Pulun Wage

His white beard is long, like cotton wool,
his lovely outfit is handsome and grand,
he beats the raban drum and jingles his bells,
here comes Santa Claus

On his back, a sack filled full,
brimming over with toys

To give to the little babies, to little sister and brother,
that is what I have brought them along for
The dolls are lovely, the monkey turns somersaults,
here is a whole heap of toys
Like cotton wool

I will hang them upon the Christmas tree,
I will pick out and give you whatever you want
I want a car, and the dolls are good for me,
Christmas is joyful, and full to overflowing
Like cotton wool

This is a bright, playful children’s Christmas song, and unlike the reverent Nativity carols it is pure festive fun, all about Santa Claus and the joy of gifts. It opens with a child’s-eye portrait of the jolly figure, his white beard long like cotton wool, his lovely outfit handsome and grand, and he arrives making a happy racket, he beats the raban drum and jingles his bells, here comes Santa Claus. The raban, a traditional Sri Lankan drum, gives this Santa a local flavour.

The heart of the song is generosity and delight. Santa carries a sack filled full, brimming over with toys, and his whole purpose is to give, to the little babies, to little sister and brother. The toys are described with a child’s excitement, the dolls are lovely, the monkey turns somersaults, here is a whole heap of toys.

The ending captures the giddy chatter of children at Christmas. Santa promises to hang the gifts upon the Christmas tree and let each child pick out whatever they want, and the little voices call back their wishes, I want a car, the dolls are good for me. It closes on the simple verdict of a happy child, Christmas is joyful and full to overflowing. What the listener is left with is the innocent, sparkling side of Christmas, the drums and bells, the sack of toys, and the pure delight of children on the morning when Santa comes.