Jordan was one of the first black recording artists whose popularity crossed over into the mainstream white audience and who scored hits on both the "race" charts and the mainstream white pop charts. He is now acknowledged as one of the most successful African-American musicians of the 20th century, ranking fifth in the list of the all-time most successful black recording artists.
Jordan scored at least four million-selling hits during his career, regularly topping the "race" charts, as well as scoring simultaneous Top Ten hits on the white pop charts on several occasions. Many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote have become 20th century popular music classics.
With his dynamic Tympany Five bands (which also pioneered the use of electric guitar and electric organ) Jordan largely mapped out the main parameters of the classic R&B, urban blues and early rock'n'roll genres with a series of hugely influential 78 rpm discs for the Decca label that presaged virtually all of the dominant black music styles of the 1950s and 1960s and which exerted a huge influence on many leading performers in these genres.
Santa Claus
Louis Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna climb down your chimney, baby, I'm gonna put a present on your tree
I want to show the whole world, baby, oh, what you mean-a me
I think about you baby, honey, on ev'ry holiday
Know that I think about you baby, honey on ev'ry holiday
I'd make Christmas come twice a year, darlin'
If I only had my way
(I have mine)
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
Hang a present on your tree, darlin', show you what you mean-a me
(I hear ya, Jimmy)
Louis Jordan's song "Santa Claus Santa Claus" is a classic horn-and-saxophone-laden holiday song with a catchy beat, typical of the rhythm and blues music of the time. The song opens with Jordan yearning to climb down his lover's chimney, declaring his desire to put a present on her tree. He wants to show the world how much she means to him. The repetition of the word baby adds a sense of playfulness and endearment to the lyrics. The second verse reveals that Jordan thinks of his lover on every holiday but wishes he could make Christmas come twice a year.
The third verse emphasizes Jordan's desire to be his lover's Santa Claus, even if it's the last thing he'll be. He wants to hang a present on her tree and show her what she means to him. The line "I hear ya, Jimmy" at the end of the song is a nod to Jordan's saxophonist, Jimmy Johnson, adding to the camaraderie and fun of the song.
Overall, the song is playful and flirtatious, with Jordan using the iconic image of Santa Claus to express his love and affection for his partner. The lyrics are simple, but the horns and saxophone provide a toe-tapping, danceable beat that makes it a classic holiday song.
Line by Line Meaning
want to climb down your chimney, baby, I want to put a present on your tree
I want to be with you so badly that I'm willing to go through any obstacles, even climbing down a chimney, to give you a gift and show you how much you mean to me.
I'm gonna climb down your chimney, baby, I'm gonna put a present on your tree
I am determined to make my way to you, even if it means doing something unconventional like climbing down a chimney, and leave a gift for you as a symbol of my love.
I want to show the whole world, baby, oh, what you mean-a me
I am so in love with you that I want to show off our relationship to the world and let everyone know just how much you mean to me.
I think about you baby, honey, on ev'ry holiday
You are always on my mind, especially during special occasions like holidays, and I can't help but think about how much I want to be with you.
Know that I think about you baby, honey on ev'ry holiday
I want you to know that I constantly think about you, especially during the holidays, and how much I miss you and wish we could be together.
I'd make Christmas come twice a year, darlin', If I only had my way
I love the holiday season so much that I wish we could have it twice a year. If it were up to me, I would make sure we had Christmas twice so that we could spend even more time together.
I want to be your Santa Claus, baby, if it's the last thing I'll be
I want to fill the role of Santa Claus in your life and bring you joy and happiness, even if it's the last thing I do in this world.
Hang a present on your tree, darlin', show you what you mean-a me
I want to put a gift under your tree to show you how much you mean to me and how much I love you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMMY REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bennyjazzful
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan.
@rievans57
One of my all time fav' holiday songs. Momma' played this one over and over back in the 60's...
@fastjen
❤️
@EricScottReed
Piano – John Houston
Bass – Dallas Bartley
Drums – Billy Moore
Tenor Saxophone – Teddy Edwards
Trumpet – Herbert Anderson, Julius "Billy" Brooks
@speedoj69
I cant believe I only discovered this incredible gem.I plan to record this tune on my net record wi5th a horn section
@syntyjasyvia
Head this first in "Love Song For Bobby Long" and came looking for it because of the season. Thanks for uploading it.
@unifb2007
I agree - I also heard/saw it in the same movie, but it wasn't on the movie sound track CD - nice to have it here - "KEEP ENJOYING THE SOUND OF JAZZ" (and also Louis Jordan)
@plasticashery
What a Gem. Thanks for that.
@LUCPROUDHON
Thanks to you, man... it's incredible that this song is not on the CD of the soundtrack of the film!
@mbrand19971
louis jordan was a founding father of early rhythm and blues rock n roll which he pretty much got that trend started that would have a big impact on many artists in the 1950's. It's just unfortunate he never got the acolaides that he deserved which to this day it's still being un-noticed. He had the best band that pretty much planted the seed of what would becoe rock n roll in it's pioneer early days.