Here Comes Santa Claus (song)

Music by:	Oakley Haldeman
Lyrics by:	Gene Autry
Date:	1946

The Wiggles and Dorothy the Dinosaur sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" in Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas

"Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" is a Christmas song written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman.

Autry got the idea for the song after riding his horse in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade in Los Angeles, during which crowds of spectators chanted, "Here comes Santa Claus". This inspired him to write a song that Haldeman set to music. A demo recording was made by singer/guitarist Johnny Bond, whose recording made use of ice cubes to mimic the sound of the jingling sleigh-bells. This inspired the use of real sleigh-bells in Autry's own recording of the song.

Autry first recorded the song in 1947; released as a single by Columbia Records, it became a #5 country and #9 pop hit. He re-recorded it again for Columbia in 1953 and once more for his own Challenge Records label in 1957.

Other artists to record the song include Doris Day (1949), Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters (1950), Elvis Presley (1957), the Ray Conniff Singers (1959), Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (1963), Willie Nelson (1979), The Wiggles (1997), Billy Idol (2006), Ludacris (2007), and Bob Dylan (2009).

Lyrics

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus

Right down Santa Claus lane

Vixen and Blitzen and all his reinder pullin' on the rein

Bells are ringing, children singing

All is merry and bright

Hang your stockings and say your prayers

"Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus

Right down Santa Claus lane

He's got a bag that's filled with toys

For boys and girls again

Hear those sleigh bells jingle - jangle

What a beautiful sight

Jump in bed, cover up your head

'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight!