Released: October 29, 1963

Songwriter: J. Fred Coots Haven Gillespie

Producer: Ronald White Smokey Robinson

You know, you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout I'm tellin' you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

And you know that he is makin' up a list
And checkin' it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town

He knows when you are sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Yeah yeah yeah

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout I'm tellin' you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
One more time now

Santa Claus is coming to town
(Santa's coming, Santa's coming)
Old Saint Nicholas is coming to town
(Santa's coming, Santa's coming)
I'm tellin' all you kids now you better be good and watch what you do because er-uh
(Santa's coming, Santa's coming)
You know that Old Saint Nicholas is coming to town
(Santa's coming, Santa's coming)

The Miracles

The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American rhythm and blues vocal group.

They were formed at school in Detroit in 1955 as The Five Chimes. In 1956 they changed their name to The Matadors, adding Claudette Rogers to the line-up. They were spotted by Berry Gordy at an audition in late 1957 and in February 1958 changed their name to The Miracles. Their first release, ‘Get A Job’ b/w ‘My Mama Done Told Me’, was issued via the End label that same month. Another single on End followed, and then one on Chess and Motown, before the group finally found a home on Tamla where they had a string of hits and Smokey established himself as a key songwriter for the label throughout the 1960s.

In late 1965 Berry Gordy decided to adjust the group’s name and they were billed thereafter as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, until Smokey left the group in July 1972 (although the final Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single was not released until November). He was replaced by Billy Griffin, with the name being reverted back to The Miracles for the new line-up.