His GRP debut album Freedom at Midnight was his biggest seller and most popular album. Benoit also says that it was his favorite album to produce, because it was when "everything came together," as he stated in an interview on smoothviews.com.
Out of respect for one of his main influencers, Bill Evans, he dedicated his 1992 album Letter to Evan to him.
Many of his songs employed a string section, most notably on his American Landscape and Orchestral Stories albums in 1997 and 2005, respectively. He has said that it is his dream to release a symphonic album.
In 2000, after the death of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, he released a memorial album entitled Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years! Collaborators included the chorus group Take 6, guitarist Mark Antoine and trumpeter Chris Botti. He also did the music for "Peanuts" in the later specials.
He is a close friend of The Rippingtons' guitarist and lead Russ Freeman, and they often appeared on each other's albums. They also released collaborative efforts The Benoit/Freeman Project and The Benoit / Freeman Project 2.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
David Benoit 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 song Santa Claus Is Coming To Town is sung from the viewpoint of a person who has just visited the North Pole and met Santa Claus in his workshop. The lyrics describe Santa Claus and his preparations for Christmas day. The chorus then warns children to behave because Santa Claus is watching and knows who has been naughty or nice. The second verse describes the toys that will be given out to children, such as little tin horns and curly-headed dolls, and the excitement of building Toyland around the Christmas tree. The final verse reminds children to send their letters to Santa soon, so that they can be delivered to him in time to prepare for Christmas.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I went on a beautiful journey through space and came back to Earth.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I took a vacation at the North Pole.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I visited Santa Claus.
To see what I could see
To observe what was happening at the North Pole.
He took me to his workshop
I was shown Santa's workshop.
And told his plans to me, so
Santa explained his Christmas plans to me.
You better watch out, you better not cry
You need to be careful and not cry.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Don't be unhappy because I will tell you why.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa is on his way to town.
He's making a list and checking it twice
Santa is making a list of who is good and bad.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
He is going to determine if you have been good or bad.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
Santa knows when you are asleep.
He knows when you're a wake
He knows when you are awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good
Santa knows if you have been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake
Be good for the sake of being good.
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry
You really need to be careful and not cry.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
There will be small horns and drums as toys.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
The toys will make fun noises.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with bouncy curls that move and make baby noises.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
There will also be toy elephants, boats, and cars for children.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Boys and girls all around will have a party and celebration.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They will create a Toyland around the Christmas tree.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa is busy and cannot spend time playing.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
Santa has to fill millions of stockings on Christmas Day.
You'd better write your letter now
You should write a letter to Santa.
And mail it right away
Make sure to send it as soon as possible.
Because he's getting ready
Santa is preparing for his big day.
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
His sleigh and reindeer are ready to go.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind