One Last Christmas

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One Last Christmas appears near the end of the first disc of The Christmas Present and is among its most emotionally resonant tracks. Written by Robbie Williams with Flynn Francis and Conrad Olsen, the song evokes the classic storytelling ballads of the 1950s, blending melancholy reflection with gospel-tinged brass and strings. Its narrative follows an estranged father expressing remorse to a long-lost child, creating a poignant counterpoint to the album’s lighter moments.

Williams explained that he wanted to recreate the spirit of old-fashioned spoken ballads such as Tell Laura I Love Her or Elvis Presley’s more narrative recordings. "I’ve always liked those talkie songs with people with way deeper voices than I’ve got," he said. "That only works if your voice sounds as if it’s smoked 60 Marlboro in the last 150 years. That being said, I’ve got the opportunity to recreate something like that on this song." His deep, resonant vocal delivery is accompanied by soulful horns and a rhythm reminiscent of 1960s rock’n’roll.

The lyrics blend heartbreak and redemption, opening with the plea, “You might not recognise me anymore, but darling, it’s your daddy,” before moving toward forgiveness: “Please forgive me for what I’ve done.” The song’s bridge, “I left your mother to be a father too, and I realised I lost my life when I walked out on you,” underscores its emotional weight. Beneath the sentimentality lies a deep sense of self-awareness, characteristic of Williams’s mature songwriting.

“It’s sort of like Tell Laura I Love Her or Sixteen Tons or an Elvis track where he talks through it, expresses remorse. It’s about a father that is estranged from his child and the sadness that’s caused for both of them.”Robbie Williams

One Last Christmas stands out as a touching and cinematic moment in the collection, showing Williams’s ability to balance vintage influences with contemporary emotional honesty. It brings the reflective side of the festive season to life, closing the album’s narrative on a note of grace and reconciliation.