The Post-War American Christmas Song
was About Coziness and Longing for
Home
By Ray Rojas
Almost every popular
Christmas song released is a longing for home.
It was not always this way.
In fact, outside of carols, pre-mid-20th Century, there were not
many popular Christmas songs.
However, the world wars and
railroad travel changed that. There was a time when you did not go home for
Christmas. However, with the expansion of the railroad system, going home
became much more affordable, fast, and manageable.
One would think, "The
War to End All Wars," World War I, would have contributed to the Christmas
song cycle, but with the advent of film, Hollywood, and sound recording, by
World War II, time as just right for the popular Christmas song.
In looking at pre-World War
II Christmas songs, many of the songs deal with St. Nicholas (“Santa Clause is
Coming to Town” 1934). A now considered staple of Christmas is the 1857 song,
“Jingle Bells.” However, “Jingle Bells” was originally a Thanksgiving song, but
now forever associated with Christmas. One pre-World War II song would set the
stage on cozy winter songs is 1933’s “Winter Wonderland.” Though “Winter
Wonderland” is not necessarily a Christmas song, you will find it on the list
of any Christmas album. More Santa Claus-themed songs would come out: “Rudolph
the Red Nose Reindeer” was released in 1939.
Even, “I heard the bells on
Christmas Day” (1863), written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was more of a
look at the irony of hate in America in compared to the “peace on earth” dogma
of Christmas carols. John Lennon would follow in the footsteps of Longfellow
with “This is Christmas.” Similarly, Elvis Costello with “The Rebel Jesus.”
It was the film-musical that
brought the Christmas and holiday songs to the forefront. In 1937, the film “On
the Avenue” would bring a
list of wintertime and Christmas hits by Irving Berlin including “I got your
love to keep me warm.” Although these wintertime songs were cute, they did not
have the homesickness element that later songs would bring.
Coming
of War
By 1937, things were heating
up in Europe. With Hitler in Germany, the Rhineland had already been
militarized -- war was eminent. The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria,
would follow in 1938. In 1939, we would see the incursions into Poland and Czechoslovakia
by Germany. By September 1939, the United Kingdom was at war.
Yet, in the United States,
war would not come for another 27 months. However, with World War II almost 2
years away for the States, what brought about the Homeric longing for home that
would keep the popular Christmas song going to this day?
In 1940, in the United
States, various conscription laws were codified into the Selective Training and
Service Act of 1940. This required the registration of all men 18 to 45 years
of age and mandated a one-year service. Men were chosen by lottery. In August
1941, about four months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the service term was
extended to the duration of the war and six months. About 10 million men would
be conscripted.
An estimated 200,000 were
entering the military per month!
This would continue until
1947.
In 1942, Irving Berlin would
provide another holiday hit with “Happy Holiday.” Featured in the film Holiday Inn, Bing Crosby would enter
into the pantheon of forever holiday singers. Production of Holiday Inn began in 1941, before the
United States entered the war, but it was already almost two years into U.S.
conscription. Although “Happy Holiday” is a jumpy song, it’s only a simple tune
often added as garnish to “It’s the Holiday Season” (Andy Williams).
It would be “White
Christmas” that would be the biggest hit of the film, spurring a spinoff film
of the same name. The song “White Christmas” (1941) would contain the formula
for the many imitations to come:
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I use to know
“White Christmas” rings of nostalgia
for Christmases long ago. Of course, a description of a snowing landscape was a
hit with soldiers who would be in the Pacific Theatre later or soldiers who moved
to the Southwestern United States, where snow was non-existent unless you were
at high elevations.
By 1943, the United States
was already deep in the war. In the UK, the Brits were four years in. That year
brought us a song that was specifically written for longing of home. Although, I don’t know when exactly “I’ll be
home for Christmas” was written, it was released in 1943 by Bing Crosby
probably hoping to imitate his “White Christmas” success. At first, this song
was turned down by the music executives as being too sad (wait, I have more
opinion on this from the Brits). So it was rejected!
Photo above from the film "White Christmas." Owner of photo above is unknown. Infringement is not intentional and photo is used for educational purposes only with in the Fair Use clause of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. We will will be obliged ant take down request under the DMCA .
It was written by Kim Gannon
and composer Walter Kent, although later pressings would include Buck Ram, who
has previously written a poem of the same title.
However, Gannon was able to
sing it for Crosby while they were playing golf, and Crosby agreed to record
it.
Owner
of photo above is unknown. Infringement is not intentional and photo is
used for educational purposes only with in the Fair Use clause of
Section 107 of the Copyright Act. We will will be obliged ant take down request under the DMCA .
From whose point of view was the song written, has been in controversy. Legend has it, that it was written from the point of view of a soldier abroad. The music industry found the last line of “only in my dreams” troubling, but Crosby recorded it anyway. It charted for 11 weeks, peaking at #3. The U.S. War Department included the song on a December 1944 V-disc. It’s been said that it became the most-requested song at U.S.O. shows however documented proof of this is lacking.
The Brits had a different
reaction to “I’ll be home for Christmas.” The British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) banned the song from broadcast as they felt the song would lower morale
of British troops. (1).
An interesting note is that
Ganon bequeathed the royalty rights of the song to the American Heart
Association. Gannon died in 1974.
