Born in Bloomington, Indiana into a musical family, he began performing as a duo with his brother before going on to a successful solo career in country music. In 1956, Helms made his way to Nashville, Tennessee where he signed a recording contract with Decca Records. The following year would be filled with astonishing successes. Helms' first single in 1957 titled "Fraulein" went to No. 1 on the country music charts and made it into the Top 40 on the pop music charts. Later that same year he released "My Special Angel" that also went to No. 1 on the country charts and entered the Top 10 on Billboard magazines pop music charts, peaking at No. 7.
Released just a few days before Christmas of 1957, his song "Jingle Bell Rock" was a big hit but uniquely, it re-emerged four out of the next five years and sold so well that it repeated each time as a top hit and became a Christmas classic still played to this day.
Bobby Helms continued touring and recording for the next three decades. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Helms spent most of his later years living just outside of Martinsville, Indiana, until the time of his death from emphysema and asthma in 1997.
Captain Santa Claus
Bobby Helms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I called on dear old Santa Claus
To see what I could see
He took me to his workshop
And told his plans to me, so
[Chorus]
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He's making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He sees you when you're sleepin'
He knows when you're a wake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is comin' to town
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
So! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
You'd better write your letter now
And mail it right away
Because he's getting ready
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
[Chorus]
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is comin' to town
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
So! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
The lyrics of Bobby Helms's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" tell the story of the singer's trip to the North Pole to visit Santa and the preparations Santa and his elves are making for Christmas. The singer warns listeners to watch out, not to cry, and not to pout because Santa is coming to town and he's making a list, checking it twice to find out who's naughty or nice. Santa has eyes and ears everywhere, even when kids are sleeping. The song lists some of the toys Santa will bring, including little tin horns, little toy drums, rooty toot toots, rummy tum tums, curly head dolls, elephants, boats, and kiddie cars.
One of the key themes in the song is the idea of good behavior being rewarded and bad behavior being punished. The chorus emphasizes this by telling listeners to be good for goodness sake and warning them that Santa sees everything. The song also emphasizes the joy and excitement of Christmas, especially for children. The idea of building a Toyland all around the Christmas tree captures the imagination and wonder of the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I went on a fantastic journey through space on the Milky Way.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I took a vacation in the North Pole.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I visited and talked to Santa Claus.
To see what I could see
To look around and explore the place.
He took me to his workshop
Santa showed me where he works.
And told his plans to me, so
He explained his plans to me.
You better watch out, you better not cry
Be careful and don't cry.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Don't be sad, listen to what I'm about to say.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa is on his way to town.
He's making a list and checking it twice
He's making a list of who's been naughty or nice, and checking it twice.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
He's going to figure out who's good and who's bad.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
Santa knows when you're asleep.
He knows when you're a wake
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good
He knows if you've been good or bad.
So be good for goodness sake
Be a good person just for the sake of being good.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
With small horns and toy drums.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Sounds made by the little tin horns and toy drums.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with curly hair that toddle and coo.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Toys like elephants, boats, and small cars for kids.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Children everywhere will be very happy and celebrate.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They will create a magical land of toys around the Christmas tree.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa is very busy and doesn't have time to play.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
He has a huge amount of stockings to fill on Christmas day.
You'd better write your letter now
You should write your letter to Santa right now.
And mail it right away
And send it as soon as possible.
Because he's getting ready
Because Santa is preparing.
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
His reindeer and sleigh are also getting ready. So,
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kate King
Never heard this before I like it :)
ryanm
I'm 31 years old but like 50's and 60's music, and I heard it on an oldies radio show that plays Christmas songs you don't hear on the radio. I wish there were more stations that did that.
Tara Noah
my daddy's favorite Christmas song
Sharona Victoria
This was the flip side of Jingle Bell Rock, I played it as a child when people listened to the B - side of 45's out of curiosity !
🌲🤶Happy Holidays🤶🌲
ryanm
It has some similarities too. If you notice, in the middle there is a part where the chorus is in unison, then harmony, and the jingle bell rock has that same format. So does my special angel.
MissNovel
It's so fascinating that we only listen to Jingle Bell Rock now. Guess the space race is over!
mondellomusic
One of the best b-sides ever!
Choock5219
Actually, this was the intended A-Side
Robert Smith
Never heard this before...Fun!!
Marilyn Feldman
The beginning of this song scared me to death. My siblings would lock me in a closet and play it over and over. Still traumatized 60 years later!