Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.
Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
I'll Be Home On Christmas Day
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
But if I could only borrow one dream from yesterday
I'd be on that train tomorrow
I'll be home on Christmas day
She left that candle burning
Oh, too many tears have fell
My soul filled with yearning
If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd be on that train tomorrow
Be home on Christmas day
Every time I think about her
All the love I left behind
Memories still linger in my troubled mind
I could set aside my pride
And I'd be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
And be home on Christmas day
If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
I said I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's I'll Be Home on Christmas Day paint a picture of a man who has traveled far and wide, but his heart yearns to be back home, especially during the holidays. In the first stanza, he describes the different places he has been, but reveals that if he could take one thing from his past, it would be to be home for Christmas. He longs to be on that train tomorrow, indicating how urgent and important it is for him to get back home.
The second stanza shows how much he misses his significant other. She left a candle burning as a sign of hope for his return, and he wishes he had enough sense to leave immediately so he could be with her on Christmas Day. He acknowledges the many tears he has shed and his soul's yearning for home. The third stanza reveals that all the memories with his lover still linger in his mind, and although he has set aside his pride, he still needs to catch that train tomorrow, indicating his determination to be home for Christmas.
Overall, the song captures the power of home during the holidays, the one place a person would want to be during that special time of year. It is an emotional song with a strong message of longing, determination, and love.
Line by Line Meaning
On the hills of Georgia
Despite traveling far and wide, home is always on the mind of Elvis Presley during the holiday season.
Across the plains of Tennessee
Elvis Presley has been to many places, but he still remembers the comforts of home during Christmas time.
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
Elvis Presley has had his share of experiences, but none compares to the warmth and love of being home for Christmas.
But if I could only borrow one dream from yesterday
I'd be on that train tomorrow
Elvis Presley longs to relive the memories of Christmas past and be with his loved ones once again.
And so many times before
She left that candle burning
Oh, too many tears have fell
My soul filled with yearning
Elvis Presley's loved ones always leave a light on for him, and his absence during Christmas brings about feelings of sadness and longing.
If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd be on that train tomorrow
Be home on Christmas day
Elvis Presley realizes that being home for Christmas is the most sensible thing to do, and he is willing to make the journey to be with his loved ones.
Every time I think about her
All the love I left behind
Memories still linger in my troubled mind
Elvis Presley's thoughts are consumed with memories of his loved ones during Christmas, and he regrets leaving them behind.
I could set aside my pride
And I'd be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
And be home on Christmas day
Elvis Presley understands that putting aside his pride will allow him to be with his loved ones during the holidays, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to make it home.
If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
For Elvis Presley, being home for Christmas is the only thing that truly makes sense and he is determined to make it happen.
I said I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
Elvis Presley's commitment to making it home for Christmas is unwavering, and he will do whatever it takes to make it a reality.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: MICHAEL JARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SamuelVII
On the hills of Georgia
Across the plains of Tennessee
I've seen and I've done most everything
That a man can do or see
But if I could only borrow one dream from yesterday
I'd be on that train tomorrow
I'll be home on Christmas day
It's been so many times before
She left that candle burning
Oh, too many tears fell
My soul fills with yearning
If I had sense at all
I'd just be on my way
Be on that train tomorrow
Be home on Christmas day
Everytime I think about her
All the love I left behind
Memories still linger in my troubled mind
I could set aside my pride
And I'd be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
And be home on Christmas day
If I had any sense at all
I'd just be on my way
I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
I said I'd catch that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
@paulettemcnaughton8202
GOSPEL AND CHRISTMAS SONGS...NO ONE SINGS THEM LIKE ELVIS....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
@pauleyboy6448
Man his guitarist and bassist in the background is singing the song right with him, all together is perfection.
@catzzzvd2635
ONLY ONE ELVIS PRESLEY ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL ❤❤❤HE WILL BE THE BEST FOREVER 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
FROM SOUTH AFRICA 🇿🇦
@GeorgeVreelandHill
It's not Christmas without Elvis' Christmas songs.
@tcblev601
Love this Bluesy Christmas Song ❤❤
Thankyou Elvis for singing it soooo beautifully
@destinyrobinson8514
Awww such a beautiful Christmas song ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️. Aww really warm my heart and make me smile ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️.
@JimDangerZone
Christmas or no Christmas, this is one of the finest recordings ever made! I've loved this one since becoming an Elvis fan in 1972, when i was 13.
@donnamccall8299
Thumbs up if your still listening to this beautiful man in 2021 love him😘❤💙🎄🎅
@jenniferroyle5801
What a Powerful Song by the King of Rock n Roll ....every Parent and child should hear this.....Praise You Jesus for our Precious Elvis Presley whose Music will live forever!!!!!🙏🙏🙏❤
@CJColvin
Amen Sister.