Uploaded December 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is a popular Christmas song written by Johnny Marks based on the original story Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer published in 1939 and written by Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May. The song was first sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York city radio in the latter part of 1948, before Gene Autry recorded it formally in 1949, and has since filtered into the popular consciousness.
Well, you know Dasher, and Dancer, and
Prancer, and Vixen,
[Comet, and Cupid, and
Donner and Blitzen]
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
[Is it Herman, is it Shermon?
Is it Eddy, is it Freddy? -- no, no no!
It is Heart, is it Shaptler, is it Mosteres
Oh, you'll never, never guess it, don't snap your cap]
It's just Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
[Oh, him]
Had a very shiny nose
[So I heard
they day if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.]
Like a hot radish.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
[Rudolph is a red nose
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.]
Ah go on beat it Rudolph
You can't go deer hunting with us
Well when deers go dear hunting it's fun
Not more fun than (paper boy?)
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Ah Rudolph, I say Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
[Then how the reindeers loved him
and they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph, Rudolph, Rudolph]
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!
[With his stake glows bosset,
His snary snoot
His tuba that glow like a light-ta-root
With his pink kazoo, he guided the sleigh
He's a hero] why, Rudolph saved the day.
[Rudolph has got his red nose
In the reign deer hall of fame)
Rudolph the red nosed favorite
Of the little reign deer days.
(Rudolph's a North Pole big shot
rides around in Santa's sleigh]
Wearin' a green Fedora
Smoking chesterfield all the day.
Uh now come on Rudy tell us
What's the secret of your success
Well guess it's 'cause I keep my nose so bright
Not with alcohol, na hadacol, oh you devil
[This story has a moral
Anyone can plainly see]
Just keep your red nose a gleemin'
You'll go down in history
[If you keep you nose a red, red rose
If you keep your beak all pink and sleek]
And if you keep your snooze maroon because
[You'll go down in history.]
"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is a popular Christmas song written by Johnny Marks based on the original story Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer published in 1939 and written by Marks' brother-in-law, Robert L. May. The song was first sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York city radio in the latter part of 1948, before Gene Autry recorded it formally in 1949, and has since filtered into the popular consciousness.
Well, you know Dasher, and Dancer, and
Prancer, and Vixen,
[Comet, and Cupid, and
Donner and Blitzen]
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
[Is it Herman, is it Shermon?
Is it Eddy, is it Freddy? -- no, no no!
It is Heart, is it Shaptler, is it Mosteres
Oh, you'll never, never guess it, don't snap your cap]
It's just Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
[Oh, him]
Had a very shiny nose
[So I heard
they day if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.]
Like a hot radish.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
[Rudolph is a red nose
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.]
Ah go on beat it Rudolph
You can't go deer hunting with us
Well when deers go dear hunting it's fun
Not more fun than (paper boy?)
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Ah Rudolph, I say Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
[Then how the reindeers loved him
and they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph, Rudolph, Rudolph]
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!
[With his stake glows bosset,
His snary snoot
His tuba that glow like a light-ta-root
With his pink kazoo, he guided the sleigh
He's a hero] why, Rudolph saved the day.
[Rudolph has got his red nose
In the reign deer hall of fame)
Rudolph the red nosed favorite
Of the little reign deer days.
(Rudolph's a North Pole big shot
rides around in Santa's sleigh]
Wearin' a green Fedora
Smoking chesterfield all the day.
Uh now come on Rudy tell us
What's the secret of your success
Well guess it's 'cause I keep my nose so bright
Not with alcohol, na hadacol, oh you devil
[This story has a moral
Anyone can plainly see]
Just keep your red nose a gleemin'
You'll go down in history
[If you keep you nose a red, red rose
If you keep your beak all pink and sleek]
And if you keep your snooze maroon because
[You'll go down in history.]
