I'll Be Home (Meghan Trainor song)

A Christmas ballad,^[2] Meghan Trainor wrote and produced "I'll Be Home".^[3][4] Initially released on the Epic Records-issued extended play I'll Be Home for Christmas (2014), the song also later appeared on the Japanese and special editions of her debut major-label studio album Title (2015).^[5][1] Time's Nolan Feeney included "I'll Be Home" on an article called "5 Depressing Christmas Songs from 2014 That Will Totally Bum You Out", and noted it as a positive change of sound compared to Trainor's other work, writing "there are no handclaps or upright bass sounds on 'I'll Be Home.' Instead, a simple piano ballad shows off the singer’s voice (the prettiest it has ever sounded)".^[6] In 2020, it was issued as a bonus track of Trainor's A Very Trainor Christmas.^[4]

Writing for Entertainment Tonight, John Boone also made note of the song's difference from Trainor's breakout hit "All About That Bass" (2014), highlighting "Santa called to make sure I'm prepared / He said ‘Wrap the gifts with all your love and care’ / The wind blows the snow up in the sky / But I won't let the wind delay my flight" as his choice lyrics.^[7] According to Fuse's Jeff Benjamin, it is "an original heartfelt winter ballad about promising to be home for Christmas",^[8] while Emilee Lindner of MTV News thought that "I'll Be Home" sees Trainor "shak[ing] off her signature sass and show[ing] off her sweet vocals".^[9] Jezebel's Clover Hope stated that the song "could use a touch more flavor".^[10]

In 2015, "I'll Be Home" charted at number 65 in Sweden,^[11] 94 in the Netherlands and number 24 on the Belgium Ultratip chart.^[12][13] In 2016, the song climbed to number 72 in the Netherlands.^[12] It finally entered the single charts in Germany in 2017, where it first appeared at number 66.^[14] That same year, "I'll Be Home" reached a new high of number 35 in Sweden and entered the chart in Switzerland at number 93.^[11][15] In December 2018, the song reached charts in several countries, including number 45 in Germany,^[14] 79 in the Netherlands,^[12] number 31 in Norway,^[16] 35 in Sweden and number 56 in Switzerland.^[11][15] On the week dated January 4, 2019, it debuted at its peak of 53 in Austria.^[17] "I'll Be Home" was certified gold in Sweden.^[18]