I Won't Be Home for Christmas

This article is about the Blink-182 song. For the Simpsons episode, see I Won't Be Home for Christmas (The Simpsons).

"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".

"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
Single by Blink-182
Released	October 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)
Recorded	1997
Genre	Pop-punk, Christmas
Length	3:17
Label	MCA
Songwriter(s)	Mark Hoppus Tom DeLonge Scott Raynor
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)

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

US CD single^[6]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"	3:16

All tracks are written by Blink-182.

Canadian maxi-single^[2]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
2.	"All the Small Things"
3.	"Josie"
4.	"Please Take Me Home"

Personnel

Blink-182

• Mark Hoppus – vocals, bass guitar (all tracks)
• Tom DeLonge – vocals, guitar (all tracks)
• Scott Raynor – drums (tracks 1, 3)
• Travis Barker – drums (tracks 2, 4)

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