Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town – English Lyrics

• By: Mariah Carey

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the festive spirit with Mariah Carey's joyful take on "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"! This song is a fantastic way to learn English vocabulary related to Christmas and celebration. Its upbeat tempo and clear, powerful vocals make the traditional lyrics easy to follow, helping you grasp common phrases and expressions in a fun and engaging musical setting. What makes this song special is how Mariah infuses a classic with her unique modern pop and R&B flair, creating an unforgettable holiday anthem that's both familiar and exhilarating.

[English]

Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Hey, whoa, whoa

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout, I'm tellin' you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town, yeah

He's making a list, he's checkin' it twice

He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town

Santa Claus is comin' to town (Santa Claus is comin' to town, yeah)

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake

Oh, you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout, I'm tellin' you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town (yeah)

Santa Claus is comin' to town (hey, hey)

Santa Claus is comin' to town (Santa Claus is comin' to town)

Whoa, yeah, yeah, woo!

The kids in girl and boy land

Will have a jubilee

They're gonna build a toy land

All around the Christmas tree

So you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout, I'm tellin' you why

Santa Claus is comin' to town (oh, yeah)

Santa Claus is comin' to town (hey, yeah)

Santa Claus is comin'- (Santa Claus)

Santa Claus is comin'- (Santa Claus)

Santa Claus is comin' to town (Santa Claus is comin' to town)

Woo! Whoa

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Santa ˈsæntə A1	noun - the name of a legendary figure who brings gifts at Christmas
Claus klɔːs A1	noun - surname of the legendary gift‑giver; part of “Santa Claus”
town taʊn A1	noun - a populated place that is larger than a village but smaller than a city
watch wɒtʃ A2	verb - to look at or observe attentively
cry kraɪ A1	verb - to produce tears from the eyes, usually because of emotion
pout paʊt B1	verb - to push out the lips in a way that shows displeasure or sulkiness
making ˈmeɪkɪŋ A2	verb - forming or producing something
list lɪst A2	noun - a series of written items
check tʃɛk A2	verb - to examine or verify something
find faɪnd A2	verb - to discover or locate something
naughty ˈnɔːti B1	adjective - disobedient; badly behaved
nice naɪs A1	adjective - pleasant; good or agreeable
sees siːz A2	verb - to perceive with the eyes
sleeping ˈsliːpɪŋ A2	verb - to be in a state of rest with eyes closed
knows noʊz A2	verb - to be aware of; to have knowledge about
awake əˈweɪk B1	adjective - not sleeping; conscious
good ɡʊd A1	adjective - having positive qualities; favorable
goodness ˈɡʊdnəs B2	noun - the quality of being good; kindness
kids kɪdz A1	noun - children; young people
jubilee ˈdʒuːbəli C1	noun - a special celebration or festival, often marking an anniversary
Christmas ˈkrɪsməs A1	noun - the Christian holiday celebrated on December 25th
tree triː A1	noun - a tall plant with a trunk and branches

Key Grammar Structures

• You better watch out

  ➔ Modal verb (had better)

  ➔ The phrase "had better" is used to give strong advice or a warning. Here, it emphasizes the importance of being cautious because Santa is coming.

• He's making a list, he's checkin' it twice

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used to describe actions happening now or around now. Here, it shows Santa’s ongoing actions of making and checking the list.

• He sees you when you're sleeping

  ➔ Present simple tense with 'when'

  ➔ The present simple tense with 'when' is used to describe a general truth or habit. Here, it emphasizes that Santa always sees you, even when you're sleeping.

• So be good for goodness sake

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give commands or advice. Here, it directly tells the listener to be good, emphasizing the importance of good behavior.

• The kids in girl and boy land

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ A prepositional phrase provides additional information about a noun or pronoun. Here, "in girl and boy land" describes where the kids are located.