Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics

It's all cold down along the beach
The weather is cold near the ocean

The wind's whipping down the boardwalk
The wind is blowing hard down the walkway

Hey band!
The singer is getting the attention of the band

(Yeah? Hey, band) You guys know what time of year it is?
The artist is asking the band if they are aware of the time of year

(Yeah!) What time, huh? What? (Christmas time!)
The band responds with excitement that it is Christmas time

What? (it's Christmas time!) Oh, Christmas time!
The singer confirms with the band that it is indeed Christmas time

You guys all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard?
The singer is asking the band if they have been good and practicing a lot

Yeah? Clarence, you been, you been rehearsing real hard now
The artist specifically calls out Clarence and acknowledges his hard work rehearsing

So Santa'll bring you a new saxophone, right?
The artist promises Clarence that Santa will bring him a new saxophone if he is good

Everybody out there been good, or what?
The artist is asking the audience if they have been good

Oh, that's not many, not many, you guys are in trouble out here
The singer teases the audience by saying not many people have been good and therefore are in trouble

Come on
The artist is encouraging the band and audience to enjoy the song

He's making a list, he's checkin' it twice
Santa is making a list of who has been good and who has been bad

He's gonna find out whose naughty or nice
Santa will figure out who has been bad or good

He sees you when you're sleeping
Santa knows when you are sleeping

He knows when you're awake
Santa knows when you are awake

He knows if you've been bad or good
Santa is aware of your behavior

You better be good for goodness sake
The singer is warning the audience to be good for their own sake

(You better be good for goodness sake)
The warning is repeated for emphasis

Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
The artist is warning the audience to not cry or be upset

You better not pout, I'm telling you why
The artist is telling the audience to not be upset and explaining why

Santa Claus is coming to town
The artist reminds the audience that Santa is coming to town

Yeah, Santa Claus is coming to town
The singer is excited that Santa is coming

(Ho ho ho ho!)
The artist is imitating Santa's laugh

Santa Claus is coming to town (Ho ho ho ho)
The singer is reminding the audience that Santa is coming and includes Santa's laugh

Santa Claus is coming to town (Ho ho ho ho)
The singer repeats that Santa is coming along with Santa's laugh, for emphasis

Santa Claus is coming to town (Ho ho ho ho)
The singer is getting the audience excited by repeating that Santa is coming, again with Santa's laugh

Santa Claus is coming to town (Ho ho ho ho)
The artist is keeping the audience excited by repeating that Santa is coming, with Santa's laugh one more time

Santa Claus is coming to town
The artist reiterates that Santa is coming

Santa Claus is coming to town (Ho ho ho ho)
The singer reminds the audience one more time that Santa is coming, with Santa's laugh

Santa Claus is coming to town, alright
The singer is confirming to the audience that Santa is indeed coming

Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
The artist confirms once again that Santa is coming

Santa Claus is coming to town, whoa
The artist expresses excitement that Santa is coming

Santa Claus is coming to town
The artist repeats that Santa is coming