The lyrics to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are iconic and have been beloved by children and adults alike for generations. The story of Rudolph is one that embodies the holiday spirit of giving and kindness and continues to be a popular Christmas song to this very day.

What is the Story behind Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

According to Wikipedia:

"The story chronicles the experiences of Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck (male) who possesses an unusual luminous red nose. Mocked and excluded by his peers because of this trait, Rudolph proves himself one Christmas Eve with poor visibility due to inclement weather. After Santa Claus catches sight of Rudolph's nose and asks Rudolph to lead his sleigh for the evening, Rudolph agrees and is finally favored by his fellow reindeer for his heroism and accomplishment."

The first mass-market book to be published about the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was published in 1947, with a sequel, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Shines Again, in 1954. The story of Rudolph continues to be read the world over by children and adults all year round!

What is the history of the lyrics to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

Though Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was originally written as a poem by Robert L. May in 1939, the lyrics were set to music by Johnny Marks in 1949 and have been sung by everyone from Bing Crosby to Taylor Swift.

The history of the song is just as interesting as the lyrics themselves. It was written as a marketing tool for Montgomery Ward, a department store chain that commissioned May to write a book that they could give away to children visiting Santa in their stores. The book was an instant success, selling over two million copies in its first year alone. In 1950, Marks wrote the now-famous melody, and the song was recorded by Gene Autry. It was an instant hit, reaching No.1.

Who first recorded the Christmas song?

The first recording of the Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was by Gene Autry in 1950. The song was an instant hit, reaching No.1 on the Billboard pop singles chart the week of Christmas 1949. Autry's recording sold 2.5 million copies in the first year, eventually selling a total of 25 million, and it remained the second best-selling record of all time until the 1980s.

Today, the song is as popular as ever and continues to bring joy to children and adults around the world during the holiday season.

What are the lyrics to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?

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
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
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 how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee (yipee)
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You’ll go down in history”

Download our free downloadable PDF printable lyric sheet for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Who would have thought that a marketing tool would become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time? Not only is it a beloved Christmas song, but it also has a rich history. If you're looking for a fun fact about Christmas songs, look no further than Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

What's your favorite Christmas song? And be sure to check out our other blog posts below for more interesting facts and stories about everything Christmas!