Born during the Great Depression and raised by his grandparents, Nelson wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at ten. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Polka as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the U.S. Air Force but was later discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. During this time, he worked as a disc jockey in Texas radio stations and a singer in honky-tonks. Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he wrote "Family Bible" and recorded the song "Lumberjack" in 1956. He also worked as a disc jockey at various radio stations in Vancouver and nearby Portland, Oregon. In 1958, he moved to Houston, Texas, after signing a contract with D Records. He sang at the Esquire Ballroom weekly and he worked as a disk jockey. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Hello Walls", "Pretty Paper", and "Crazy". In 1960 he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and later signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. In 1962, he recorded his first album, ...And Then I Wrote. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1964 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry the following year. After mid-chart hits in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, Nelson retired in 1972 and moved to Austin, Texas. The ongoing music scene of Austin motivated Nelson to return from retirement, performing frequently at the Armadillo World Headquarters.
In 1973, after signing with Atlantic Records, Nelson turned to outlaw country, including albums such as Shotgun Willie and Phases and Stages. In 1975, he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded the critically acclaimed album Red Headed Stranger. The same year, he recorded another outlaw country album, Wanted! The Outlaws, along with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser. During the mid-1980s, while creating hit albums like Honeysuckle Rose and recording hit songs like "On the Road Again", "To All the Girls I've Loved Before", and "Pancho and Lefty", he joined the country supergroup The Highwaymen, along with fellow singers Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.
In 1990, Nelson's assets were seized by the Internal Revenue Service, which claimed that he owed $32 million. The difficulty of paying his outstanding debt was aggravated by weak investments he had made during the 1980s. In 1992, Nelson released The IRS Tapes: Who'll Buy My Memories?; the profits of the double album—destined to the IRS—and the auction of Nelson's assets cleared his debt. During the 1990s and 2000s, Nelson continued touring extensively, and released albums every year. Reviews ranged from positive to mixed. He explored genres such as reggae, blues, jazz, and folk.
Nelson made his first movie appearance in the 1979 film The Electric Horseman, followed by other appearances in movies and on television. Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the bio-diesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil. Nelson is also the honorary chairman of the advisory board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas.
Nelson uses a variety of music styles to create his own distinctive blend of country music, a hybrid of jazz, pop, blues, rock and folk. His "unique sound", which uses a "relaxed, behind-the-beat singing style and gut-string guitar" and his "nasal voice and jazzy, off-center phrasing", has been responsible for his wide appeal, and has made him a "vital icon in country music", influencing the "new country, new traditionalist, and alternative country movements of the 1980s and 1990s".
In 1969, the Baldwin company gave Nelson an amplifier and guitar with their "Prismatone" pickup. During a show in Helotes, Texas, Nelson left the guitar on the floor of the stage, and it was later stepped on by a drunk man. He sent it to be repaired in Nashville by Shot Jackson, who told Nelson that the damage was too great. Jackson offered him a Martin N-20 Classical guitar, and, at Nelson's request, moved the pickup to the Martin. Nelson purchased the guitar unseen for $750 and named it after Roy Rogers' horse "Trigger". The next year Nelson rescued the guitar from his burning ranch.
Constant strumming with a guitar pick over the decades has worn a large sweeping hole into the guitar's body near the sound hole—the N-20 has no pick-guard since classical guitars are meant to be played fingerstyle instead of with picks. Its soundboard has been signed by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, ranging from fellow musicians to lawyers and football coaches. The first signature on the guitar was Leon Russell's, who asked Nelson initially to sign his guitar. When Nelson was about to sign it with a marker, Russell requested him to scratch it instead, explaining that the guitar would be more valuable in the future. Interested in the concept, Nelson requested Russell to also sign his guitar. In 1991, during his process with the IRS, Nelson was worried that Trigger could be auctioned off, stating: "When Trigger goes, I'll quit". He asked his daughter, Lana, to take the guitar from the studio before any IRS agent arrived there, and then deliver it to him in Maui. Nelson then concealed the guitar in his manager's house until his debt was paid off in 1993.
