The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ … Read Full Bio ↴The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a large choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). Since July 15, 1929, the choir has performed a weekly radio broadcast called Music and the Spoken Word which is the longest-running continuous network broadcast in the world. The show has been televised since the early 1960s and is now broadcast worldwide through some 1,500 radio, television, and cable stations.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.

The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.

Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.

Holidays at Home
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,
For no matter how far away you roam
When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,
For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home
I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania folks are travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore
From Atlantic to Pacific

Gee, the traffic is terrific
Oh there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home
I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania folks are travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore
From Atlantic to Pacific
Gee, the traffic is terrific
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home
For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home

I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree
Christmas Eve'll find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

Candles in the window
Shadows painting the ceiling
Gazing at the fire glow
Feeling that gingerbread feeling
Precious moments, special people
Happy faces, I can see
Somewhere in my memory
Christmas joys all around me
Living in my memory

All of the music, all of the magic
All of the family, home here with me

Overall Meaning

The first paragraph of the lyrics captures the essence of the holiday season and the overwhelming feeling of longing for the comfort and familiarity of home. It emphasizes the importance of being surrounded by loved ones during this time of year, and how no other place can compare to the warmth and happiness found within the walls of one's own home. The mention of the "sunshine of a friendly gaze" signifies the joy and love that can be found in the eyes of family and friends when reuniting for the holidays.

The second paragraph tells the story of a man who lives in Tennessee but is traveling to Pennsylvania to enjoy some homemade pumpkin pie. It exemplifies the idea that people from various regions and places make a journey back to their hometowns or visit family in other parts of the country during the holiday season. The mention of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans represents the widespread nature of holiday travel, with people coming from all corners of the country to be with their loved ones. The line "Gee, the traffic is terrific" humorously acknowledges the hustle and bustle of travel during this time, as everyone tries to make it home for the holidays.

The third paragraph introduces the popular Christmas song "I'll be Home for Christmas" as its own separate section within the overall song. The lyrics express a deep longing to be reunited with family during the Christmas season. The imagery of snow, mistletoe, and presents creates a picturesque scene of the ideal Christmas setting. The mention of "Christmas Eve" and the "love light gleaming" conjures up feelings of warmth and togetherness that make being home for Christmas all the more special. The phrase "if only in my dreams" acknowledges that sometimes being physically present with loved ones may not always be possible, but the spirit of being home for Christmas can still be felt within one's heart and memories.

The fourth paragraph, set to the tune of "Somewhere in My Memory," evokes a nostalgic and sentimental feeling. The mention of candles, shadows, and the fire glow creates a cozy and intimate atmosphere. It describes the magical atmosphere of Christmas, where cherished moments and loved ones are vividly remembered. The lyrics emphasize the importance of family and the joyous moments that make the holiday season so special. It highlights how the memories of past Christmases and the presence of loved ones in our hearts create a sense of home, even if the physical location may be different.

Overall, these lyrics convey the universal longing for home and family during the holiday season. They emphasize the joy of being reunited with loved ones, the anticipation of holiday traditions, and the feelings of warmth and happiness that accompany this time of year.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,
There is no better place than home to spend the holidays.

For no matter how far away you roam
No matter how far you travel from home.

When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,
When you yearn for the warmth of a friendly look.

For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home
Because for the holidays, nothing compares to the comfort of home.

I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was headin' for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
I encountered a man from Tennessee who was travelling to Pennsylvania to enjoy some delicious homemade pumpkin pie.

From Pennsylvania folks are travelin' down to Dixie's sunny shore
People from Pennsylvania are traveling to the sunny shores of Dixie.

From Atlantic to Pacific
From the East Coast to the West Coast.

Gee, the traffic is terrific
Wow, the traffic is bustling and lively.

If you want to be happy in a million ways,
If you desire happiness in countless ways.

For the holidays - you can't beat home, sweet home
Because for the holidays, there is no place better than home.

I'll be home for Christmas
I will return home for Christmas.

You can plan on me
You can count on me being there.

Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope there will be snow and mistletoe.

And presents on the tree
And gifts beautifully displayed on the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, I will be located.

Where the love light gleams
Where the warm and affectionate atmosphere shines brightly.

If only in my dreams
Even if only in my dreams, I will be home for Christmas.

Candles in the window
Candles placed in the window.

Shadows painting the ceiling
Shadows cast on the ceiling, creating a picturesque scene.

Gazing at the fire glow
Staring at the shimmering glow of the fire.

Feeling that gingerbread feeling
Experiencing the warmth and coziness associated with gingerbread.

Precious moments, special people
Cherished moments spent with loved ones.

Happy faces, I can see
I can see the joyful expressions on their faces.

Somewhere in my memory
Stored somewhere in my memory.

Christmas joys all around me
The joys of Christmas are present all around me.

Living in my memory
Alive within my memory.

All of the music, all of the magic
All the enchanting music and magical moments.

All of the family, home here with me
All of my family, gathered here with me at home.

Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Stillman, Robert Allen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@GospelMusicMix01

1y↑18

I'm an introvert and hate going to any gathering with lots of strangers but I would give up anything just to have a gathering like this and praise his name in the highest.

@a-aron5508

You can praise His name everytime you are out blessing everyone with your presence. I've had anxiety and depression all my life and the worst I've felt is when I didn't push myself to be in public settings. I know it's hard but truly when you change your perspective about how God sees you and what you can do for others then you know you can't afford to stay away from people. You are literally a son or daughter of God and He will pour out love to you as you trust Him. God bless you