Although 1944 produced the
winter seduction song, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” 1944 also saw the release of
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” In 2007, the American Society of
Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), ranked this song the third most
popular Christmas song (in the preceding five year though). In 2004, the
American Film Institute named in in its “100 years…100 songs.”
Unbeknownst to many, the
song did not come out of a Christmas film, but the 1944’s film musical with
Judy Garland, Meet me in St. Louis. However,
the lyrics as we know them are not the original lyrics. Written by Hugh Martin
and Ralph Baine, Martin wrote the song while vacationing in Birmingham,
Alabama. The original lyrics, are somewhat apocalyptic:
Have yourself a merry little
Christmas
It may be your last.
Next year we may all be living in the
Past.
Pretty dismal.
Judy Garland, who would sing
the song, along with her co-star Tom Drake, and director Vincente Minelli
(later husband of Garland and father to Liza Minelli), criticized the song as
depressing, and rightfully so.
“It may be your last” would
definitely raise eyebrows among troops abroad.
Martin changed “It may be
your last / Next year we may all be living in the past” became “Let
your heart be light / Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.”
“Have yourself a Merry
Little Christmas,” at least as performed in the film, turns the longing of home
on its head. In the film, the family is leaving St. Louis for New York and it
may be the family’s last Christmas in their hometown. It was sure to resonate
with many leaving their hometowns for war:
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friend who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years
We all will be together
If the fates allow.
The Rhythm and Blues
classic, “Merry Christmas Baby” also had a coming home theme though the lyrics are
not that sophisticated. The same can be said for 1951’s “Christmas Times a
Coming,” by Bill Monroe, which also mention he is on his way home which became
country music’s most iconic Christmas song:
Christmas times a coming
Christmas Times a coming
And you know I’m going home.
“There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays”
was published and recorded in 1954. It was written by Robert Allen with lyrics
by Al Stillman. Perry Como may have been the first to record it, and his along
with The Carpenters, are probably the best versions. Like the title says, the
song focuses on people heading home for the holidays:
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 face
For the holidays, you can't beat
Home, sweet home
Very simple with one verse that repeats and one refrain, the
formula works to create that returning home feeling.
Even with the advent of Rock
n’ Roll, the home theme continued. Elvis Presley was drafted in 1958, He
recorded a string of home-longing hits. A bluesy song, “Santa Bring My Baby
Back (to Me)” in 1957 yearned for the return of his lover. In the 1970s, Elvis would record “It Won’t
Seem Like Christmas (Without You)” and “If I get home on Christmas Day.”
Remember, that before becoming a rock star, Presley was a trucker, so coming
come would have been important to him, a refuge for being on the road. One
could say that employment like trucking and railroad workers kept people away
from home. Nevertheless, they were not multitudes as those in the service. In
addition, Elvis would be drafted and would spend some military service in
Germany.
Owner
of photo above is unknown. Infringement is not intentional and photo is
used for educational purposes only with in the Fair Use clause of
Section 107 of the Copyright Act. We will will be obliged ant take down request under the DMCA .
For at least the first part of the 20th Century, the Christmas song focused on homecoming. It may be conscription and war had much to do with this.
In 1960s, the bluesy “Please
Come Home for Christmas (Bell will be Ringing)” came out begging to the return
for a loved one. This is not to be confused with “Christmas (Baby Please Come
Home)” recorded The Phil Spector Project and sung by Darlene Love who would go
on to sing many great pop Christmas songs (e.g., “All
Alone at Christmas” "Baby Please Come Home").
Although this essay only takes us to the 1960s, in the Mormon Tabernacle recording and live performance, Home for the Holiday, Alfie Boe recorded a medley of songs on this them that included “No Place Like Home for the Holidays,” “I’ll be home for Christmas,” “Somewhere in My Memory” from Home Alone, and even “Bring Him Home” from the musical Les Miserable, a true homage to the returning home feeling of the modern Christmas song.
Owner of photo above is unknown. Infringement is not intentional and photo is used for educational purposes only with in the Fair Use clause of Section 107 of the Copyright Act. We will will be obliged ant take down request under the DMCA .
The classic home-longing Christmas songs are still the standards. Few post-1960s song have been able to join the group of elite holiday hits, although there are some good ones out there. Furthermore, it is not to say the more extended travel, war, and the draft are the only reasons for the surge of these songs in the mid-20th century. The advent of recording, radio, television, and the three-minute song probably played a roll also.
As I write this in 2020,
many of us are sequestered due to the pandemic. Many carols concerts and
services are cancelled or are being posted online as virtual concerts. Even the famed Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge was first not to
be performed with an audience, now it will not be performed live on Christmas Eve.
Instead, a pre-recorded performance will air.
We are also being encouraged not to gather with extended family for Christmas, and instead gather with immediate family. Although there is some flaunting of these recommendations, people are feeling a worldwide homesickness. Even Queen Elizabeth in a pandemic radio speech quoted the famous song: "We'll meet again."
We are missing our families. We
are missing the return home. The pandemic will soon end and we will be home
for Christmas once again.
Rodriguez, McRobbie, Linda (18 April 2013) “11 Reasons the BBC Has Banned Hit Songs”. Mental Floss.
No comments:
Post a Comment