About
Winter Wonderland opened the first disc of Robbie Williams’s 2019 double album The Christmas Present. Written by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith in 1934, the song has been recorded by more than 200 artists, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Williams’s version, arranged by Guy Chambers and Richard Flack, sets the tone for the “Christmas Past” section of the album with a polished swing orchestration and choral introduction by the Ella May Choir, drawn from his category on *The X Factor*.
Smith wrote the lyrics after viewing the snow-covered parkland of Honesdale, Pennsylvania while recovering from tuberculosis, and Bernard added the jaunty melody soon after. Williams acknowledged the song’s enduring appeal, remarking, “A good Christmas song is a time machine. It transports you instantly to a moment you can’t quite remember, but you know you had an amazing time.”
In Williams’s version, gentle brass, brushed drums and sleigh bells create a nostalgic warmth that recalls his earlier swing recordings on Swing When You’re Winning. The smooth phrasing and relaxed tempo highlight his affinity for mid-century vocal jazz, while the closing choir harmonies reinforce the song’s timeless comfort.
“It’s those lyrics that become the fabric of your life… ‘In the meadow we can build a snowman.’ I love that. Just that bit makes the whole song for me.”Robbie Williams
As the album’s opener, Winter Wonderland invites listeners into a traditional holiday soundscape before Williams’s mix of humour and original songwriting unfolds. The track became a staple of his festive performances during the album’s promotion in late 2019.
Lyrics
(Winter Wonderland)
(Wonderland)
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland
Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is the new bird
He's singing a song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, "Are you married?" We'll say, "No man"
But you can do the job when you're in town
Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid, the plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
(In the meadow, we can build a snowman)
(And pretend that he's a circus clown)
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman
Until the other kids knock him down
When it snows ain't it thrillin'
hough your nose gets a chillin'
We'll frolic and play
The Eskimo play
Walking in a winter wonderland
Wonderland
Wonderland
Credits
-
Vocalist
Robbie Williams -
Songwriter
Felix Bernard, Richard Smith -
Original Artist
Bing Crosby -
Producer
Guy Chambers, Richard Flack -
Music Publisher
WC Music Corp.