# Who came up with "extra" lyrics of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518 "2008-12-10T05:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/1 "2008-12-10T05:12:18Z")
Ever since I was a little kid I’ve known the Rudolph song to have extra lyrics that are “chanted” in the background at the end of each line. Now I know I’ve heard this on the radio before, so I don’t think this is something we just made up as kids. Where did the come from. Here are the lyrics, with the chanted part in parenthesis. 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. (okay, I can never remember what goes here. Anyone wanna fill in the gaps?) 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, (Yippie!) Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, (reindeer) you’ll go down in history! (Like George Washington! (or Christopher Columbus)) ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/2 "2008-12-10T05:42:24Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > 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 flash light!) . . ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/3 "2008-12-10T05:43:17Z")
Like a light bulb! ETA: Damn! ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/4 "2008-12-10T05:44:40Z")
Really, it’s the same thing twice? How boring. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/5 "2008-12-10T05:47:04Z")
First time I heard them was Bart shouting them out at the end of the first episode of _The Simpsons_, back in '89. His response to the last line (“You’ll go down in history!” / _"Like Attila the Hun_") angered Homer into strangle-mode. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/6 "2008-12-10T06:05:38Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > as they shouted out with glee, (Yippie!) We always yell _“With Glee!”_ (Why yes, I was an obnoxious, pedantic child.) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/7 "2008-12-10T10:48:36Z")
I have no idea what the answer is, but the way I heard it was _You would even say it glows. (radiation!)_ ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/8 "2008-12-10T13:53:16Z")
We always followed “as they shouted out with glee” with “toothpaste!” (if anyone doesn’t remember, there was a toothpaste called Gleam in the 70s). ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/9 "2008-12-10T14:08:32Z")
I think it’s the same person who wrote “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells”. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/10 "2008-12-10T15:04:19Z")
I don’t know, but whoever did should burn in hell. I first heard them at my cousin’s school concert, and they are designed only to make Special Little Snowflakes shine… Blarghhhh… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/11 "2008-12-10T15:13:02Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I don’t know, but whoever did should burn in hell. I first heard them at my cousin’s school concert, and they are designed only to make Special Little Snowflakes shine… > Blarghhhh… Oh, please…they’ve been around for decades. We used to sing them when I was in grade school (in the 70s). They’re not designed for anything…they’re kidlore, like Bloody Mary (the ghost, not the queen) and Mirror, Mirror Disappear and Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts and that song about the school burning down and all the kids forcing the teachers back into the flames. Wow…we’d have been in SO much trouble if we were kids today with that kind of repertoire… ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/12 "2008-12-10T15:24:30Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > I don’t know, but whoever did should burn in hell. I first heard them at my cousin’s school concert, and they are designed only to make Special Little Snowflakes shine… Er…how? If by “special little snowflakes,” that’s a reference to how kids are being imbued with way too much self esteem/everyone is special, etc. I don’t see what extra lyrics have to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/13 "2008-12-10T15:26:19Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Oh, please…they’ve been around for decades. We used to sing them when I was in grade school (in the 70s). They’re not designed for anything…they’re kidlore, like Bloody Mary (the ghost, not the queen) and Mirror, Mirror Disappear and Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts and that song about the school burning down and all the kids forcing the teachers back into the flames. > > Wow…we’d have been in SO much trouble if we were kids today with that kind of repertoire… I must disagree - I’ve taught my kids “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” and Bloody Mary and the version of “On Top of Ole Smokey” that ends with blowing off teacher’s head, but those are funny to kids. I just taught my four-year old the Jingle Bells one, and I think it actually made him realize, in a limited 4-year old way, about music and lyrics. Those Rudoplh lyrics add nothing to the song, IHMO, and since I’ve only ever heard packs of grade schoolers singing them at an “event” of some kind, they grate at my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/14 "2008-12-10T15:27:34Z")
When I was a kid we had a record\* of Christmas songs, one of which was Rudolph. I believe they were sung by Gene Autry. I am pretty sure there were kids chanting the extra lyrics in the background of that song. I used to listen to it over and over. I don’t know what ever happened to that record, I bet my mom made it have an unfortunate accident. I credit that song with helping me remember all the reindeer names because it starts out naming them all, so whenever I need to know all the reindeer names I just start singing the song. \*That’s pre-CD for you whipperschnappers. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/15 "2008-12-10T15:28:30Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Er…how? If by “special little snowflakes,” that’s a reference to how kids are being imbued with way too much self esteem/everyone is special, etc. I don’t see what extra lyrics have to do with that. Because they seem designed to make the kids seem “cute” which makes me want to vomit. The only way kids are truly cute is when they’re not trying to do so (or, more acurately, when an adult of some kind wants them to be cute\*). \*With the possible exception of most Halloween costumes, except Princesses 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/16 "2008-12-10T15:35:03Z")
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school We have tortured every teacher, we have broken every rule Tomorrow afternoon, we will hang the principal Our troops are marching on … Glory, glory hallelujah Teacher hit me with a ruler I met her at the door with a loaded .44 Now she ain’t my teacher no more ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/17 "2008-12-10T18:44:33Z")
They were in place when I was a kid back in the 80’s and I am sure they were from waaaay before that. On a side note, if you rerally want to annoy some people, next time you’re caroling, add in those verses. Then, every song after that, after the last verse add “Like a lightbulb!” We did that one year much to the chagrin of many people. “sleeeep in heavenly peeeace… LIKE A LIGHTBULB!” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/18 "2008-12-11T00:21:08Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > When I was a kid we had a record\* of Christmas songs, one of which was Rudolph. I believe they were sung by Gene Autry. I am pretty sure there were kids chanting the extra lyrics in the background of that song. When was that? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/19 "2008-12-11T02:14:28Z")
And when the author of the extra Rudolph lyrics grew up, he added the “Hey motherfucker, get laid, get fucked” lyrics to Mony Mony. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/20 "2008-12-11T03:06:43Z")
Randolph, the red nosed cowboy Wore a very shiny gun And if you ever saw it It would make you want to run All of the other cowboys Used to laugh and call him names They never let poor Randolph Join in any poker games Then one smoggy Christmas Eve Sherriff came to town "Randolph, with your gun so bright, “Won’t you shoot my wife tonight?” All of the other cowboys laughed and shouted out with glee. "Randolph, the red nosed cowboy, “you will go and hang, you’ll see!” -Sorry, no sources. Heard it a looong time ago. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518.md?page=2)