“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” was written in 1942 or 1943 by lyricist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent. An additional writing credit was given to The Platters’ Buck Ram after a lawsuit. Bing Crosby recorded and released it in 1943 and the US War Department also released a live version Crosby recorded on the Kraft Music Hall variety show. The version below was recorded by Pentatonix on their 2016 album A Pentatonix Christmas.
The song’s “home” theme has been used by a lot of advertisers, none better than Folgers Coffee in their long-running commercial showing college boy Peter surprising his family with a pot of coffee at the crack of dawn.
Makes me cry when I hear it. Always has. Probably always will. No particular reason unless my thoughts go to all of those who will never be home for Christmas. My logic, I guess. đ
It goes along just fine until it gets to “If only in my dreams.” That’s when the anvil drops on your head.