

Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.).

Peter Buck, guitarist for R.E.M., has credited the film's theme song as an inspiration for the mandolin part he composed for the band's hit song Losing My Religion.

Sherwood & Pinch released a version of the song on their 2017 LP Man vs Sofa. Tokyo Brass Style, a Japanese Big Band recorded a cover of the title theme for their fifth album, 'Brass Style Xmas'. Japanese post-hardcore band Fact recorded a track by the title Merry Christmas, Mr. Part of the song is also pastiched in the theme song to the video game International Karate, written by Rob Hubbard. In 2009, British singer Faryl Smith recorded a version of the song for her album Wonderland, entitled "Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (Somewhere Far Away)". Also in 2008, UK Hardcore producer Orbit1 remixed the song and called it Heart of Asia - named after the 2000 Watergate remix. In 2008, a cover version of " Forbidden Colours" was included on Hollywood Mon Amour, a collection of songs from soundtracks of movies made in the 1980s, rearranged by Marc Collin of Nouvelle Vague with Nadeah Miranda providing the vocals. Lawrence - FYI" from the album This Is the One.

Japanese-American R&B artist Utada Hikaru heavily sampled the theme for her 2009 song, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" on his third album, Variations Part I&II. In 2004, Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica included a piano remix of "Merry Christmas, Mr. There is a 12-inch vinyl Italo disco cover version on the Italian record label Discomagic named "Clock On 5 - Theme From Furyo" which was released in 1984.
