I Won't Be Home for Christmas

Last updated
"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
Blink-182 - I Won't Be Home for Christmas cover.jpg
Single by Blink-182
ReleasedOctober 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)
Recorded1997
Genre Pop punk
Length3:17
Label MCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mark Trombino
Blink-182 singles chronology
"First Date"
(2001)
"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
(2001)
"Stay Together for the Kids"
(2002)

"I Won't Be Home for Christmas" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. The song was originally recorded and released as a radio promo in 1997. MCA Records reissued it internationally as a single on October 16, 2001. The song was recorded with original drummer Scott Raynor and produced by Mark Trombino, who produced the trio's second studio album, Dude Ranch (1997). The song's title is a parody of the Christmas song "I'll Be Home for Christmas".

Contents

The single topped the Canadian Singles Chart, but it did not chart anywhere else. It remained at that position for three weeks in 2001 and for two weeks in 2002. It is the band's sole Canadian number one.

Background

The song was originally recorded in 1997 for KROQ. [1] [2] [3] The song was later included on A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas (2003), a Christmas-themed compilation by Immortal Records. [4]

The song’s narrative follows a man "snapping" on Christmas Eve and attacking a group of carolers. [1] MSN Canada called the song "a high-energy punk war on Christmas". [1]

Reception

Chart performance

The song peaked at number one in Canada. [5] The song remained at the top of the charts for five non-consecutive weeks. [1]

Track listings

All tracks are written by Blink-182

US CD single [6]
No.TitleLength
1."I Won't Be Home for Christmas"3:16
Canadian maxi-single [2]
No.TitleLength
1."I Won't Be Home for Christmas" 
2."All the Small Things" 
3."Josie" 
4."Please Take Me Home" 

Personnel

Blink-182

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
Chart (2001–2002)Peak
position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) [5] 1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
Chart (2001)Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) [7] 3
Year-end chart performance for "I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
Chart (2002)Position
Canada (Nielsen SoundScan) [8] 41

Related Research Articles

<i>Take Off Your Pants and Jacket</i> 2001 studio album by Blink-182

Take Off Your Pants and Jacket is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 12, 2001, by MCA Records. The band had spent much of the previous year traveling and supporting their previous album Enema of the State (1999), which launched their mainstream career. The album's title is a tongue-in-cheek pun on masturbation, and its cover art has icons for each member of the trio: an airplane, a pair of pants, and a jacket. It is the band's final release through MCA.

<i>Enema of the State</i> 1999 studio album by Blink-182

Enema of the State is the third studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 1, 1999, by MCA Records. After a long series of performances at various clubs and festivals and several indie recordings throughout the 1990s, Blink-182 first achieved popularity on the Warped Tour and in Australia following the release of their second album Dude Ranch (1997) and its rock radio hit "Dammit." To record their third album, Blink-182 turned to veteran punk rock producer Jerry Finn, who previously worked on Green Day's breakthrough album Dookie (1994). Enema was the band's first album to feature second drummer Travis Barker, who replaced original drummer Scott Raynor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam's Song</span> 2000 single by Blink-182

"Adam's Song" is a song recorded by the American rock band Blink-182 for their third studio album, Enema of the State (1999). It was released as the third and final single from Enema of the State on March 14, 2000, through MCA Records. "Adam's Song" shares writing credits between the band's guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus, but Hoppus was the primary composer of the song. The track concerns suicide, depression and loneliness. It incorporates a piano in its bridge section and was regarded as one of the most serious songs the band had written to that point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rock Show</span> 2001 single by Blink-182

"The Rock Show" is a song by American rock band Blink-182 for the group's fourth studio album, Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (2001). It was released as the lead single from the album on May 7, 2001. The track was composed primarily by bassist Mark Hoppus about meeting a girl at a rock concert. It was inspired by the band's early days touring punk rock clubs, mainly Soma in their hometown of San Diego.

<i>The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (The Enema Strikes Back!)</i> 2000 live album by Blink-182

The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show is a live album by American rock band Blink-182. It was released on November 7, 2000, by MCA Records. Blink-182 had risen to fame at the turn of the millennium on the strength of its third album, Enema of the State, which went multiplatinum. Capturing the band's stage show—known for its irreverent humor—with a live release was designed to satisfy fans between new studio albums. The album was recorded over two nights at performances in their native California, on the group's inaugural arena tour.

<i>Dude Ranch</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Blink-182

Dude Ranch is the second studio album by American rock band Blink-182, released on June 17, 1997, by Cargo Music and MCA Records, making it their major record label debut. MCA signed the band in 1996 following moderate sales of their 1995 debut Cheshire Cat and their growing popularity in Australia. Dude Ranch was the band's final recording released on Cargo and the last to feature their full original lineup as drummer Scott Raynor was dismissed from the band in 1998.

