Must Be Santa

Beard, red cap, red nose.

Please issue an APB;
It must be Santa.

"Must Be Santa" was the standout song on Bob Dylan's Christmas music album, "Christmas in the Heart" from 2009. It's a polka-style German drinking tune done as a call-and-response to identify Santa Claus. The original song, by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks, was first recorded by Mitch Miller. Dylan mixes the names of post-war U.S. presidents into the list of reindeer. The video, if you haven't seen it, is a must. It starts off as a Christmas party and ends as a completely inexplicable chase scene involving a reveler who turns out to be some kind of villain. Both song and video are much fun.

Who's got a beard that's long and white
Santa's got a beard that's long and white

Who comes around on a special night
Santa comes around on a special night

Special Night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who wears boots and a suit of red
Santa wears boots and a suit of red

Who wears a long cap on his head
Santa wears a long cap on his head

Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who's got a big red cherry nose
Santa's got a big red cherry nose

Who laughs this way HO HO HO
Santa laughs this way HO HO HO

HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who very soon will come our way
Santa very soon will come our way

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer pull his sleigh

Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,
Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen

Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus