Live 12 Dec 1975 version
[Spoken intro:] (Clarence laughs) It's all cold down along the beach, the wind's whipping down the boardwalk... Hey band! (Yeah? Hey, babe!) You guys know what time of year it is? (Yeah!) What time, huh? What? (Christmas time!) What? (Christmas time!) Oh, Christmas time! You guys all, you guys all been good and practicing real hard? Yeah? Clarence, you been, you been rehearsing real hard now, so Santa'll bring you a new saxophone, right? Everybody out there been good, or what? Oh, that's not many, not many, you guys are in trouble out here! Come on.
Yeah, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list, he's checking it twice
He's gonna find out whose naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
You better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho!
He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
You better be good for goodness sake
Better be good for goodness sake
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry
You better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Yeah, Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Ho ho ho ho
Santa Claus is coming to town
Alright!
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, yeah
Santa Claus is coming to town, whoa
Santa Claus is coming to town
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN is a song originally released by Harry Reser And His Orchestra in 1934. See the original Harry Reser And His Orchestra version for more details.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN became a signature for Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band who have been regularly performing the song live in concert since 1973, mostly around the months of November and December. Their officially released live 12 Dec 1975 version has become one of the most popular versions of this Christmas standard. The track sells pretty well in the USA every year during the holiday season and is Springsteen's best selling 1-track download in the USA.
The above lyrics are for the live 12 Dec 1975 performance of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN at C.W. Post College in Greenvale, NY, during the Born To Run Tour. The concert was held at the college's Post Dome. The parts in bold are sung by Clarence Clemons.
This live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was distributed promotionally to radio stations on reel-to-reel tapes (see below scan) and was released commercially for the first time in 1981 (see the "Official Releases" section below for more details). The track was recorded by Jimmy Iovine and Thom Panunzio and produced by Bruce Springsteen, Mike Appel, and Jimmy Iovine.
The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was included on the Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- compilation album.
The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was first released in 1981 on the various artists children album In Harmony 2. The song was also included on several promotional singles that were released in conjunction with the album. In Harmony 2 is a benefit album; according to the album's back cover, "A royalty is being donated to the Children's Television Workshop and various children's charities." It won a Grammy Award for Best Recording For Children in 1983.
The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TOWN was released as the B-side to MY HOMETOWN in November 1985. The single was reissued on cassette and CD in 1998.
Japanese Singles Collection -Greatest Hits- is a Bruce Springsteen compilation album released by Sony Music Japan in 2023. The compilation, which was exclusively released in Japan, consists of previously released 35 audio tracks and 62 video tracks. The collection is part of a 26-title reissue campaign to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's debut album. The series, issued in three waves (25 Oct 2023, 22 Nov 2023, and 20 Dec 2023), includes 25 albums originally released between 1973 and 2014 plus a new compilation album that includes all of Springsteen's singles released in Japan from 1975 to 1999. All audio CD's were manufactured using Sony Japan's Blu-spec CD2 format.
Disc 1: (audio CD)
Disc 2: (audio CD)
Disc 3: (DVD)
Disc 4: (DVD)
The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TOWN was also included on the Bruce Springsteen promotional EP in 1984 and the Tunnel Of Love EP in 1987.
The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN appears on one Bruce Springsteen promo-only sampler and on many various artists albums, most of which are Christmas themed.
Other versions of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN were also officially released.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN is known to have been performed at least twice during what is considered The Wild, The Innocent, & The E Street Shuffle Tour (September 1973 to March 1975). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song must have been played on some more dates in December 1973.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN is known to have been performed at least 12 times during the Born To Run Tour (73 know dates / 81 known shows, July to December 1975). Some of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates in December 1975. The live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was distributed promotionally to radio stations and was released commercially in 1981 (see the "Official Releases" section above for more details).
