Home For The Holidays

Album

Single

Label

RCA Victor

Genre

Christmas

Composer(s)

Robert Allen

Entered Chart

Dec 15, 1954

Peak Date

Dec 29, 1954

Released

December 1954

Recorded

November 16, 1954 Venue Webster Hall, New York City

Catalog #

RCA Victor 5950

B-Side

Siilk Stockings"

This popular Christmas tune was written by Como's frequent accompanist Robert Allen and lyricist Al Stillman, who teamed up to write several hits of the era for Como, The Four Lads ("Moments To Remember") and Johnny Mathis ("Chances Are"). Como recorded the song again in 1959 for his Season's Greetings From Perry Como album, which features a different arrangement and accompaniment from the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers. Both versions are staples of Christmas compilations and are frequently played on the radio during the season. Around a decade earlier, Bing Crosby debuted "I'll Be Home for Christmas," a melancholy Christmas standard about a soldier stationed overseas who dreams of coming home for the holidays. Como's tune shares the sentiment, albeit in a more upbeat fashion. His characters actually do make it home in time for the festivities, braving holiday gridlock ("gee, the traffic is terrific!") for a slice of homemade pumpkin pie. Allen's widow, Patty K. Allen, told New Jersey's Jewish Standard that producer Mitch Miller gave the songwriting duo just one day to come up with a holiday hit for Como. Allen retreated to Rockefeller Center and, inspired by the ice skaters, wrote the music that afternoon and gave it to Stillman, who wrote the lyrics that night. On December 22, 2006, the crew on the Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-116 mission to the International Space Station started their last day in space by listening to this song. In 2014, the performance rights organization ASCAP recognized its most-performed holiday hits with the Top 30 Holiday Songs of the Century. "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" topped the tally, while "(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays" came in at #25. Report this ad This has been covered by Robert Goulet, Jim Nabors, Leon Redbone, the Carpenters, Lynn Anderson, and Garth Brooks. Vince Gill & Olivia Newton-John and Cyndi Lauper & Norah Jones have also recorded duet versions. The 1995 movie Home For The Holidays, directed by Jodie Foster, finds Holly Hunter going home for Christmas to celebrate with her eccentric family. The song, however, does not appear in the film. This was featured in the 2008 movie Four Christmases, starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn. Miss Piggy sang this in the 1987 TV movie A Muppet Family Christmas.

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
When you pine 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, he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie
From Pennsylvania folks are travellin'
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 wanna to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home

Take a bus, take a train, go and hop an aeroplane
Put the wife an' kiddies in the family car
For the pleasure that you bring when you make that doorbell ring
No trip could be too far

I met a man who lives in Tennessee, he was headin' for
Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie (some pumpkin pie)
From Pennsylvania folks are travellin'
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