<i>Box Car Racer</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Box Car Racer

Box Car Racer is the only studio album by American rock band Box Car Racer. Produced by Jerry Finn, the album was released on May 21, 2002, through MCA Records. The band was a side-project of Blink-182 members Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, with David Kennedy completing the band's studio lineup. A bassist and friend of Barker, Anthony Celestino, toured with the band throughout late 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feeling This</span> 2003 single by Blink-182

"Feeling This" is a song by American rock band Blink-182 for their untitled fifth studio album (2003). The song is the opening track on the album and was released as its lead single on October 6, 2003, through Geffen Records. It was written by guitarist Tom DeLonge, bassist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Travis Barker, and was produced and mixed by Jerry Finn. The song originated on the first day of producing the album. Its lyrics are purely sexual in nature; the band juxtaposes lust and passion between verses and choruses, thematically connected with a wistful, regretful tone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's My Age Again?</span> 1999 single by Blink-182

"What's My Age Again?" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. It was released in April 1999 as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Enema of the State (1999), released through MCA Records. "What's My Age Again?" shares writing credits between the band's guitarist Tom DeLonge and bassist Mark Hoppus, but Hoppus was the primary composer of the song. It was the band's first single to feature drummer Travis Barker. A mid-tempo pop punk song, "What's My Age Again?" is memorable for its distinctive, arpeggiated guitar intro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man Overboard (Blink-182 song)</span> 2000 single by Blink-182

"Man Overboard" is a song by the American rock band Blink-182. It was first released on September 2, 2000, through MCA Records as the lead single from the band's live album The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show (2000). It is the sole studio recording on the release, and was recorded as a bonus track to help promote its release. The song's lyrics, credited to bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge, are about losing their original drummer Scott Raynor to alcohol abuse. In the song, Hoppus repeats the refrain "so sorry it's over," and goes on to highlight occasions in which a friend was too intoxicated to be dependable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All the Small Things</span> 1999 single by Blink-182

"All the Small Things" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. It was the second single and eighth track released from the band's third album, Enema of the State (1999). The track was composed primarily by guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge as an ode to his then girlfriend. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jerry Finn, the song was created with the intention of shipping it to radio, as the trio felt they needed a single "really catchy and basic."

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Blink-182 album) 2005 compilation album by Blink-182

Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album of American rock band Blink-182. It was released on October 31, 2005, by Geffen Records. Greatest Hits was created by Geffen shortly after the band's February 2005 breakup, termed an "indefinite hiatus" by the label. Tensions had risen in the group and guitarist Tom DeLonge desired to take time off. Bassist Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker argued with DeLonge regarding the band's future and their possible next album, and heated exchanges led to DeLonge's exit. In the interim, Hoppus and Barker continued playing together in +44, and DeLonge formed his new outfit Angels & Airwaves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie (Blink-182 song)</span> 1998 single by Blink-182

"Josie" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on November 17, 1998, as the fourth single from the group's second studio album, Dude Ranch (1997). "Josie" was primarily written by bassist Mark Hoppus about an idealized girlfriend, and the song includes references to the bands Unwritten Law and Dance Hall Crashers, bands the trio toured with between 1995 and 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple Shampoo</span> 1997 single by Blink-182

"Apple Shampoo" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on April 14, 1997, in Australia as the first single from the group's second studio album, Dude Ranch (1997). The song was released as a single in Australia only, through an exclusive license with Mushroom Records imprint label Rapido.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dammit</span> 1997 single by Blink-182

"Dammit" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on September 23, 1997, as the second single from the group's second studio album, Dude Ranch (1997). Written by bassist Mark Hoppus, the song concerns maturity and growing older. It was written about a fictional breakup and the difficulty of seeing a former partner with another.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blink-182 discography</span>

This is a discography of the American pop punk and rock band Blink-182. They have released nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, three video albums, two extended plays (EPs), twenty-four singles, six promotional singles, and thirty-two music videos. Their recording material was distributed mainly by subdivisions of Universal Music Group, including Geffen Records, Interscope Records, and DGC Records. They have also released material under MCA Records, Cargo Music and its subdivision Grilled Cheese, Kung Fu Records, and BMG. The band currently consists of bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, drummer Travis Barker, and guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge. Founded by Hoppus, guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Scott Raynor, the band emerged from the Southern California punk scene of the early 1990s and first gained notoriety for high-energy live shows and irreverent lyrical toilet humor. Blink-182 has sold 15.3 million albums in the United States, and over 50 million albums worldwide. The band is known for bringing the genre of pop punk into the mainstream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Closing Time (Semisonic song)</span> 1998 single by Semisonic

"Closing Time" is a song by American rock band Semisonic. It was released on March 10, 1998, as the lead single from their second studio album, Feeling Strangely Fine, and began to receive mainstream radio airplay on April 27, 1998. The ballad was written by Dan Wilson and produced by Nick Launay.

"Mutt" is a song by American rock band Blink-182 from the band's third studio album, Enema of the State (1999). It was written primarily by guitarist Tom DeLonge, with additional songwriting credit to bassist Mark Hoppus, and drummer Scott Raynor. The song's narrative portrays a lustful couple. DeLonge penned the track for his friend, the professional surfer Benji Weatherly. The band first recorded the song for Weatherly's appearance in the 1998 surf film The Show, prior to Raynor's exit from the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasting Time (Blink-182 song)</span> 1996 single by Blink-182

"Wasting Time" is a song by American rock band Blink-182, released on May 20, 1996 in Australia, and on June 28, 1996 elsewhere, as the second and final single from the group's debut studio album, Cheshire Cat (1995).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Emma Jones (December 23, 2011). "Bah-humbug: Anti-Christmas songs to send the relatives running". MSN Canada. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  2. 1 2 I Won't Be Home for Christmas (Canadian maxi-single liner notes). Blink-182. MCA Records. 2002. 088 155 886-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. "blink-182 - I Won't Be Home For Christmas - Live". Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved December 9, 2020 via YouTube.
  4. "Bosstones, Blink 182 Bolster 'A Santa Cause'". Billboard . September 18, 2003. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Blink-182 Chart History (Canadian Digital Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  6. I Won't Be Home for Christmas (US CD single liner notes). Blink-182. MCA Records. 1997. crg5p-4107.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2001". Jam!. Archived from the original on January 26, 2003. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  8. "Canada's Top 200 Singles of 2002". Jam!. January 14, 2003. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2022.