The group was founded in 1969 by Russell Knighton at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the group was called the Macalester College Black Voices. It was in 1971 when current director Gary Hines took leadership over the ensemble, and the group name was officially changed to Sounds of Blackness.
The chief lead singer of the group was Ann Nesby until 1995 when Nesby left the group to pursue a solo career. The group continues to perform internationally. The group performed the original songs for the 1999 Disney animated short John Henry (based on the folklore character) as part of Disney's American Legends, the short was re-released in 2015 as part of the Walt Disney Animation Studios Short Films Collection. The original songs were written by Gary Hines and Billy Steele, with a score by Stephen James Taylor
The group has received three Grammy Awards, four Stellar Awards, one Emmy nomination, the International Time for Peace Award, the International Dance Music Award, five NAACP Image Award nominations and 1 NAACP Image Award.
Sounds of Blackness's "Time For Love" was nominated for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards for R&B Song of the year.
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Sounds Of Blackness 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 opening lines of the song, "I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way, stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday" suggests that the one singing the song has just returned from space to visit Santa Claus at the North Pole. The song is an introduction to the idea of Santa Claus, a beloved mythical figure that children know well. The singer goes on to recount their visit to Santa's workshop, wherein they are shown the preparations that are made for Christmas day. The chorus serves to warn children to be on their best behaviour because Santa Claus is coming to town and will be making a list to determine who is naughty and nice.
The third verse mentions the intricacies of the workshop where Santa makes the toys that he will give to children on Christmas. The song describes the little tin horns and little toy drums, rooty toot toots, and rummy tum tums. These toys are meant to be for kids in "Girl and Boy land" who will have a "jubilee" where they will "build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree". The final verse explains that Santa is a very busy man who has no time to play. He is getting ready for Christmas day, where he must fill millions of stockings. The song ends on another chorus reminding children that Santa Claus is coming to town.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
The singer travelled a great distance and is now back.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
The singer briefly visited the North Pole to enjoy themselves.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
The singer sought an audience with Santa Claus.
To see what I could see
The artist was curious and wanted to see what Santa Claus was up to.
He took me to his workshop
Santa Claus showed the artist his workplace.
And told his plans to me, so
Santa Claus shared his intentions with the singer.
You better watch out, you better not cry
It is advised that one be on their best behavior and not cry during the Christmas season.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
One should avoid being upset, and the singer explains the reason for this advice.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus will soon make his annual visit to the town.
He's making a list and checking it twice
Santa Claus is organizing a list of children and checking it twice to see who has been naughty or nice.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus will determine whether children have been good or bad.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
Santa Claus keeps an eye on children even when they are sleeping.
He knows when you're a wake
Not only does he see children when they are asleep, but he also knows when they are awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good
Santa Claus is aware of children's behavior and whether it has been positive or negative.
So be good for goodness sake
The singer urges children to be good for the sake of being good.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Santa Claus will be delivering various toys to children, such as little tin horns and toy drums.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
These are the sounds the toys Santa is delivering may make.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Other toys Santa will deliver may include curly haired dolls that toddle and coo.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Santa's toys will include elephants, boats, and kiddie cars.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Children all over the area will rejoice in the good tidings of the season.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
The children will build a Toyland around the Christmas tree to play and enjoy their new toys.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa Claus is very busy during this time of year and has no leisure time.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
Santa must fill the stockings of millions of children on Christmas Day.
You'd better write your letter now
Children are advised to write their letters to Santa now to ensure that he gets them in time.
And mail it right away
The letters should be mailed immediately so that Santa can receive them in time.
Because he's getting ready
Santa Claus is busy preparing for his trip to deliver presents.
His reindeer's and his sleigh
Santa will travel on his sleigh, which is pulled by his team of reindeer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HSSU Camera Club
on Black Butterfly
Black Butterfly by Sounds of Blackness
Chorus
Black Butterfly, you can do most anything your heart desires
Freedom comes with understanding who you are
Its time to reclaim your place among the stars
Spread your wings and fly
Awakening the genius has been asleep too long
A people with a beauty rich and strong
A heritage that rates second to none
Original, your qualities, don’t change them to fit in
Now that you’re on top just keep rising
Experience new life, be born again.
Chorus
What’s going on?
To not reveal unless we choose to see
Has generations lost in history
To hide our culture and identity
Keep your pride
You can’t be another color butterfly
So when you shine, let everybody see your light
Cuz you know out of sight means out of mind