I'll Be Home for Christmas
Count Basie Big Band; Tony Bennett Lyrics

Tony Bennett's rendition of I'll Be Home for Christmas is a nostalgic and sentimental song about a person's desire to be home for Christmas with friends and loved ones. The opening line, "I'll be home for Christmas," speaks to the yearning for a sense of belonging and the comfort of familiarity during the holiday season. The lyrics then go on to ask for the traditional decorations of snow, mistletoe, and presents because they symbolize the festive spirit of the holidays. However, the third verse reveals a melancholic reality that even if the person cannot physically be home, they will still be there "in dreams" because being home for Christmas is a spiritual and emotional need.

The song was originally written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent in 1943 as a tribute to soldiers who longed to be home during World War II, and it became an instant classic. It was first recorded by Bing Crosby, who also contributed to the writing of the song. Since then, the song has been covered by numerous artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and Michael Bublé.