With a contract to Mercury Records (1975), McEntire began her professional career singing heavily pop-influenced ballads, a far cry from the neotraditionalist movement she would help lead a few years later.
"I Don't Want To Be A One Night Stand" became her first charting single in 1976. Her first Top 10 hit "(You Lift Me) Up to Heaven" followed four years later, and in 1982 she scored her first #1 hit with "Can't Even Get The Blues."
Frustrated at her limited commercial success, McEntire left Mercury and signed with MCA Records in 1984. 1984's "Just A Little Love" wasn't much different form her Mercury material and was only moderately successful. However, another album followed later that same year, titled "My Kind of Country." This was a return-to-roots record, complete with fiddles and steel. It was comprised largely of covers of classic country songs, as well as original songs such as "How Blue" and the Harlan Howard-penned "Somebody Should Leave", both of which reached #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
In the early 1990s McEntire expanded her audience by adopting a softer, more pop-oriented sound. She became one of the best-selling country artists of all time, releasing three volumes of greatest hits collections.
Since that first #1 hit in 1982, she's forked out 21 more chartbusters, which are all recapped on "Reba #1s" released on November 22nd, 2005. The 2-disc compilation features all 22 number one singles (according to Billboard magazine) in chronological order, including two new tracks "You're Gonna Be" and "Love Needs A Holiday." "Reba #1s" also contains 11 singles that reached the #1 spot in publications other than Billboard.
She won the Female Vocalist of the Year award from the Country Music Association four times in a row (a record she holds with Martina McBride), and had dozens of Top Ten hits during the 80s. For her contribution to the recording industry, Reba McEntire has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
She is one of only six solo women (others include Shania Twain, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Taylor Swift), to win the Country Music Association's highest honor, "Entertainer Of The Year". McEntire continued to hit the charts through the 2000s, as well as appearing in television and film, most notably Tremors, a cult horror movie series, Forever Love, and One Night at McCool's. She also starred as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway, receiving critical acclaim.
From 2001 to 2007, Reba starred in the hit WB television show, Reba (with Texan actor Christopher Rich as her philandering ex-husband), even getting a visit from fellow country star Dolly Parton who played Reba's character's supervisor at a real estate firm.
Santa Claus Is Coming Back To Town
Reba McEntire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was always Santa Claus to them
Every year he'd magically appear here in our den
They would laugh and tease and say you look a lot like Dad
He'd just smile and ask, "Have you been good or bad?"
Oh, but life ain't always like a holiday
Some things change, and sometimes people go their separate ways
Wish them Merry Christmas when they open up their gifts
And even though it might be hard on me
How can I let them down?
So Santa Claus is coming back to town
Here it is Christmas Eve - the kids are sleeping
Lights flashing in the trees - I keep thinking
Tomorrow I'll see him, tomorrow I'll see him
I guess I ought to try to go to bed
I can't rehearse tomorrow any longer in my head
He'll walk in so nonchalant, as if he'd never gone
They'll be glad to see him, I'll be barely hanging on
And just like that he'll go and turn my whole world upside down
Santa Claus is coming back to town
No it's never really easy when this time of year rolls around
'Cause Santa Claus is coming back to town
In Reba McEntire's song "Santa Claus Is Coming Back To Town," the lyrics describe a story of a man who used to dress up as Santa Claus every Christmas for his children. They would tease him and joke, but nevertheless, they enjoyed his presence. The years went by, and the man separated from the family and didn't perform as Santa for several years. Suddenly, he called to announce that he wanted to be present on Christmas Day to watch his children open their presents. The singer of the song, who is most likely the mother, must come to terms with the fact that the man, who used to play Santa Claus, is coming back into their lives. The singer expresses her concern, but she ultimately knows that she cannot deny the children their grandfather.
The lyrics contain a bittersweet quality to it as one can feel the emotions of the singer who must reconcile with the past and present in a difficult situation. It's like a harsh reminder that Christmas can be both joyful and heartbreaking. The song illustrates the complex family dynamics that many people face during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
He was always Santa Claus to them
To the children, he was the magical figure of Santa Claus who appeared every year in their den
Every year he'd magically appear here in our den
He would make a magical appearance every year in the children's den to bring them Christmas cheer
They would laugh and tease and say you look a lot like Dad
The children would joke and tease him, pointing out his resemblance to their father
He'd just smile and ask, "Have you been good or bad?"
He would play along and ask the children if they had been well-behaved or not
Oh, but life ain't always like a holiday
Unfortunately, life is not always like a joyous holiday
Some things change, and sometimes people go their separate ways
People's lives change and sometimes they go in different directions, leading to separation
He just called and said he'd like to be here for the kids
He called and expressed his desire to be there for the children
Wish them Merry Christmas when they open up their gifts
He wants to express his holiday greetings to the kids when they open their presents
And even though it might be hard on me
Although it might be difficult for me
How can I let them down?
She cannot let the children down
So Santa Claus is coming back to town
He will make a return to their town to fulfill the children's wishes
Here it is Christmas Eve - the kids are sleeping
It is Christmas Eve and the kids are sound asleep
Lights flashing in the trees - I keep thinking
The tree lights are flashing and she is lost in thought
Tomorrow I'll see him, tomorrow I'll see him
She looks forward to seeing him the next day
I guess I ought to try to go to bed
She realizes she should try to go to sleep
I can't rehearse tomorrow any longer in my head
She cannot keep running through tomorrow's events in her mind
He'll walk in so nonchalant, as if he'd never gone
He will walk in as if he has never been away
They'll be glad to see him, I'll be barely hanging on
The children will be happy to see him, but she will be struggling emotionally
And just like that he'll go and turn my whole world upside down
He will leave as suddenly as he appeared, sending her life into turmoil
Santa Claus is coming back to town
Once again, Santa Claus is set to return to their town
No it's never really easy when this time of year rolls around
It is always a difficult time of year with complex emotions and stressors
'Cause Santa Claus is coming back to town
The return of Santa Claus creates emotional challenges for the family during the holidays
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind