“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a classic Christmas song written by Johnny Marks, based on a story created by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward in 1939.
The song was popularized by Gene Autry in 1949, becoming a major hit and reaching No. 1 on the U.S. charts during Christmas that year.
The lyrics tell the story of Rudolph, a reindeer with a shiny red nose who is initially ridiculed by other reindeer but ultimately becomes a hero when he guides Santa’s sleigh through foggy weather.
The song has been covered by numerous artists across various genres and remains a beloved holiday favorite, celebrated for its themes of acceptance and the importance of embracing one’s uniqueness.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Lyrics
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?
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
(reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose
(like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw it
(saw it)
You would even say it glows
(like a flashlight)
All of the other reindeer
(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names
(like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph
(Rudolph)
Play 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 how 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 Columbus)