Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw him

You would even say it glows

 

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

 

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

Rudolph, with your nose so bright,

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

 

Then all the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,

You'll go down in history!

Rudolph's story was originally written in verse by Robert L. May for the Montgomery Ward[?] chain of department stores in 1939 and published as a book to be given to children in the store at Christmas time. It was later rewritten as a song by Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law, and has since filtered into the popular consciousness.

Rudolph is depicted as an ordinary reindeer with a large, red nose, often grinning and always leading the team pulling Santa's sleigh.

In 1964, the Rankin-Bass[?] animation studio produced a stop motion animated TV special of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that became a popular hit in itself. Re-broadcast many times over the years until it was finally released on video, this version of the story of Rudolph adds a simple story that introduces the characters of the "Island of Misfit Toys," the Abominable Snowman known as "Bumbles," and the elf who wants to be a dentist.

An animated feature film version of the fictional story of Rudolph was also produced in 1998, entitled Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie, but this version of the story paled in comparison with the Rankin-Bass classic, both in terms of quality and box-office revenue. It only saw a limited theatrical release before quickly being sent to home video.

The song is sometimes performed (usually by children) in a humorous manner with additional lyrics. These lyrics are to be recited as a sort of response at the end of most of the lines in the song. Sample lyrics follow (responses in bold):

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (reindeer)

Had a very shiny nose (like a light bulb)

And if you ever saw him (saw him)

You would even say it glows (like a light bulb)

 

All of the other reindeer (reindeer)

Used to laugh and call him names (like Pinocchio)

They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)

Join in any reindeer games (like Monopoly)

 

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say (Ho-ho-ho!)

Rudolph, with your nose so bright,

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

 

Then all the reindeer loved him (loved him)

As they shouted out with glee: (Yippee!)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, (reindeer)

You'll go down in history! (like the Presidents)

External Links

History of Rudolph (http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/rudolph.asp)