Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".
Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.
With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)
Santa Baby
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible, too, light blue
I'll wait up for you, dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list
Boo doo bee doo
Santa honey, I want a yacht and really that's
Not a lot
I've been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex, and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Boo doo bee doo
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean on a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
The song Santa Baby, originally written by Joan Javits and Philip Springer in 1953, have been covered by several artists over the years, most famously by Madonna in 1987. Madonna’s rendition of the song is embellished with characteristic slinky vocals, and jazz-tinted, sultry arrangement. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a woman who is asking Santa Claus for a range of luxurious Christmas gifts.
The first verse sets the stage with the singer wanting Santa to bring her a sable fur and an out-of-space convertible in light blue color. The second verse rolls along the same vein with her asking for a yacht, the deed to a platinum mine, and fueling her Christmas stocking with all kinds of valuable things. Through this, she addresses Santa using endearments of ‘Santa baby’, ‘cutie’ and ‘honey’ in the hopes of convincing him to bring her everything she wishes for.
However, the most interesting part of the lyrics is the bridge, wherein the singer expresses regret at missing out on some of life's experiences and feelings. The line, ‘Think of all the fun I've missed’ highlights that though she has been good all year long, she has not had the chance to enjoy life as much as she would have liked to. The singer wonders if next year she could be better by experiencing more and ponders whether that would lead to her being ‘oh so good’.
Line by Line Meaning
Santa baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me
Addressing Santa Claus to bring a gift, a sable fur coat, and keep it under the tree as an offering to the singer, who believes to have behaved well.
Been an awful good girl
Singer believes she has been a good girl all year round and deserved the gift.
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Singer wants Santa Claus to arrive soon, using the chimney as the entrance.
Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible, too, light blue
Singer wants another gift, convertible car in light blue color, for which she is ready to wait up for Santa Claus.
I'll wait up for you, dear
Singer is willing to stay up and wait for Santa Claus to arrive with the gift.
Think of all the fun I've missed
Singer regrets not having enough fun or romance in her life during the year.
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Singer wishes to have encountered more men and opportunities for romantic relationships.
Next year I could be oh so good
Singer promises to be better next year and not miss any opportunities.
If you'd check off my Christmas list
Singer's hopes that Santa Claus would fulfill her list of desires in reward for her good behavior.
Boo doo bee doo
Singer breaks from the narrative and sings a jazz-inspired melody.
Santa honey, I want a yacht and really that's
Singer requests another significant gift, a yacht, that she believes is reasonable because of her impeccable behavior throughout the year.
Not a lot
Singer emphasizes that she does not expect too much in return despite being good all year long.
Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed
Singer requests one crucial thing - a legal document proving she legally owns a platinum mine, which she believes Santa has the power to bring.
To a platinum mine
Singer wants ownership rights to a platinum mine as a part of her Christmas wishes.
Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex, and checks
Singer boasts about adding valuable items, namely a duplex and checks, in her stocking for Santa Claus to reward her.
Sign your 'X' on the line
Singer asks Santa Claus to sign paperwork making her the legal owner of the platinum mine she had requested earlier.
Come and trim my Christmas tree
Singer invites Santa Claus to decorate her Christmas tree, another task for which she expects him to carry out.
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
Singer emphasizes that she expects ornaments bought from the famous jewelry store Tiffany's to decorate her Christmas tree.
I really do believe in you
Singer still believes that Santa Claus is a real entity, despite being an adult and understandably doubting his existence.
Let's see if you believe in me
Singer tests Santa Claus's faith in her, as he has promised her gifts for the year in reward for her good behavior.
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
Singer realizes she forgot to ask for one more gift, a ring, from Santa Claus.
I don't mean on a phone
Singer clarifies that she does not want a phone instead of a ring as a gift.
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Singer repeats her plea for Santa Claus to arrive soon through the chimney with her Christmas gifts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TAMIR MUSIC, Qanawat, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Die Another Day
The only good thing about that sucky film is this song