Two Days Michael Berry's Show is sponsored by a Christmas standard.

Songwriter Buckram, known for his hits Only You, The Great Pretender, Twilight Time, and The Magic Touch, wrote the original lyrics to this holiday

classic in the year 1922, while a student at the University of Illinois, except he wrote it as a poem for his mother.

19 years later, Buck had a chance encounter at a bar with some acquaintances.

Lyracist Kim Gannon and composer Walter Kent, the three discussed Bucks poem.

Two years later in 1943, Gannon and Kent reworked that poem into a song from the point of

view of a soldier writing a letter home to his family.

The song was released as a single with Danny Boy as its B-side.

Buckram's publishing company sued for a songwriting credit and won. By the record's second pressing his name

was right there next to Gannon and Kent. Amid World War II, the song touched the hearts of

Americans, both soldiers and civilians, and reached number three on the charts,

earning the recording artist their fifth gold record. The GI magazine, Yank, said that the singer

had accomplished more for military morale

than anyone else of that era. Coincidentally, the song was banned by the

BBC in the UK. The corporation's management felt that the lyrics might lower morale among British troops

and thus would not broadcast the song.

The song has been covered by some big artists like Elvis, Michael Buble and Johnny Mathis, not to mention a slew of other recording

artist. However, 77 years after its release, it was Bing Crosby's version that debuted on the

Billboard Hot 100 charts at number 50 in January of 2021.

I'll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me.

Please have snow

snow and mistle town

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