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN is known to have been performed at least 23 times during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour (111 dates, May 1978 to January 1979). A few of that period's setlists are incomplete or unknown, and therefore, the song may have been played on some more dates during the Darkness On The Edge Of Town Tour from September 1978 onward. The live 20 Sep 1978 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ September 20, 1978 official live download in 2017. The live 30 Sep 1978 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the September 30, 1978 official live download in 2020. The live 08 Dec 1978 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story box set in 2010. The live 15 Dec 1978 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Winterland 12/15/78 official live download in 2019. The live 16 Dec 1978 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Winterland 12/16/78 official live download in 2019.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 13 times during The River Tour (138 dates, October 1980 to September 1981). These were 13 consecutive shows. The live 29 Dec 1980 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 12/29/80 official live download in 2019. The live 31 Dec 1980 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 official live download in 2015.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 43 times during the Born In The U.S.A. Tour (156 dates, June 1984 to October 1985). The circulating audience recording from the 13 Dec 1984 show in Memphis, TN, is not complete and is missing SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN, but the song was most likely played on this show as it did on all other shows in November and December 1984.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 9 times during World Tour 1992-1993 (104 dates, June 1992 to June 1993); these were the last 9 dates of the 1992 leg of the tour. The live 13 Dec 1992 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Boston 13/12/92 official live download in 2021.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed twice during what is known as The Reunion Tour (132 dates, April 1999 to July 2000).
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 7 times during The Rising Tour (120 dates, August 2002 to October 2003); these were the last 7 dates of the 2002 leg of the tour.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed once during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour (72 dates, April to November 2005), on the last date of the tour, 22 Nov 2005 in Trenton, NJ. The live 22 Nov 2005 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, NJ 2005 official live download in 2019.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 10 times during the Magic Tour (100 dates, October 2007 to August 2008).
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 7 times during the Working On A Dream Tour (83 dates, April to November 2009). The live 22 Nov 2009 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was released on the HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY 11/22/2009 official live download in 2016.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed 9 times during the Wrecking Ball Tour (133 dates, March 2012 to September 2013); these were the last 9 dates of the 2012 leg of the tour.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed once during the High Hopes Tour (34 dates, January to May 2014), on the last date of the tour, on 18 May 2014 in Uncasville, CT. Audio recordings for most High Hopes Tour shows are officially available for purchase. See the live 18 May 2014 version for more details.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 28 Dec 1983 at Monmouth Arts Center in Red Bank, NJ, during a guest appearance at La Bamba's "Holiday Hurrah" Christmas benefit concert in aid of Monmouth County Big Brother.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 18 Dec 1988 at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, during a guest appearance with local musicians.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 20 Dec 1994 at Tradewinds in Sea Bright, NJ, during a guest appearance with Tim McLoone's Holiday Express.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 21 Dec 1998 at McLoone's Rum Runner in Sea Bright, NJ, during a guest appearance with Bobby Bandiera and his band.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 20 Dec 1999 at McLoone's Rum Runner in Sea Bright, NJ, during a guest appearance with Bobby Bandiera and his band. The exact date has not been confirmed but it seems like the party took place on 20 Dec 1999.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 15 Dec 2001 at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ, during a guest appearance with Tim McLoone's Holiday Express.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 19 Dec 2003 at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Rumson, NJ, during the funeral of Wall Street trader John Mulheren, who Springsteen had known since the sixties. The song was played at the request of Mulheren's widow, in a solo acoustic arrangement.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 02 Dec 2004 at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, PA, during the "Flood Aid '04" benefit concert.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 19 Dec 2004 at Harry's Roadhouse in Asbury Park, NJ, during both holiday jam shows that took place that day.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 12 Dec 2006 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during "The Bobby Bandiera All Star Holiday Concert".
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 22 Dec 2008 at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ, during an unscheduled guest appearance at Bobby Bandiera's Hope Concert. Bruce Springsteen performed the song with Southside Johnny and backed by Bobby Bandiera's band.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed off-tour on 19 Dec 2015 at Rockefeller Center in New York City, NY, during a TV appearance on Saturday Night Live. The song was played in its E Street Band arrangement, with Sir Paul McCartney, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and the full Saturday Night Live cast (and some of the crew) joining the band on stage. See the live 19 Dec 2015 version for more details.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed during both 2000 Asbury Park holiday shows, all five 2003 Asbury Park holiday shows, and all three 2003 Asbury Park holiday shows. These concerts were billed as "Bruce Springsteen with The Max Weinberg 7 and Friends", with The Max Weinberg 7 serving as the house band, and Springsteen bringing guests on and off the stage throughout the shows.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN was performed during the seventh (2006) annual Light Of Day benefit. The song was played with all of the night's performers onstage, including Bob Benjamin who joined Springsteen on lead vocals.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for transcribing these lyrics and for the additional help on this page. Thanks Massimo Truchet for the help with some of the official releases
Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release containing the live 12 Dec 1975 version of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN that's not mentioned on this page. Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN on this website:
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN [Live 12 Dec 1975 version]
