Santa Clause is Coming to Town
Mariah Carey Lyrics

The lyrics to Mariah Carey's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" song are in tune with the traditional theme of Santa, a benevolent omniscient character who appears only once a year. The lyrics of the song encourage children to be on their best behavior, lest they incur the scrutiny of Santa Claus himself. He is portrayed as a watchful "judge" who rewards good behavior and punishes naughty deeds in his own way.

The first few lines of the song are meant to instill a sense of discipline and motivation in children. The children are encouraged to be good in exchange for the reward they will receive in the form of toys during the festive season. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Santa is an authoritative figure who exercises his divine powers over children. This is evident in lines such as "He's making a list; he's checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice" and "He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake."

The song culminates in a celebration of the joy of Christmas, as the children are encouraged to invest their energy in building Toyland around the Christmas tree. The song's lyrics thus appear to be imbued with a message of discipline, motivation, and fun, all of which combine to keep the tradition of Santa Claus alive.