Isaak's music can be described as a blend of country, blues, rock'n'roll, pop and surf rock.
He signed a contract to Warner Brothers Records in 1984 for his first album "Silvertone". Isaak's contract was renewed in 1988 when Warner moved him to their Reprise Records label.
His best-known song is "Wicked Game". Though released on the 1989 album "Heart Shaped World", an instrumental version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film 'Wild at Heart' (and also years later in the 2000 film The Family Man). An Atlanta radio station DJ began playing the full version and it quickly became a nation-wide top ten hit. The music video for the song was directed by Herb Ritts and was a big MTV and VH1 hit; shot in black and white, it starred Isaak and model Helena Christensen rolling on the beach, embracing and whispering in each others' ears.
In 1999, Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" was featured in Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut', starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
In 2001, Chris Isaak starred in his own television show, 'The Chris Isaak Show'. It aired from March 2001 to March 2004 in the United States on the cable television network Showtime. This adult comedy show featured Chris Isaak and his band playing themselves with the episode plots based on fictional accounts of the backstage world of Chris Isaak - the rock star next door.
In 2004, his track "Life Will Go On" was featured on the 'Chasing Liberty' soundtrack, which starred Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode.
He hosted a talk show on the Biography cable channel in the United States in 2009 that offered a unique twist - each guest was a musical artist, and both Chris and the artist performed various songs throughout each show. Eight episodes aired in early 2009, featuring guests Trisha Yearwood, Stevie Nicks, Glen Campbell, Michael Buble, Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), and Jewel.
Isaak has also appeared in numerous films, mostly playing minor cameo roles, though he starred with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda in the 1993 Bernardo Bertolucci-directed 'Little Buddha', and also played a major role in David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' (1992). Other motion pictures include 'Married to the Mob' (1988), 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), 'That Thing You Do!' (1996), and 'A Dirty Shame' (2004). He also guest-starred on the Super Bowl Sunday (1996) edition of the television sitcom Friends and on the HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon (HBO).
Chris is also an amateur boxer, avid surfer and a former Golden Gloves champion.
Hey Santa!
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walking right down my street
I wrote him a long, long letter
He don't know what's wrong with me
Honey please
Come on home
There goes Santa clause
Wrote him a long, long letter
He didn't read one word I said
Honey please
Come on home
Now this Christmas will be lonely
If I'm waiting here alone
I stayed up late
I write, I called, it did not good at all
I decked the tree, I wish you'd just deck me
This ain't no fun
Here comes Santa clause
Coming back up my street
Baby's walking hand in hand
Man she sure looks sweet
Honey please, come on in
Now this Christmas wont be lonely
Cause I got you back again
Chris Isaak's song "Hey Santa!" is a melancholic rock ballad with a retro sound that speaks of loneliness in the holiday season. The lyrics are mostly centered around the singer's attempt to reconcile with a loved one. The opening line declares that Santa is coming down his street, but instead of focusing on the gleeful merriment that the imminence of Christmas is known to bring, the singer writes about his dilemma. He had written a long letter to Santa asking what was wrong with him because he didn't have anyone to share Christmas with. The plea for love and happiness in the festive period is keenly felt in the emotional sensitivity of the track. He sings, "Honey please, come on home."
As the song progresses, the singer's sad, lonely experience of the holidays is further highlighted. He wrote another long letter to Santa, this time on his red sled, but, in a sharp turn, he finds that it hasn't been read. He sings, "I stayed up late, I write, I called, it did not good at all, I decked the tree, I wish you'd just deck me, this ain't no fun." He is depressed, and his efforts have been to no avail. However, at the end of the song, there is some redemption as he sees a baby walking with someone special, and he calls out for them to come in. Now, he's no longer alone, as he's reunited with his former love, and the chorus interjects with a repeat of the plea for her to come home.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes Santa clause
The singer sees someone/something coming towards them, as if Santa Claus is arriving
Walking right down my street
This entity is walking straight down the street in front of the singer
I wrote him a long, long letter
The singer penned an extensive piece of writing to this entity
He don't know what's wrong with me
The entity being addressed is unaware of why the artist is upset
Honey please
The artist is pleading with the entity being addressed to take action
Come on home
The singer wants the entity being addressed to return home
There goes Santa clause
The entity previously addressed is now departing from the singer's location
In his bright red sled
The entity is leaving on a bright red sled, similar to how Santa Claus would travel
He didn't read one word I said
The letter that the artist wrote was not read by the entity being addressed
Now this Christmas will be lonely
The artist is anticipating that they will spend Christmas alone
If I'm waiting here alone
The singer is spending Christmas alone and waiting for something/someone
I stayed up late
The artist remained awake for an extended period of time
I write, I called, it did not good at all
The singer had attempted to contact the entity being addressed numerous times through various methods, with no success
I decked the tree, I wish you'd just deck me
The singer decorated a tree, but would have preferred if the entity being addressed was there with them
This ain't no fun
The singer is not enjoying their current situation
Here comes Santa clause
Another entity is coming towards the artist, resembling Santa Claus
Coming back up my street
This entity is returning to the artist after previously leaving
Baby's walking hand in hand
This entity is accompanied by a baby, who is holding the entity's hand
Man she sure looks sweet
The baby being referenced is cute and endearing
Honey please
The artist is still pleading with the entity being addressed to take action
Come on in
The artist wants the entity being addressed to enter the artist's location
Now this Christmas wont be lonely
The artist will not be alone during Christmas anymore
Cause I got you back again
The entity being addressed has returned to the singer and will be spending Christmas with them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS ISAAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind