I'll Be Home for Christmas
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"I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song recorded in 1943 by Bing Crosby, who scored a top ten hit with the song. Originally written to honor soldiers overseas who longed to be home at Christmastime, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" has since gone on to become a Christmas standard.[1]
Contents
Theme
The song is sung from the point of view of a soldier stationed overseas during WWII, writing a letter to his family. In the message, he tells the family he will be coming home and to prepare the holiday for him, and requests snow, mistletoe, and presents on the tree. The song ends on a melancholy note, with the soldier saying, "I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams".[2] Kim Gannon claimed on at least one occasion that he was not thinking of the soldiers when he wrote the lyrics but of all people who are unable to be home for Christmas. When he pitched the song to people in the music business, they turned it down because the final line was too sad for all those separated from their loved ones in the military. When playing golf with Bing Crosby, however, Gannon sang the song for Crosby, who decided to record it. The flip side of the original recording (Decca 18570B) was "Danny Boy" [3]
Writing and copyright
The song was written by the lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent. Buck Ram, who previously wrote a poem and song with the same title, was credited as a co-writer of the song following a lawsuit brought by Ram's publisher, Mills Music.[4] Bing Crosby's original 1943 release of the song on Decca Records listed only Walter Kent and Kim Gannon as the songwriters on the record label. Later pressings added the name of Buck Ram to the songwriting credit.
Bing Crosby recording
On October 4, 1943, Crosby recorded the song under the title "I'll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)", with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra for Decca Records; it was released as a 78 single, Decca 18570A, Matrix #L3203, and reissued in 1946 as Decca 23779. Within a month of release, the song charted for 11 weeks, with a peak at number three. The next year, the song reached number 19 on the charts.[citation needed]
The U.S. War Department also released Bing Crosby's performance of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" from the December 7, 1944, Kraft Music Hall broadcast with the Henderson Choir, J.S.T., on V-Disc, as U.S. Army V-Disc No. 441-B and U.S. Navy V-Disc No. 221B, Matrix #VP1253-D5TC206.[5][6] The song from the broadcast has appeared in many Bing Crosby compilations.
The song touched the hearts of Americans, soldiers and civilians alike, in the midst of World War II, and it earned Crosby his fifth gold record.[citation needed] "I'll Be Home for Christmas" became the most requested song at Christmas U.S.O. shows. The GI magazine Yank said Crosby "accomplished more for military morale than anyone else of that era".[citation needed]
Despite the song's popularity with Americans at the front and at home, in the UK the BBC banned the song from broadcast, as the Corporation's management felt the lyrics might lower morale among British troops.[7]
Notable history
In December 1965, astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell while on Gemini 7, requested "I'll Be Home for Christmas" be played for them by the NASA ground crew.[citation needed]
After Gannon's death in 1974, he left royalty rights to the song to the American Heart Association, which has benefited from his generous gift ever since.
Other recordings
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" was recorded by Perry Como (1946), Frank Sinatra (1957), Sara Evans (Hear Something Country - Christmas 2007, 2007),[8] Kelly Clarkson (iTunes Session (2011) and Wrapped in Red(2013))[9] and many other artists, including:[10]
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- 98 Degrees
- Aimee Mann (One More Drifter in the Snow, 2006)
- Al Green
- Aly & AJ (Acoustic Hearts of Winter, 2006)
- Amy Grant
- Andy Williams
- Anna Gilbert
- Anne Murray
- Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Have Yourself A Meaty Little Christmas, 2009)
- Art Paul Schlosser Parody: (I'll Be a Gnome for Christmas (Words of Cheese and Other Parrot Trees, 2003)
- B.B. King
- Barbra Streisand
- BarlowGirl (Home for Christmas, 2008)
- The Beach Boys (The Beach Boys' Christmas Album, 1964)
- Bette Midler (Cool Yule)
- Blake Shelton (Cheers, It's Christmas)
- Bob Dylan (Christmas in the Heart, 2009)
- Brad Johner
- Brad Paisley
- Brian Littrell
- Brian McKnight
- The Brothers Four Note: 1966 Billboard chart single
- Carl Brutananadilewski
- The Carpenters
- Carrie Underwood with Elvis Presley (Christmas Duets (Elvis Presley album), 2008)
- Cascada (It's Christmas Time)
- Celtic Woman vocalist Lisa Lambe
- Chicago (Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three, 2011)
- Colbie Caillat
- Connie Francis
- Crystal Lewis Holiday!: "A Collection of Christmas Classics", 2002
- Crystal Shawanda
- Damien Leith (Where We Land (Limited Special Christmas Edition))
- Dannii Minogue
- Darius Rucker (Home for the Holidays, 2014)
- David Archuleta (Christmas from the Heart, 2009)
- Dean Martin ("The Dean Martin Christmas Album", 1966)
- Deana Martin on her 2011 album, White Christmas
- Diana Krall
- Diamond Rio
- Diane Schuur
- Dolly Parton
- Donna Summer (Christmas Spirit Album, 1984)
- Doris Day (The Doris Day Christmas Album, 14 September 1964)
- Drew Seeley (Disney Channel Holiday, 2007)
- Dwight Yoakam
- Eddie Rabbitt
- Elvis Presley (Elvis' Christmas Album, 1957)
- Fats Domino
- The Forester Sisters
- Frank Sinatra (A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra, 1957)
- Gary Hoey
- Girl in a Coma (A Blackheart Christmas - *Blackheart Records, 2008) *Joan Jett's Record Label
- Glen Campbell
- Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Gloria Estefan
- Hampton String Quartet
- Harry Connick, Jr. (Harry for the Holidays, 2003)
- Jaci Velasquez
- Jackie Evancho (Heavenly Christmas, 2011)
- Jackie Gleason
- Jackie Wilson (Merry Christmas From Jackie Wilson, 1963)
- Jeffrey Osborne
- Jennifer Warnes (The Tradition of Christmas, 1991)
- Jessica Simpson (Happy Christmas , 2010)
- Jillian Hall (A Jingle with Jillian, 2007)
- Jimmy Buffett
- Joe Williams
- John Berry
- John Gary (1964)
- Johnny Cash
- Johnny Mathis
- Jonathan Butler (2013)
- Jordin Sparks (This Christmas Soundtrack, 2007)
- Josh Groban (Noël, 2007)[1]
- Justin Guarini
- Katharine McPhee (Single, 17 November 2009)
- Kelly Clarkson (iTunes Session, 2011 and Wrapped in Red, 2013)[2]
- Kenneth Copeland
- Kenny Chesney
- Kenny Rogers (Once Again It's Christmas, 2015)
- Kokia (Christmas Gift, 2008)
- Kristin Chenoweth (A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas, 2008)
- Lady Antebellum (On This Winter's Night, 2012)
- Lana Cantrell (Vinyl LP VA "Christmastime in Carol and Song", 1968; "Christmas in California" 1968,)
- Lea Michele (Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 3)
- Leon Redbone
- Linda Ronstadt (A Merry Little Christmas, 2000)
- Lisa Leuschner
- Lonestar
- Martina McBride
- Matchbook Romance (A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas)
- Mauro Calderón
- Michael Bublé
- Mindy Smith
- Neil Diamond
- Nora Aunor Christmas Songs album 1972
- The Nylons
- The Oak Ridge Boys
- The Osmonds
- Overboard (Tidings, 2008)
- Pam Tillis
- Pat Boone
- Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
- Percy Faith
- Perry Como
- Phil Driscoll
- Plácido Domingo, including a duet with Tony Bennett (Concert: Our Favourite Things: Christmas in Vienna Vienna, 2000)
- The Platters
- Plus One (Medley in Christmas album)
- Rascal Flatts (Greatest Hits Volume 1 (Bonus Track), 2008)
- Reba McEntire (Merry Christmas to You, 1987)
- REO Speedwagon (Not So Silent Night...Christmas with REO Speedwagon, 2009)
- Ricky Van Shelton (Ricky Van Shelton Sings Christmas, 1989)
- Ronan Tynan
- Ronnie Milsap (Christmas with Ronnie Milsap, 1986)
- Royce Campbell
- Sara Evans (At Christmas, 2014)
- Sarah Geronimo
- Sarah McLachlan (Wintersong, 2006)
- Scott Weiland (The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, 2011)
- Seth MacFarlane (Holiday for Swing, 2014)
- She & Him (A Very She & Him Christmas, 2011)
- Sheryl Crow (Home for Christmas, 2008)
- Slim Whitman
- Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Christmas with The Miracles, 1963)
- Spyro Gyra
- The Statler Brothers (Christmas Card, 1978)
- Sufjan Stevens
- Suzy Bogguss
- Take 6 (The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, 2010)
- The Three Tenors
- Tierney Sutton with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
- Tift Merritt
- Toby Keith ([A Classic Christmas, 2007)
- Tony Bennett (A Swingin' Christmas, 2008)
- Twisted Sister with Lita Ford (A Twisted Christmas, 2006)
- Vanessa L. Williams (Star Bright, 1996)
- Vince Gill (Let There Be Peace on Earth, 1993)
- Whitney Houston (One Wish: The Holiday Album, 2003)
- Wynonna Judd (A Classic Christmas, 2006)
Notes
1 Peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in December 2012[11] and peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2011.[12]
2 Spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in January 2008[13] and peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2006.[12]
References
- ↑ This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "I'll be home for Christmas [Song Collection]".
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- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Bing-Crosby-With-John-Scott-Trotter-And-His-Orchestra-Ill-Be-Home-For-Christmas-If-Only-In-My-Dreams/master/858710#images/9742434
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Sources
- This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "I'll be home for Christmas [Song Collection]".
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Call number: ML128 .N3 E9.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Call number: ML156.4 .P6 W495 1994.
External links
- Wikipedia articles incorporating text from public domain works of the United States Government
- Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015
- Articles with unsourced statements from December 2011
- American Christmas songs
- 1943 songs
- Bing Crosby songs
- Frank Sinatra songs
- Elvis Presley songs
- The Beach Boys songs
- The Carpenters songs
- Rascal Flatts songs
- Josh Groban songs
- Kelly Clarkson songs
- Songs of World War II
- Songs with lyrics by Kim Gannon
- Songs written by Buck Ram
- Billboard Adult Contemporary number-one singles
- Bob Dylan songs
- Doris Day songs
- Perry Como songs