Nelson is widely recognized as an American icon. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993, and he received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998. In 2011, Nelson was inducted to the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his labor in Farm Aid and other fund raisers to benefit farmers. In 2015 Nelson won the Gershwin Prize, the lifetime award of the Library of Congress. In 2018 The Texas Institute of Letters inducted him among its members for his songwriting. He was included by Rolling Stone on its 100 Greatest Singers and 100 Greatest Guitarists lists.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Willie Nelson 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 song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Willie Nelson is a classic Christmas tune that has been covered by various artists throughout the years. The first verse of the song sets the scene: the singer has traveled along the Milky Way and visited Santa Claus at the North Pole during the holidays. In the workshop, Santa shares his plans and the singer proceeds to sing the famous refrain warning children to behave because Santa Claus is coming to town. The second verse lists some of the toys that Santa is bringing with him, including little tin horns, rooty toot toots, and curly head dolls.
The song emphasizes the importance of being good and well-behaved in order to receive gifts from Santa on Christmas Day. The line “He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake” has become a staple in popular Christmas culture, and reminds listeners that Santa is always watching. The final verse is a call to action for children to write their letters to Santa and mail them right away in order to be sure that Santa has enough time to prepare for the big day.
Overall, the song is a cheerful and festive tune that has become a beloved part of the holiday season. It serves as a reminder of the magic of Christmas and the importance of spreading joy and goodwill.
Line by Line Meaning
I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
I went on an interstellar journey and visited different planets and stars.
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I took a break from my journey and decided to spend some time at the North Pole.
I called on dear old Santa Claus
I visited Santa Claus to talk with him and see his workshop.
To see what I could see
I was curious about what Santa Claus was doing and wanted to learn more.
He took me to his workshop
Santa Claus showed me his factory where he makes toys for children.
And told his plans to me, so
He shared with me his plans for delivering the toys to children all over the world.
You better watch out, you better not cry
You need to be careful and behave yourself because Santa Claus is coming to town.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
You should not be sad or upset because if you do, Santa Claus might not bring you a gift.
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is on his way and will soon arrive in town to deliver presents.
He's making a list and checking it twice
Santa Claus is very organized and is keeping track of who has been naughty or nice.
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus will determine who has been well-behaved and who has not.
He sees you when you're sleepin'
Santa Claus has magical powers and can see children even when they are asleep.
He knows when you're awake
Santa Claus is aware of everything that children do, both good and bad.
He knows if you've been bad or good
Santa Claus can tell if children have been naughty or nice based on their behavior throughout the year.
So be good for goodness sake
Children should behave well not just to receive presents, but because it is the right thing to do.
With little tin horns and little toy drums
There will be lots of different types of toys that Santa Claus will deliver to children, including musical instruments.
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
The toys will make a variety of sounds, some lively and some subdued.
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
There will be dolls that have curly hair and move around like real babies.
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Along with dolls, there will be toys like toy elephants, little boats, and cars just for kids.
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
Children, regardless of their age or gender, will be very happy and rejoice in receiving the toys that Santa Claus has brought them.
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
Children will create a little world around the Christmas tree with all their new toys.
Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
Santa Claus has a lot of work to do and is focused on delivering presents to children around the world.
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
Santa Claus has a lot of kids to deliver presents to and will need to fill up a lot of stockings.
You'd better write your letter now
If you want to receive a specific present from Santa Claus, it is important to send a letter to him as soon as possible.
And mail it right away
You need to send the letter as quickly as possible to make sure Santa Claus has enough time to read it.
Because he's getting ready
Santa Claus is preparing himself and his team of reindeer to deliver presents on Christmas.
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
Santa Claus travels with his team of eight reindeer and a magical sleigh to be able to deliver presents to children across the world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind