Chicago

Released: August 25, 1998

Songwriter: Keith Howland

Producer: Roy Bittan

Jolly old St. Nicholas
Lean your ear this way
Don't you tell a single soul
What I'm going to say

Christmas Eve is coming soon
Now, you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me
Tell me if you can

When the clock is striking twelve
When I'm fast asleep
Down the chimney broad and black
With your pack you'll creep

All the stockings you will find
Hanging in a row
Mine will be the shortest one
You'll be sure to know

What's it gonna be, Santa
Underneath the tree, Santa
What's it gonna be, Santa
Be this for me

Jolly old St. Nicholas
Now, you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me
Tell me if you can

What's it gonna be, Santa
Underneath the tree, Santa
What's it gonna be, Santa
Be this for me

Jason wants a Fender bass
Walt a saxophone
Lee, he needs a flügelhorn
Jimmy, a trombone

Robert wants a baby grand
Bill, a new B3
Tris, he wants a dolly, but
What are you gonna bring to me, Santa?

What's it gonna be, Santa
Underneath the tree, Santa
What's it gonna be, Santa
Be this

What's it gonna be, Santa
Underneath the tree, Santa
What's it gonna be, Santa
Be this for me
How about a shiny electric guitar, Santa?

Chicago is a rock band hailing from the Illinois city of the same name. With its multitude of certified gold and platinum hits, the band has had enough longevity to last for over fifty years.

Chicago was formed on February 15, 1967, between keyboardist/singer Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, drummer Danny Seraphine, guitarist Terry Kath, and trombonist James Pankow. The group called themselves “The Big Thing,” and played Top 40 hits in nightclubs in Chicago. In 1968, the band relocated to Los Angles, and changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority. They gained massive amounts of exposure to famous musicians of the time by regularly playing at the Whiskey A Go Go nightclub. In 1969, they released a self-titled album which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The next year, the band shortened their name to “Chicago” to avoid a lawsuit from the actual company of the same name.

The band has released a plethora of albums, most of them titled Chicago enumerated with Roman numerals. The band changed its sound in the late 70s and 80s following the death of Terry Kath. Since then, the band has still carried on a legacy for the decades following, but has slowed the release of original music to a trickle.

more tracks from the album

What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?

From the album

What’s It Gonna Be, Santa? (1998)

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Jolly Old Saint NicholasChicago

Chicago

What’s It Gonna Be, Santa?