Words & Music:
Michael Jarrett
Roamed 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'd be home on Christmas day
And 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
Recordingdate: 1971/05/16, first released on: Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I'll Be Home on Christmas Day:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)
Availability
Find available albums with I'll Be Home on Christmas Day.
A Christmas ballad with a bluesy feel to it that Elvis sings to perfection. A great opening track for side B of the LP "Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas" and an overlooked gem.
This is one of my favorite Elvis Christmas songs. It does have that bluesy element, which surprisingly fits despite the fact that this is a Christmas song (though, I listen to it year-round). It's sung, including the alternative takes, with near perfect from Elvis. A joy to listen to all year long.
Not just one of my favorite Elvis Christmas songs but one of my all-time favorite Elvis songs. A great performance of a great song.
One of my favorite christmas songs and one that I can listen to all year. Cant get enough of this.!!!
My favorite version of "I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" is take 4, as featured on "Platinum - A Life In Music." Amazing!
Right now I'm listening to take 9. Elvis starts with a plea to keep it simple. He still says all the names Jarrett put in. Later he omit this, making the song much better. Jarvis didn't like the blues, so the bluesy feeling the song initially had, was almost gone in the end. Still a great song.
A sincere laid back blues version of a Christmas song that could have misfired but triumphs magnificently
Side by side with Blue Christmas, this is my all time favorite Christmas song, from everyone!
Love it's deep feeling since the very first day i listen to it when i flipped the LP "Elvis sings the wonderful world of Christmas" to the side B.
Later the bluesy version of a the Christmas CD "If every day was like Christmas" just blow my mind, and 3 years later with the Platinum Box set the bluesy version where Elvis says all the names gave me tears into my eyes!
Loving this music so much it was with joy, surprise and proud that years ago I read in a wonderful Elvis Blog called “Elvis Today”, that one of the biggest daily newspapers in Sweden ranked Elvis' "I'll Be Home On Christmas Day" as the second best Christmas song ever!
Elvis is very much linked to that special Christmas feeling since his music is for me a big part of Christmas for may many years.
I'm always thanking him and God for giving me such splendorous moments with his music, what becomes more special around Christmas time. Merry Christmas to everyone from Porto, Portugal!
This Christmas ballad with a bluesy feel is definitely a true masterpiece. Elvis' renditions of it are definitely all perfect too. This Christmas song should definitely be far better known than it actually is. I've never skipped this song and I won't ever skip this song. 5 Stars.
Definitely among my very LEAST favorite of the Christmas songs Elvis ever did. Thank God at least he knew to remove the verse with the kids names from the released version. It's probably the most twangy country song Elvis ever recorded and the most countrified of his Christmas songs. I don't hate it, because it is still Elvis, but I can't hit the "skip" button fast enough when it starts. I especially hate when I mistakenly put this song on when I meant to play the 1000x superior song "If I Get Home On Christmas Day".
~ Let's tighten up the lyrics a little bit . . .
Roamed the hills of Georgia
Crossed the plains of Tennessee
Seen and I've done 'most everything
That a man can do or see
If I could only borrow one dream from yesterday
I'd be on that train tomorrow
I'd be home on Christmas day
It's been so many times before
She left that candle burning
Oh, too many tears have fell
My soul filled with yearning
(If) I had sense at all
I'd just be on my way . . .
It works ok in context of the record, the bluesy feel is nice, the interpretation is not outstanding but definitely decent. Overall: it has its quality's, even if elvis wasn't in his greatest voice at the time and the mix on the original lp was probably the worst of the 70's. Still 3 stars.
From the second Christmas album which pales in comparison to the first. I give this song 3-stars. It's a decent tune and I'll listen to it to be blunt, but actually compared to some of the other songs on this album, it's a standout track, but still average in my estimation.
I don't love it. I don't hate it. I'll usually listen to it when it comes on. Nothing special. I dislike the uptempo remake.