He is well known for his vocalizations and humming while performing on guitar. Several American musicians, including Taj Mahal, The Grateful Dead, Ry Cooder, Woody Mann and Olu Dara, in addition to the British guitarist John Renbourn, were influenced by and have recorded variations of his arrangements of gospel and Bahamian songs. The earliest recordings of Joseph Spence were made on Spence's porch by folk musicologist Samuel Charters. These were released by Folkways Records.
Spence played a steel-string acoustic guitar, and nearly all of his recorded songs employ guitar accompaniment in a Drop D tuning. The power of his playing derives from moving bass lines and interior voices and a driving beat that he emphasizes with foot tapping. To this mix he adds blues coloration and calypso rhythms to achieve a unique and easily identifiable sound. He has been called the folk guitarist's Thelonious Monk.
The Richard Thompson fan club produced a benefit tribute album to Spence and the Pinder Family, Out on the Rolling Sea. It featured a variety of artists covering songs from Spence's repertoire. His recording of "That Glad Reunion Day" was used in the 2004 film Open Water and also appears on its soundtrack CD.
His unique vocal stylings on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" may be the definitive version of that song, according to Tom Schnabel of KCRW's Weekend Becomes Eclectic show[citation needed] and John Kelly of RTÉ Radio 1's Mystery Train show.
Mike Heron of The Incredible String Band credited Spence as the inspiration for the "Lay down, dear sister" passage in A Very Cellular Song on 1968's The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. Curiously, Spence credited Heron with the same song, claiming to have learned it from the ISB.
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Joseph Spence 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 lyrics to Joseph Spence's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" describe a journey taken by the singer along the Milky Way, who then stops off at the North Pole to visit Santa Claus. Once there, Santa takes the singer to his workshop to show his plans, which the song then tells the listener to watch out for as he makes a list and checks it twice, finding out who's been naughty and nice. The song then describes the toys that Santa will be bringing, from little tin horns and toy drums to curly head dolls and kiddie cars. The final verse advises that children need to write their letters to Santa now to ensure that they get their presents on time.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I recently traversed through space and returned safely.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I visited the North Pole for vacation purposes.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I met with Santa Claus.
To see what I could see
I wanted to explore and witness the work of Santa Claus.
He took me to his workshop
I was taken to where Santa Claus operates.
And told his plans to me, so
He shared his agendas with me.
You better watch out, you better not cry
You should be cautious and not cry.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Do not look upset, because I am about to inform you why.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus will be arriving soon.
He's making a list and checking it twice
He is in the process of creating a list and is reviewing it twice.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
He will determine who deserves praise for their actions or punishment for their misdeeds.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
He is keeping an eye on you even while you sleep.
He knows when you're awake
He can tell when you are alert and conscious.
He knows if you've been bad or good
He is aware of your good and bad deeds.
So be good for goodness sake
Behave well for the mere sake of good behavior.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Children's toys such as tin horns and drums.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Toys that produce sounds such as tooting or drumming.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with curly hair that waddle around and make gentle noises.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Toys like toy elephants, boats and miniature cars for children.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Children in different lands will enjoy celebrating.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They are planning to create a toyland surrounding a Christmas tree.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa is occupied with work and has no leisure time.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
He needs to fill an ample number of stockings on Christmas Day.
You'd better write your letter now
It is advisable to write your letter immediately.
And mail it right away
Send it quickly.
Because he's getting ready
Because Santa Claus is preparing.
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
He needs to ready his sleigh and reindeer.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with curly hair that waddle around and make gentle noises.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Toys like toy elephants, boats and miniature cars for children.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Children in different lands will enjoy celebrating.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They are planning to create a toyland surrounding a Christmas tree.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K Y
This is the only version of this song that makes me sincerely believe I better watch out! He absolutely delivers the MENACE. It's brilliant.
Trevor Lindsey
Has there ever been a better song to represent the holidays in the year 2020? My entire life feels like this song sounds!
PointyTailofSatan
I have played classical music on pipe organs since I was 10. And I think Spence is like some kind of guitar god. His music is like musical sunshine to me. My non-musician friends listen to Spence and think I am insane. Go figure. lol
mozarama
I'm not your friend, but you are insane.
abong.com
This is far and away my all-time favorite Christmas song! Found it years ago on the album "Mas! A Caribbean Christmas Party", and it has been part of our holiday tradition ever since. BTW the album has a great profile of each of the artists, and background on each of the songs. This one was apparently caught at the end of a live session on a whim. If you are looking for more variety in your holiday music, I highly recommend the album!
Rune Foonman
How has this been in the world for four *decades*, and I find out about it only *now*? This is both hilarious and terrifying at the same time. It is at Genius Level: Insane.
"Sanny Clorrrr izz gummn, hrnnnng"
Brendan Fitzgerald
Heard this about 15 years ago at a Christmas party. We were all absolutely destroyed. If you can take this as an entire package...listen, the guitar part is spot on. Brilliant.
Rebecca Blane
My Dad is a Luther and showed me this song...after I laughed for a long time he said, "his guitar playing really isn't bad". Growing up with my Dad playing I gave him a funny look...and he was like, "Yeah, sure...sometimes ther is some out of tune stuff (as my ear hears a BAD note) ...like that one there...but most of it...pretty good". I guess that means a lot coming from him lol
flo h
genuinely love this version
Vipermad
Me too! No joke.