Santa Claus Is Coming to Town: A Christmas Carol Born in the Great Depression, Reimagined for Jazz Piano

As the end of 2025 approaches, many pianists start asking the same question: Which Christmas carol should I practice this year? If you’re looking for something familiar yet musically refreshing, this piece might be a perfect choice.

Today, we take a closer look at “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” arranged for piano by jazz pianist Daeyoun Kim. The original song is, of course, world-famous. In Korea, it is especially well known through its localized lyrics often sung by children during Christmas. Below is a brief look at the original English lyrics.

🎶 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Music by J. Fred Coots | Lyrics by Haven Gillespie (© 1934)

You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list,

And checking it twice;

Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice.

Santa Claus is coming to town

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!

A Christmas Song Born in the Great Depression

Although it sounds like a lighthearted holiday tune, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town has a deeper historical background. The song was written in 1932 and became widely known after Eddie Cantor introduced it on his radio show in 1934, during the height of the Great Depression in the United States. At the time, banks were failing, unemployment was widespread, and even Christmas gifts felt like a luxury. Against this bleak backdrop, a cheerful and extremely simple song appeared—one that promised hope, order, and a future reward.

J. Fred Coots composed the melody, and lyricist Haven Gillespie added the now-iconic words. After Eddie Cantor performed the song on the radio, it became an instant hit, selling over 100,000 copies of sheet music immediately, and more than 400,000 copies by Christmas. Perhaps the idea that “Santa is coming”—that something good was still on its way—resonated deeply with people living through hard times.

Daeyoun Kim’s Jazz Piano Arrangement

Now let’s turn to the piano arrangement by Daeyoun Kim. While the original version is upbeat and driven by a fast swing rhythm, this jazz piano arrangement takes a different approach. Set at a medium tempo, it preserves the original melody but fills the slower pacing with rich substitute harmonies, allowing listeners to enjoy frequent and colorful chord changes.

<Santa Claus is Coming to Town arranged by Daeyoun Kim>

Familiar Melody, Unexpected Colors

The introduction retains the original melody but expands on the simple progression

(C – FM7 – C – FM7 – C – Am – Dm – G – C) by inserting well-chosen substitute chords—harmonies that replace or enhance basic functions to add color and sophistication.

For example, the opening C major chord is enriched with added tensions such as the 7th and ♭9, transforming it from a plain major triad into something far more refined. Later, chords like BbM7, which do not belong to the C major scale, appear. To ears accustomed to the original melody, this creates a pleasantly surprising effect. In jazz harmony, this type of sound is often referred to as a back-related chord, where a ♭VII chord replaces the expected dominant function before resolving back to the tonic.

Throughout the arrangement, these techniques add depth and unpredictability. In addition, modal mixture is used effectively—borrowing tones from the parallel minor key. For instance, the appearance of Ab in the bass (bar 10) and Ab7 (bar 16) introduces a fresh, unexpected resonance. Much of the charm of this arrangement lies in the tension created by these “unexpected” harmonic moments!

The Matter of Tempo: Rubato

Another striking feature is the tempo marking Tempo Rubato at the beginning. Rather than fixing a strict tempo, the arranger suggests a flexible pace—roughly around BPM 80–90—allowing the performer to linger on longer notes and move more freely through harmonic changes.

By stretching some moments and gently pushing others, the performer can highlight the emotional shifts created by the harmony. Pianists studying this score are encouraged to plan where rubato feels most natural, making the performance both expressive and personal.

If you’re searching for a Christmas carol to practice this season, this arrangement is well worth exploring. It offers not only a chance to enjoy a beloved holiday tune, but also an opportunity to experience how a simple song can be transformed through jazz harmony and expressive timing. If you’d like to experience this transformation firsthand, click the link below to explore the sheet music.

Wishing you a warm and musical Christmas 🎄🎹

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