Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
The snow’s coming down
I’m watching it fall
Lots of people around
Baby please come home
The church bells in town
All ringing in song
Full of happy sounds
Baby please come home
They’re singing “Deck The Halls”
But it’s not like Christmas at all
‘Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Pretty lights on the tree
I’m watching them shine
You should be here with me
Baby please come home
They’re singing “Deck The Halls”
But it’s not like Christmas at all
‘Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
If there was a way
I’d hold back this tear
But it’s Christmas day
Please please please please
Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Baby please come home
Please come home
Listen to the song
Hør sangen
About the carol Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector and first recorded by Darlene Love in 1963. Love’s recording appeared on A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records, a Christmas album produced by Spector. Unlike many of the traditional carols surrounding it on the album, the song was a newly written pop song. Its powerful arrangement and Love’s commanding vocal performance gave it a distinctive place in Christmas music.
The song focuses on the loneliness of spending Christmas without someone important. Festive details such as snow, lights, bells and Christmas songs are present, but instead of making the narrator happy, they emphasize the absence of the person she wants beside her. The emotional contrast between the joyful surroundings and personal sadness is central to the song, making its Christmas setting feel both celebratory and painful.
Darlene Love’s original recording did not become an immediate major commercial success, but its reputation grew over the following decades. It eventually became a Christmas standard and has been covered by numerous artists. Love also became closely associated with the song through her long-running Christmas performances on Late Night with David Letterman.
