Released: October 15, 1970

Songwriter: Haven Gillespie J. Fred Coots

Producer: Hal Davis

[Chorus]
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

[Verse 1]
You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better not pout
I'm telling you why

[Chorus]
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

[Verse 2]
He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice

[Chorus]
Santa Claus is comin' to town, oh yeah
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

[Bridge]
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
(Be good for goodness sake)

[Verse 3]
Oh, you'd better watch out (Watch out)
You'd better not cry (Woo hoo)
Better not pout
I'm telling you why

[Chorus]
Oh! Santa Claus is comin' to town, oh yeah
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town (Woo hoo)
(Woo hoo...woo hoo)
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

[Verse 4]
Little tin horns, and little toy drums
Rooty-toot-toot, and rump-a-tum-tums
Curly-haired dolls, that tootle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too

[Chorus]
Oh! Santa Claus is comin' to town, oh yeah
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town
One more time now
Santa Claus is comin' to town, oh yeah
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is comin' to town

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 were originally formed in 1963 under the name, The Jackson Brothers. The founding members were Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Michael would join the group as the lead singer a year later, a move which pushed Jermaine to sing the backing vocals and play the lead guitar.

After participating in a series of talent shows, they entered the professional music scene in 1967, signing with Steeltown Records and releasing ten singles. In 1969, they left Steeltown Records in order to sign with Motown.

In 1975, most of the Jacksons had opted out of recording any more music for Motown, expressing desires to have creative control over their songs, as well as royalties. Learning that they were earning only 2.8% of royalties from Motown, Joe Jackson, the father and manager of the group, began to negotiate a lucrative contract with Epic records, which offered a royalty rate of 20% per record. The deal was completed in June 1975. As Motown owned the name The Jackson 5, the group simply renamed themselves The Jacksons.