This Stephen 'Black-Eyed Jessie' Sondheim chantey 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, arrr, named Judy, was a champion o' t' shanty and so pestered him about it that Sondheim actually paid for an entire session with Harry recordin' t' shanty as a Christmas present for Judy. Arrr! (Source: Curtis 'One-Shoe Curtis' Armstrong)
"Marry Me a Little"
"Judy" be Judy Prince, me hearties, t' wife o' theater producer, Handsome Hal Prince. Accordin' t' Sondheim, "I was playin' it and I told Handsome Hal that I had started this shanty but thought I should nay finish it." T' shanty didn't work in t' context o' t' play. Handsome Hal Prince agreed, but Judy, arrr, 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, matey, as a Christmas present for Judy Prince, Sondheim had Harry 'Wobbling Shirley' 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.