Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Ella Fitzgerald | Frank DeVol Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better not pout I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list he's checking it twice
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
The song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is a cheerful and upbeat Christmas classic that invites us to behave well and be on our best behavior because Santa Claus is coming to town to check his list and ensure that we have been nice all year round. The lyrics suggest that we should be mindful of our actions and not let our emotions get the best of us. The opening lines of the song, "You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why," urge us to be vigilant about our behavior and avoid throwing tantrums or indulging in moments of weakness because our actions are being observed.
The song then makes it clear that Santa Claus is making a list and checking it twice to find out who has been good or bad. The song's chorus encourages us to be good and kind-hearted, reminding us that Santa Claus is always watching us, even when we are sleeping or awake. The lyrics emphasize that one's actions have consequences and encourage people to do good things purely for the sake of doing good, rather than out of a desire for rewards.
Line by Line Meaning
You better watch out you better not cry
You must be alert and not weep
You better not pout I'm telling you why
You must not sulk, and I'll tell you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is arriving in the town
He's making a list he's checking it twice
He's compiling a list and verifying its accuracy
He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice
He'll determine who's been bad or good
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is arriving in the town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He observes you when you slumber
He knows when you're awake
He's aware when you're conscious
He knows if you've been bad or good
He's cognizant of whether you've been wicked or virtuous
So be good for goodness sake
Hence, refrain from bad acts for the sake of good.
Oh, you better watch out you better not cry
You must be alert and not weep
You better not pout I'm telling you why
You must not sulk, and I'll tell you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is arriving in town
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAVEN GILLESPIE, J. FRED COOTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yessigarcia2151
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
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]
You better watch out, you better not cry
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
@vikkiandri
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
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]
You better watch out, you better not cry
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
@v.nikkijohnson
If I didn't already know, this Christmas ⛄🎄 classic shows just how amazing Ms. Ella's voice was!
@user-vq9jy9km2l
The animation is so adorable and her voice is amazing!😍
@moonlight2859
❤🎉c 1:02 😮😅😅😅😅🎉
@fredlawson9394
No school like the old Christmas songs...🎄⛄🧑🎄💖🌲
@arnoldronning5471
I can't believe I have never heard this version until Christmas 2022! Absolutely the best version ever.
@sarahmorales7574
Right?! Iove this version ♡
@adam._.malinowski
Not only you 🙃
@ChristopherLee3247
I'm sure Santa is proud of Miss Ella Fitzgerald 🙂
@dlovelyone4039
Neither have I and it’s Christmas 2023 🎄🎅🏿
@Wowmusicable
Christmas Day 2023, never heard this version until today. And I love it!