Every December Mac DeMarco releases a cover of a Christmas classic. He started the tradition in 2015 with Bing Crosby's “White Christmas”, followed by Paul McCartney's “Wonderful Christmastime”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and last year's “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”. This year it's "I'll be home for Christmas."
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" borrows from the more melancholy side of Christmas carols, and its homesick lyrics are appropriate given the resurgence of COVID and the subsequent, depressing mass cancellation of vacation plans. DeMarco doesn't seem to be trying to keep the mood bright, but his hazy instrumentation leads to the same result. The music video streamed above takes a page from last year's clip – where "Have Yourself" played an inflatable Santa Claus who has an inflatable Christmas tree.
