Nostalgic songs about home, family, and sweethearts are normal in times of war. The "Big War," World War II, had its share of such emotion-touching compositions. One of the best of that period, written at the midpoint of the American participation in the conflict, was the 1943 carol, "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Its first line, "I’m dreaming tonight of a place I love," is very indicative of the sentiments of this excellent ballad.
"I'll Be Home" is the second most remembered work of poet James Kimball ("Kim") Gannon (1900-1974), from Brooklyn, and musician Walter Kent (1911 - ), from Manhattan. Kent also wrote the music for the 1941 classic "The White Cliffs of Dover," to accompany the lyrics of Nat Burton.
It was also among the most unforgettable recordings featuring the baritone smoothness of Bing Crosby. Due to its very personal yet widely appealing lyrics, and its appropriately tender yet confidently transporting melody, it has lasted many years beyond the distressing war period of separation. Long after the reunions with friends and relatives were over, and the uniforms hung in the back closets, the song has continued to serve as a medium for past holiday reminiscences, and for future nostalgia.
In 1943 the world was at war, and many thousands of American men and women in the service would be spending Christmas far from home. As a special gift to them and their families came this lovely, tender ballad, recorded by Bing Crosby. Just a year earlier, Bing had had a best seller with Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas," and his recording of this new song by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent also passed the million-record mark in sales. On December 17, 1965, the Crosby recording became the first "request" that was broadcast into outer space. As astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman were hurtling back to earth aboard Gemini 7 after their record 206 orbits, a NASA transmitter asked if there was any music they would especially like to hear. Their immediate reply? Bing’s "I’ll Be Home For Christmas."
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" proves that songs need not be complex to stir the affects of the public. This little gem, perfectly suited for Crosby's rolling baritone, is Bing's third most successful Christmas song, behind "White Christmas" and "Silent Night." He recorded it Oct. 4, 1943, backed by the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, and within two months the song was on the charts, where it stayed for 7 weeks, eclipsing "White Christmas." The recording hit the charts again in December 1944 and earned Bing his fifth gold record.
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