Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy

{{Infobox song

| name = Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| B-side = "All I Want for Christmas, Dear, Is You"{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Buck-Owens-All-I-Want-For-Christmas-Is-You-Santa-Looked-A-Lot-Like-Daddy/release/1788205|title=Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy|work=Discogs|year=1965 |access-date=18 December 2013}}

| released = {{Start date|1965|11|8}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Country|Christmas}}

| length = 2:13

| label = Capitol

| writer = Buck Owens, Don Rich

| producer = Ken Nelson

| prev_title = Buckaroo

| prev_year = 1965

| next_title = Waitin' in Your Welfare Line

| next_year = 1966

}}

"Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" is a Christmas song co-written and recorded by Buck Owens. After its recording in 1965, the song has been covered by several country music artists, including Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, and Brad Paisley.

History

The song was released on November 8, 1965, with "All I Want for Christmas, Dear, Is You" on the B-side.{{cite book|last=Sisk|first=Eileen|title=Buck Owens: The Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dTPrxvY1m0C&q=%22santa+looked+a+lot+like+daddy%22&pg=PA100|page=100|isbn=9781569767450|year=2010|publisher=Chicago Review Press }} It placed at number 2 on the yearly Christmas singles chart issued by Billboard at the time.{{cite book|last1=Poe|first1=Randy|last2=Owens|first2=Buck|title=Buck 'Em!: The Autobiography of Buck Owens|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acQIAgAAQBAJ&q=%22santa+looked+a+lot+like+daddy%22&pg=PT150|isbn=9781480366916|date=November 2013|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p1755/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=Billboard chart positions > singles|publisher=allmusic|access-date=2009-11-03}}

The song is about a child who has sneaked downstairs to catch a glimpse of Santa where the child sees his father in a Santa costume.

Cover versions

In 1992, Garth Brooks covered the song on his Christmas album Beyond the Season, produced by Allen Reynolds for Liberty Records. However, it did not chart from Christmas airplay until January 1998, when it reached number 56. The physical single release had "The Old Man's Back in Town", with which Brooks charted at number 48 on the same chart in 1992, on the B-side.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|pages=61–62|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}

Also in 1992, Travis Tritt covered both the single and its B-side for his Christmas album A Travis Tritt Christmas: Loving Time of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-travis-tritt-christmas-loving-time-of-the-year-mw0000086184|title=A Travis Tritt Christmas: Loving Time of the Year|work=Allmusic|access-date=18 December 2013}}

In 1995, The Tractors included a cover on their album Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas.

In 1998, Paul Brandt included a cover on his album A Paul Brandt Christmas: Shall I Play for You?

Psychobilly trio The Reverend Horton Heat recorded a cover for their 2005 album We Three Kings.

Brad Paisley covered it in 2006 for his Christmas album Brad Paisley Christmas on Arista Nashville under the production of Frank Rogers. Paisley's version peaked at number 49 on the country charts in January 2007.Whitburn, p. 313

Also in 2006, Billy "Crash" Craddock included a cover on his album Billy "Crash" Craddock's Christmas Favorites.

In 2011, rock band Bowling for Soup included a version of the song on their album Merry Flippin’ Christmas Vol. 1.

In 2013, the cast of Duck Dynasty released Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas. "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" was included as a bonus track on the Walmart exclusive edition.

In 2023, Jon Pardi included a cover on his album Merry Christmas from Jon Pardi.