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Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Song Information
Updated August 18, 2009
The official Gene Autry biographer, Holly George-Warren, summarizes the history of the song Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) in her book Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry.
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Another Autry recording marked a turning point for the singer in 1947. That summer Art Satherly had suggested Gene record a new Christmas song he had discovered, "An Old Fashioned Tree." For its flipside, Gene remembered a song idea he'd gotten while participating in the annual Hollywood "Santa Claus Lane" parade the previous November. Astride Champion Jr., ahead of St. Nick on his sleigh, he'd heard a child on the sidewalk shout, "Here comes Santa Claus!" Satherly took Gene's idea to Oakley Haldeman, the composer who operated Gene's music publishing division, and he came up with the melody.
Johnny Bond recorded a demo version of the song at his home studio, where Art, cocktail in hand, stood next to the mic (as he usually did during recordings). The tingling of ice cubes was captured on the recording, inspiring the use of jingle bells on the August 28 Columbia session. After initial sales of two million following its December release, "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" became a perennial top-ten hit every Yuletide season for years to come. More important, it opened up a whole new market for Gene – holiday discs aimed at children. Easter and Thanksgiving recordings would follow, as would one of the biggest-selling Christmas discs of all time.
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Publishing Information:
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
(Gene Autry/Oakley Haldeman)
© 1947, Renewed Gene Autry's Western Music Publishing Co.
ASCAP
Licensing inquires email kbuhlman@autry.com
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| Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) co-writer Oakley Haldeman. |
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Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) co-writer Gene Autry with Champion ready to deliver Christmas gifts circa 1947. |
Gene Autry's Columbia Records Information for
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Columbia Records
Recorded August 28, 1947 in Hollywood
An Old Fashioned Tree (Becker-Williams)/Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)(Gene Autry-Oakley Haldeman)
Gene Autry, Vocals; Accompaniment Johnny Bond, Guitar; Bert Dodson, Vocal/Bass; Carl Cotner, Violin; Fred Martin, Vocal/Piano Accordion; Jerry Scoggins, Vocal; unknown horns, violin and jingle bells {Bert Dodson, Fred Martin and Jerry Scoggins are the Cass County Boys}
This recording of Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) is a Gold Record.
Columbia Records
Recorded June 25, 1953 in Hollywood
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
(Gene Autry-Oakley Haldeman)
Gene Autry, Vocals; Accompaniment King Sisters; Jerry Scoggins, Vocal; Bert Dodson, Vocal/Bass; Fred Martin, Vocal/Piano Accordion; unknown guitar, percussion, brass, woodwinds, strings {Bert Dodson, Fred Martin and Jerry Scoggins are the Cass County Boys}
Released on the Columbia EP Christmas Fun.
Every November, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announces its Top 25 most-performed holiday songs for the past five years. Of course, Gene Autry is on this list and so is the song Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)! Read the press releases and song lists for the following years:
Performers Who Have Recorded
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
| .38 Special |
Tracy Lawrence |
| Alvin and The Chipmunks |
Lester Lanin & His Orchestra |
| Eddy Arnold |
Liberace |
| Gene Autry |
The Limestones |
| Pat Boone |
Little Texas |
| Glen Campbell |
Guy Lombardo |
| Freddy Cannon |
Los Straitjackets |
| Captain and Tennille |
Lynyrd Skynyrd |
| The Carpenters |
The Mills Brothers |
| Ray Conniff |
The Mistletones |
| Bing Crosby with the Andrew Sisters |
Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse |
| Cool Yule Band |
Anne Murray |
| Lacy J. Dalton |
Willie Nelson |
| Destiny's Child |
Wayne Newton |
| Doris Day |
The Platters |
| Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus |
Elvis Presley |
| Bob Dylan |
Hank Thompson and the
Brazos Valley Boys |
| Linda Eder |
Ramsay Lewis Trio |
| Elmo (Sesame Street) |
Riders In the Sky |
| The Fireside Singers |
The Smurfs |
| Eddie Fisher |
Steve Tyrell |
| The Gypsy Hombres |
Conway Twitty |
| Bobby Helms |
The United States Air Force Band of the Golden West |
| The Hit Crew |
Jerry Jeff Walker |
| Spike Jones |
Scott Whitney |
| The Jordanaires |
Dwight Yoakum |
| Kidz Bop Kids |
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Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing,
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your pray'rs,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He's got a bag that is filled with toys
for the 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.
Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He doesn't care if you're rich or poor
for he loves you just the same.
Santa knows that we're God's children,
That makes ev'rything right.
Fill your hearts with a Christmas cheer,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
Here comes Santa Claus! Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He'll come around when the chimes ring out,
then it's Christmas morn again.
Peace on earth will come to all
if we just follow the light.
Let's give thanks to the Lord above,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
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Composer: Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman
©1947 (Renewed) by Gene Autry's Western Music Publishing Co.
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Vintage Gene Autry Sheet Music
For Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
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Gene Autry's Christmas Folio
(1954) Song Book
This song book, with the charming Gene Autry Christmas cover illustration by Chuck Saxton, includes sheet music for seven Gene Autry’s Western Music Publishing Co. Christmas songs. |
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Christmas Sheet Music Set
(various years)
This special set of original sheet music from Gene Autry’s music company archives includes individual sheet music of six Christmas songs, includingHere Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane). |
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