Home for the Holidays

"Home for the Holidays" came out in the mid-1950s, and while this roll looks like one of the "newer" piano rolls we have, it is very well-loved!

The piano roll is ripped quite a bit on the sides which makes it shift around and then the holes line up with different notes so it makes the key change. I finally figured out (after attempting to pedal it 4x) that I needed to roll it up tight and tap the end of it so the paper would align with one side (you can see me do this again at the end when I re-roll it). I have a feeling that trick will come in handy on this journey of playing 250+ piano rolls of various ages and states...

The final chorus (around the 3:15 mark) is VERY fanciful with lots of trilling - totally worth the effort to pedal this song, which is saying something because WHEW this song was so hard to play, especially 4 times in a row. It just keeps going & going! 😅

Lyrics: 

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze

For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home

I met a man who lives in Tennessee

He was headin' for Pennsylvania, and some homemade pumpkin pie

From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin' Down to Dixie's sunny shore

From Atlantic to Pacific Gee, the traffic is terrific

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

If you want to be happy in a million ways

For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home

I met a man who lives in Tennessee

He was headin' for Pennsylvania, and some homemade pumpkin pie

From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin' Down to Dixie's sunny shore

From Atlantic to Pacific Gee, the traffic is terrific

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays

'Cause no matter how far away you roam

If you want to be happy in a million ways

For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home

For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home