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.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
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 song, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, describe a trip taken by the singer along the Milky Way that led him to the North Pole where he met with Santa Claus. He then proceeds to explain how Santa is making a list and checking it twice to find out who has been naughty or nice. The song emphasizes on the importance of being good for goodness sake as Santa Claus knows everything we do, even when we are sleeping. The chorus then repeats itself, warning children to watch out, not to cry, and not to pout because Santa Claus is coming to town.
In the second verse, the song describes the different toys that Santa Claus will bring along with him, such as little tin horns, toy drums, curly head dolls that toddle and coo, elephants, boats, and kiddie cars. The song highlights the joy that children will experience on Christmas morning, building a Toyland around the Christmas tree. In the final verse, the singer urges children to write their letters to Santa Claus as he is a busy man with millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day.
Interestingly, Bobby Helms's version of Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town was released in 1957, although the original song was composed in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. The song has been covered by numerous artists and has become a Christmas classic, often played during the holiday season. The song's lyrics and tune are catchy, making it a popular choice of Christmas music, both for children and adults. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I had a wonderful journey through space and now I am back on Earth
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I took a break at the North Pole to enjoy my vacation
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I visited Santa Claus in person
To see what I could see
To explore and learn about Santa's activities
He took me to his workshop
Santa showed me his place of work
And told his plans to me, so
He shared his upcoming activities with me
You better watch out, you better not cry
Be careful and don't cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Avoid sulking, here's the reason
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa is on his way to visit
He's making a list and checking it twice
Santa is preparing a list of who has been naughty or nice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
He's going to discover who has been good or bad
He sees you when you're sleepin'
Santa is aware of when you're asleep
He knows when you're a wake
He's aware of when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
He knows if you have behaved poorly or well
So be good for goodness sake
It's in your best interest to behave well
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Musical instruments are among the presents
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Different sounds come from the instruments
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with curly hair that are playful and cute
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Other toys include elephants, boats, and cars
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
The children will be overjoyed
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They will create a toy kingdom around the tree
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa is occupied and cannot relax
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
He's responsible for filling a huge number of stockings
You'd better write your letter now
Write your letter to Santa soon
And mail it right away
Send it immediately
Because he's getting ready, His reindeer's and his sleigh.
Santa is preparing his sleigh and reindeer for his trip
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind