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Released in 1979

Wonderful Christmastime

Written by Paul McCartney

Last updated on December 23, 2022

Album This song officially appears on the Wonderful Christmastime / Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae 7" Single.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1979

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Related song

Related interviews

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From Wikipedia:

“Wonderful Christmastime” is a 1979 Christmas song by Paul McCartney. It enjoys significant Christmas time popularity around the world. The song was later added as a bonus track on the 1993 CD reissue of Wings’ Back to the Egg album.

The track was subsequently added as a bonus track to the 2011 reissue of the McCartney II album, with both full and edited versions included. The track was also mixed in 5.1 surround sound for inclusion on the 2007 DVD release The McCartney Years.

Background and recording

McCartney recorded the song entirely on his own during the sessions for his solo project McCartney II. Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video, which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex.

“Wonderful Christmastime” can be heard in the 1998 animated film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie during Santa’s takeoff on Christmas Eve. Wings performed the song during their 1979 tour of the UK.

Reception and legacy

Following its release as a stand-alone single in the United Kingdom, “Wonderful Christmastime” peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart the week ending 5 January 1980. In the United States the single peaked at No. 83 on the Cash Box Top 100 Singles chart and No. 94 on the Record World Singles Chart, but did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

In December 1984, the single appeared at No. 10 for two weeks on Billboard’s Christmas singles chart. It also reached No. 29 on Billboard’s weekly Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart in early January 1996.

The song continues to receive substantial airplay every year, although some music critics consider it to be one of McCartney’s poorest compositions. Beatles author Robert Rodriguez has written of “Wonderful Christmastime”: “Love it or hate it, few songs within the McCartney oeuvre have provoked such strong reactions.”

Including royalties from cover versions, it is estimated that McCartney makes $400,000 a year from this song, which puts its cumulative earnings at near $15 million.

 

From Twitter – Happy Chrissie to y’all! I hope everyone has a really wonderful Christmas and has a great time with their loved ones – and enjoys every minute! Love Paul x
From Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) / Twitter – “I like the idea of Christmas songs purely because they only come around at Christmas!” – Paul

Lyrics

The moon is right

The spirits up

We're here tonight

And that's enough

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

The party's on

The feelin's here

That only comes

This time of year

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

The choir of children sing their song

Ding dong, ding dong

Ding dong, ding Ohhhh

Ohhhhhhh

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

The word is out

About the town

To lift a glass

Ahhh don't look down

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

The choir of children sing their song

They practiced all year long

Ding dong, ding dong

Ding dong, ding dong

Ding dong, ding dong

The party's on

The spirits up

We're here tonight

And that's enough

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

The moon is right

The spirits up

We're here tonight

And that's enough

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

Simply having a wonderful christmastime

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Christmastime

Officially appears on

See all official recordings containing “Wonderful Christmastime”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Wonderful Christmastime”

Related films

Videos

Album Wonderful Christmastime / Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reggae

Concert Dec 16, 2009 in Cologne

Concert Dec 20, 2009 in Dublin

Concert Dec 22, 2009 in London

Concert Dec 13, 2010 in New York

Concert Nov 29, 2012 in Edmonton

Live performances

“Wonderful Christmastime” has been played in 35 concerts.

Latest concerts where “Wonderful Christmastime” has been played

See all concerts where “Wonderful Christmastime” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

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Paul McCartney writing

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Andy Northall • Dec 04, 2019 • 5 years ago

I have a suspicion that George Harrison may appear in the video for 'W.C.T', as one of the choristers. Between 1:13 and 1:16, three choristers are shown, and the one on the right bears a remarkable resemblance to George as he looked in 1979 (centre parting, rectangular sunglasses), when the video was shot.

The PaulMcCartney Project • Dec 06, 2019 • 5 years ago

Mmmhhh, that's interesting @andy ! Will try to see if I can find anything on this ! Wikipedia so far says "Although the members of Wings are not on the recording, they do appear in the promotional music video, which was filmed at the Fountain Inn in Ashurst, West Sussex. One of the choristers featured in the video bears a resemblance to George Harrison."

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