I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
John Prine (Holiday) Lyrics


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Christmas toys all over the place
Little Johnny wears a funny smile on his face
Johnny has a secret, and a secret he must share
He wants to tell somebody, so he tells his Teddy Bear

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night
Well, she didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peek
She though that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
What a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had walked in
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night
Well, she didn't see me creep
Down the stairs to have a peek
She though that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
But I know I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white
What a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had walked in
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night (One more time!)




And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
On the Lips!

Overall Meaning

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a classic Christmas song that has been a favorite for generations. The song tells the story of Little Johnny, who catches his mother kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe, and the mix of emotions he feels as a result of this discovery. The song is playful, filled with humor and captures the innocence and whimsy of the holiday season.


The song opens with descriptions of the scene surrounding Little Johnny, with Christmas toys scattered everywhere and him wearing a smile on his face, indicating his excitement for Christmas. However, he has a secret he wants to share, and he confides it in his Teddy Bear. Little Johnny reveals that he saw his mother kissing Santa Claus under the mistletoe the previous night, but she did not know he was watching. The song describes the scene in detail, down to Santa Claus's snowy white beard, and imagines what would happen if Little Johnny's father had caught them in the act.


The song is playful and fun, but there is more to it than just a catchy tune. The innocence and imagination of childhood are central themes in the song, as Little Johnny's discovery of his mother's secret leads him to question the reality of Santa Claus and the magic of Christmas. The song also explores the complicated emotions of children, as Little Johnny feels a mixture of excitement, confusion, and perhaps even a twinge of betrayal at the discovery of his mother's infidelity with Santa Claus.


Overall, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is a timeless classic that captures the spirit of Christmas and the wonder of childhood.


Line by Line Meaning

Christmas toys all over the place
The surroundings are filled with Christmas decorations and gifts


Little Johnny wears a funny smile on his face
The child Johnny has a mischievous grin on his face


Johnny has a secret, and a secret he must share
Johnny has a secret that he feels the need to reveal to someone


He wants to tell somebody, so he tells his Teddy Bear
Johnny confides in his stuffed animal, as he has no one else to share his secret with


I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
The artist, Johnny, witnessed his mother kissing someone dressed as Santa Claus


Underneath the mistletoe last night
The kiss took place underneath a traditional Christmas decoration


Well, she didn't see me creep
Johnny sneaked around unnoticed by his mother


Down the stairs to have a peek
Johnny ventured downstairs to observe the kissing without being caught


She thought that I was tucked up in my bedroom fast asleep
Johnny's mother was unaware that her son was awake and watching her


Then I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Beyond just kissing, Johnny also witnessed his mother tickling Santa Claus playfully


Underneath his beard so snowy white
The man dressed as Santa Claus had a white beard, which was touched by Johnny's mother during the tickling


What a laugh it would have been
The situation seemed humorous to Johnny, who could have found it funny if it weren't for the possibility of his father discovering it


If Daddy had walked in
Johnny's father was absent from the room, but his sudden arrival would have provoked a different reaction


And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
The father seeing his wife kissing Santa Claus would have caused a problematic scenario


And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night (One more time!)
The phrase is repeated for emphasis


And saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night
The situation is replayed in Johnny's mind, with a final reference to the kiss being on the lips




Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: Thomas Patrick Connor

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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