1… Read Full Bio ↴Musical groups in three genres have shared the name The Four Aces.
1. The Aces, initially known as "The Four Aces" were a Jamaican vocal group who are best known for their work with Desmond Dekker, but who also recorded without him. The initial line-up of the Aces was Clive Campbell, Barry Howard, Carl Howard, and Patrick Howard. The group came to the attention of Dekker, who supported them when they auditioned for Leslie Kong at Beverley's studio in 1965. The producer employed the group as backing singers for Dekker, recording many hits with him including "The King of Ska" (where they were credited as His Cherry Pies), "Get Up Adinah" (on which they were credited as the Four Aces"), huge hits such as "007 (Shanty Town)" and "Israelites", and the winner of the 1968 Festival Song Contest, "Music Like Dirt". By 1967 the only remaining original member was Barry Howard, along with Winston Samuels. Dekker's international success led to overseas tours, but the Aces were not taken along, Samuels refusing to fly, stating "Rastas did not fly on iron birds", and Barry Howard having already decided to emigrate to the United States. Instead they stayed in Jamaica and recorded without Dekker. They had a Jamaican hit in 1970 with "Mademoiselle Ninette", and by 1971 the line-up had again changed, with Barry now rejoined by Carl Howard. A string of hits followed with "Reggae Motion", "Take a Look", "Oh I Miss You", Call Me Number One", "Be My Baby", and "Sad Sad Song", and they had a near hit in the pop charts in 1973 with "Working on it Night and Day". Little more was heard from the group until 1982 when they released "One Way Street".
2. An American singing quartet which was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. The group is well-known for a plethora of hits, including: "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", " Three Coins in the Fountain", "Stranger in Paradise", "Shangri-La", "Perfidia". All of the group's major hits were first performed by the original four members: Al Alberts (originally Albertini), Dave Mahoney, Lou Silvestri, and Rosario "Sod" Vaccaro. Although all were from Chester, Pennsylvania, Alberts and Mahoney actually met in the Navy. They formed a duo, with Alberts singing and Mahoney playing behind him. Later adding Vaccaro on trumpet and Silvestri on drums, the group played in the Philadelphia area. When they could not find a label which would release their record, "(It's No) Sin," Alberts started his own label, Victoria Records. "(It's No) Sin" sold a million copies! DECCA Records soon signed the group, billing them as The Four Aces Featuring Al Alberts. In 1956, Alberts left The Four Aces to try to make it as a soloist, but never made the charts. He was replaced as lead singer by Fred Diodati, another Philadelphia product. Over the years, as the remaining original members left, Diodati chose new singers to replace them. The right to "The Four Aces" name eventually landed in court. In 1975, Diodati was awarded the right to the name and continued to tour under it. The founding members, who again wanted to tour, were allowed to use the name, "The Original Four Aces, Featuring Al Alberts." The latter group retired in 1987. The Four Aces are still touring. (A link to their appearances is listed below.)
3. Cajun fiddler Leo Soileau was the second Cajun musician to record his works. This occurred in the late 1930s. The Four Aces was the name of his second string band (the first had been The Rhythm Boys). Soileau reitred from music in the 1940s with the demise of the string band sound.
Santa Claus Is Comin
The Four Aces 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 Four Aces's song "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" is a classic Christmas song that is beloved by many people around the world. The opening verse of the song talks about the singer's visit to the North Pole, where he met with Santa Claus and visited his workshop. Santa Claus then shared his plans with the singer, which may refer to the gifts that he plans to distribute to children all over the world.
The first chorus of the song warns children to be on their best behavior because Santa Claus is coming to town. He is making a list, checking it twice, and he plans to find out which children have been naughty and which children have been nice. The lyrics also state that Santa Claus knows if you are sleeping or awake, and he knows if you have been good or bad. Therefore, the chorus stresses the importance of being good and not crying or pouting.
The rest of the song talks about the different toys that Santa Claus brings to children, including little tin horns, little toy drums, curly head dolls, elephants, boats, and kiddie cars. The lyrics suggest that Santa Claus not only brings material gifts, but also a sense of joy and excitement. The song ends with a call to action for children to write their letters to Santa Claus and mail them right away, so that he can prepare his sleigh and reindeer to deliver gifts.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I recently returned from an enchanting journey through the galaxy.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I took a break at the Arctic region to enjoy a vacation.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I visited the beloved figure known as Santa Claus.
To see what I could see
I wanted to observe what was happening there.
He took me to his workshop
He brought me to his workplace.
And told his plans to me, so
He shared with me his intentions.
You better watch out, you better not cry
Be cautious, don't weep.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Don't frown, I'll explain.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is arriving.
He's making a list and checking it twice
He's creating a list and reviewing it twice.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
He aims to determine who's been good and who's been bad.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
He observes you while you slumber.
He knows when you're a wake
He's aware when you're conscious.
He knows if you've been bad or good
He knows whether you've been well-behaved or mischievous.
So be good for goodness sake
Therefore, be righteous for the sake of virtue.
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry
Oh! Be careful, don't cry.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
Featuring miniature brass and percussion instruments.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Sounds of brass and bass drums.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Dolls with curly hair that totter and make soft noises.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Also including toy elephants, boats and child-sized vehicles.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Youngsters in the land divided by gender will celebrate joyfully.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
They'll create a Toyland surrounding the Christmas tree.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa is a high-occupied individual, unable to indulge in leisure activities.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
He has countless stockings to provide for on the day of Christmas.
You'd better write your letter now
It would be beneficial to pen your letter presently.
And mail it right away
And to send it promptly.
Because he's getting ready
For he is preparing.
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
His reindeer and sleigh, that is why.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAVEN GILLESPIE, J. FRED COOTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind