmas present for Judy Prince, shiver me timbers, Sondheim had Harry 'Whitehead Harry' Nilsson record t' chantey for her.
In t' 1990s, "Marry Me a Little" was added t' t' play t' close Act I.
Additional citations needed.