It's a Wonderful Life

About

It’s a Wonderful Life is a duet between Robbie Williams and his father Pete Conway from the first disc of The Christmas Present. Written by Williams with Calvin Harris and Danny Spencer, the song celebrates gratitude, family and the simple pleasures of Christmas. Its title nods to Frank Capra’s 1946 film classic, and the lyrics similarly emphasise rediscovering joy through love and togetherness.

The track’s arrangement blends brass, strings and a swinging rhythm section, with Conway’s warm baritone complementing his son’s smoother phrasing. Williams said he wrote the song especially for his father, calling it “a lovely tune” and joking that one line, “Who’s the Christmas number one? It’s me!” was “wonderfully narcissistic.” Conway recalled, “He sang it to me on the phone and said, ‘Do you fancy singing it with me?’ I said, of course I do. I’d sing anything with him.”

The lyrics paint a festive domestic scene: “We’re watching the box, the oldies are on, Eric, Bea and Ernie all having fun,” referencing Williams’s lifelong admiration for comedians Morecambe and Wise. The father and son chemistry gives the track its heart, and their shared history of performing together on stage translates naturally into the studio recording.

“I get to sing with my father on this record and he does a great job. It’s another one from Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a lovely tune.”Robbie Williams

It’s a Wonderful Life stands as one of the album’s most personal moments, honouring the family roots of Williams’s musical life and uniting two generations of entertainers in an affectionate, nostalgic duet.