Boyd recorded the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" for Columbia Records, when he was 13. It became a hit, selling over two and a half million records in its first week's release and Boyd's name became known internationally. Columbia Records executives were baffled at the song's popularity. They had already presented Boyd with two gold records. Boyd's record went to #1 on the charts again the following year at Christmas, and continues to sell as a Christmas song. It has reportedly sold more than sixty million copies since its initial release.
Boyd owned horses, so Columbia presented him with a silver mounted saddle. Inscribed in the silver plate on the back of the saddle were the words, "Presented by Columbia Records to Jimmy Boyd commemorating his 3,000,000 record of 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus'".
When first released, Boyd's record was banned in Boston by the Roman Catholic Church on the grounds it mixed sex with Christmas. Boyd made worldwide news when he went to Boston and met with the leaders of the Church to explain the song. The following Christmas the ban was lifted.
Boyd recorded several more hit records: teaming up with Frankie Laine in the spring of 1953 on "Tell Me a Story" (written by Terry Gilkyson), which reached #4, and "The Little Boy And The Old Man" (#24), and with Rosemary Clooney that summer on "Dennis the Menace," which reached #25.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Jimmy Boyd Lyrics
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Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
Up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
Up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.
Jimmy Boyd's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a classic Christmas song that tells a story from the perspective of a young child who catches his mother kissing Santa Claus. The lyrics describe the child sneaking down the stairs on Christmas Eve to see what Santa Claus had left for him, only to discover that his mother is kissing Santa underneath the mistletoe. The child is initially surprised and watches the scene unfold, but ultimately decides to keep the secret from his father, imagining how funny it would be if he were to catch his mother in the act.
Interpreting the lyrics of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" reveals deeper meanings and themes that extend beyond the surface-level Christmas cheer. The song plays with ideas of deceptions, secrets, and the innocence of childhood. The idea of the mother kissing Santa Claus is a playful and innocent deception that the child is privy to, but the parents are unaware of his presence. This creates a sense of a secret world that the child is aware of and the adults are not. Furthermore, the fact that the child chooses not to tell his father about what he's seen shows a certain degree of maturity, sensitivity, and loyalty, all of which are associated with the naive perspective of a child.
Overall, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a fun and playful Christmas song that can be enjoyed on multiple levels. It's a lighthearted song that celebrates the magic of Christmas and offers a unique perspective on parental relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
I witnessed my mother kissing someone made up to be Santa Claus.
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
They were in a stereotypically romantic location for the holiday season.
She didn't see me creep
My mother was unaware that I was observing her actions.
Down the stairs to have a peep;
I was curious and wanted to see what was happening.
She thought that I was tucked
My mother believed that I was sound asleep and could not witness her actions.
Up in my bedroom fast asleep.
She thought that I was sleeping.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
My mother also touched the person who was portraying Santa Claus.
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
She focused her attention on the costume and facial hair that portrayed the mythical character of Santa Claus.
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
It would have been comical for my father to see my mother behaving in such a way with a fictional character.
If Daddy had only seen
My father was not present to witness the situation, but it would have been amusing if he had been.
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.
My mother was pretending to kiss Santa Claus, which I found to be funny and interesting.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music
Written by: Tommie Connor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind