Dec242020

James Brown – Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto Chords

Updated January 8, 2026

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[Intro]
G

[Verse 1]
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Hitch up your reindeer, uh!
G
And go straight to the ghetto
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto

[Bridge]
Bm7        E7            A7  D7
Fill every stocking you find
    C                          F9
The kids are gonna love you so, uh!

[Verse 2]
G
Leave a toy for Johnny
G
Leave a doll for Mary
G
Leave something pretty for Donnie
G
And don't forget about Gary

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[Verse 3]
G
Santa Claus, uh, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Tell 'em James Brown sent you, 
huh!
G
Go straight to the ghetto

[Bridge]
    Bm7         E7   
You know that I know 
     A7          D7
what you will see
C                   F9
'Cause that was once me

[Sax Solo]
G
  Hit it, hit it!
G
You see mothers and soul brothers

[Verse 3]
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Santa Claus, oh Lord, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Fill every stocking you find
G
The kids are gonna love you so
G
Fill every stocking you find
G
You know that they need you so
G
I'm begging you, Santa Claus
G
Go straight to the ghetto

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Bridge]
   Bm7  E7  A7    D7
If anyone   wanna know
         C                       F9
Tell 'em Hank Ballard told you so

[Outro]
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Never thought I'd realize
G
I'd be singing a song 
with water in my eyes
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Don't leave nothing for me
G
I've had my chance, you see?
G
Santa Claus, 
go straight to the ghetto
G
Santa Claus, 
the soul brother need you so
G
Santa Clause, 
tell 'em James Brown sent you

How to play Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto by James Brown on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto by James Brown is centred on C major (no sharps or flats). The song uses 7 chords: G, Bm7, E7, A7, D7, C and F9.

The progression the song keeps returning to is G – Bm7 – E7 – A7 (V – vii7 – III7 – VI7 in C major). In solfa, that is soh – te – mi – lah. Learn these 4 changes first and most of the song falls into place.

Good to know: Bm7 and F9 are played as barre or movable shapes on guitar. Practise the change into them slowly; on piano and ukulele the same chords are easier.