# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**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, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/21 "2008-12-11T03:13:15Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > 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. Sorry. This one is near and dear to my heart. I think in the distant past that I have assumed that a friend and I wrote these in 5th grade. That would be in Ms. Sweet’s class at McKinley Elementary, 1955-6. I’m sure we didn’t, but I truly have a memory of doing this. I think this has been discussed on the Boards before. We “invented” Randolph the bowlegged cowboy. That was the original. ---
**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 11, 2008, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/22 "2008-12-11T06:17:18Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > When was that? A long, long time ago. But not quite as long ago as when Autry supposedly recorded Rudolph, circa 1949. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/23 "2008-12-11T14:19:05Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > 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 I remember singing that when I was a kid. Nowadays, if a kid sang that anywhere near school they’d probably get arrested. ---
**Author:** ![D.Fenestrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@D.Fenestrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.Fenestrator)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/24 "2008-12-11T14:40:39Z")
I learned the song as “Randolph the bald-headed cowboy,” and after he shot Santa’s wife he went down in history, but our version of the song didn’t discuss how. Our teachers hated that song and forbade us from singing it, which of course made it even more popular among us kids. I have heard the original version of Rudolph, the one that begins with the names of the reindeer, and it doesn’t include the “like a light bulb” bits. I would’t be too surprised if a newer version including them does exist, but the original was done straight. The “light bulb” version that I learned as a kid in the '70s was definitely meant to be irreverent and as subversive as one can get in grade school. If we had ruined a school concert by singing the “light bulb” lyrics, we would have been in deep trouble, like we were when we sang the “mine eyes have seen the glory of the burning of the school” song on the school bus… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/25 "2008-12-11T15:07:13Z")
Rudolph the bald-headed cowboy had a very shiny gun.(real shiny!) And if you ever saw it, you’d turn around and run (real fast!) All of the other cowboys use to laugh and call him names (like Tenderfoot!) They’d never let poor Rudolph join in any cowboy games (like bucking bronco!). Then on foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say Rudolph with your gun so bright, won’t you kill my wife tonight (real dead!). Then all the cowboys loved him as they shouted out with glee (real glee!) Rudolph the bald-headed cowboy, you’ll go down in history (like Billllllly the Kiddddddd). My siblings & I loved that song. ---
**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 11, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/26 "2008-12-11T15:26:28Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > 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)) Okay, I just remembered that the Autry version I grew up on (way after 1949) only had kids repeating the last word or two in the line instead of the light bulb type lines. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/27 "2008-12-11T15:47:58Z")
If I have kids I am never, ever, playing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for them. Nor jingle bells, _shiver_. Weird Al on the other hand… > **[The Night Santa Went Crazy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Santa_Went_Crazy)** > > "The Night Santa Went Crazy" is an original song performed by "Weird Al" Yankovic. The black comedy Christmas song is performed as a pastiche of "Black Gold" by Soul Asylum. It has melodic references to "Black Gold", "Mama, I'm Coming Home" by Ozzy Osbourne, and "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake. > It is the twelfth and final track on the album Bad Hair Day, released as a single during the 1996 Christmas season. The "extra gory" version of the song appears on the compilation album The E... ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/28 "2008-12-11T17:01:14Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > And when the author of the extra Rudolph lyrics grew up, he added the “Hey motherfucker, get laid, get fucked” lyrics to Mony Mony. Was that before or after he scripted the audience parts for _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/29 "2008-12-11T17:27:14Z")
I liked the version of The Battle Hymn that I learned better: I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it’s hot I wear my flannel nightie in the winter when it’s not But sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall I jump between the sheets with nothing on at all Glory, glory hallelujah Glory, glory, what’s it to ya Glory, glory, hallelujah, With nothing on at all ---
**Author:** ![Paradisel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5fc32e/32.png) [@Paradisel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paradisel)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/30 "2015-12-04T12:09:34Z")
Sorry for being a thread necromancer but I found this thread while searching for this version of the song and noticed no one had mentioned finding any versions of it. My Girlfriend loves this version from her childhood so I’ve been seeking a copy of it. Thus far I’ve found 2 versions with the additional lyrics, one by John Denver, in this version the children chant the added lyrics during both verses, the second is by Dinu Radu (??) and in it the first verses are normal and the second the children join in. Again sorry for the thread necromancy but figured this may help anyone else that was like me and seeking the song. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/31 "2015-12-04T17:46:20Z")
Dashing through the snow In a one-door Chevrolet O’er the fields we go Skidding all the way Hubcaps flying off Whene’er we make a turn If we could just get a job Some money we would earn…Oh, Jingle bells, Batman smells a Thousand miles away Blows his nose in Cheerios and Eats them every day…Oh, Jingle bells, Batman smells Robin laid an egg The Batmobile lost its wheels The Joker got away ---
**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 4, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/32 "2015-12-04T17:52:40Z")
This was one of the first topics I ever posted on here. I suddenly feel very old. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/33 "2015-12-04T19:10:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 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 According to my late Reverend Grandpa, the last two lines are as follows: _We hit her in the beanie with a rotten tangerine Our gang goes marching on!_ Those would be the Lutheran seminary lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/34 "2015-12-04T19:34:30Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 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 I remember this one… Jr High circa 1975, I would not recommend a kids singing this in school in this day and age. > [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > Randolph, the red nosed cowboy > Wore a very shiny gun > . He was a bow-legged Cowboy when we were singing it. And to the tune of the Branded Tv SHow Stranded ## Stranded on a bathroom bowl What do you do when you’re stranded, and you haven’t got a roll. It’s about Time It’s about Space It’s about time I slap your face, I wonder how these got all over the country, even at the smallest, most rural schools all the kids knew these songs. No social media or internet of any kind, but they all mad the rounds. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/35 "2015-12-04T19:53:48Z")
Heh, I still remember a bunch of obscene childish ditties from grade school (mostly versions of TV show theme songs and commercial jingles, circa the late 1970s). This stuff is taking up valuable neurons. Why can I remember every word to “Sodomite Man” (sung to the tune of “Spider Man”) that I learned from a kid during a rainy recess 38 years ago, when I can’t remember who I was supposed to write an opinion for at work yesterday? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/36 "2015-12-04T21:22:29Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Heh, I still remember a bunch of obscene childish ditties from grade school (mostly versions of TV show theme songs and commercial jingles, circa the late 1970s). > > This stuff is taking up valuable neurons. Why can I remember every word to “Sodomite Man” (sung to the tune of “Spider Man”) that I learned from a kid during a rainy recess 38 years ago, when I can’t remember who I was supposed to write an opinion for at work yesterday? 😕 We used to sing the Beverly Hillbillies one. Once upon a time there was a man named Jed, Had a lot of hair but it wasn’t on his head. Then one day he was shootin’ for some food, And up from the ground came a red headed nude. Nude that is. No clothes, naked. Well the next thing you know ole Jed’s in bed, fucking the hell out of that red head. Then Granny comes in with a big shotgun, …something something something, then it ends with “run.” I can’t remember that last line for the life of me. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/37 "2015-12-04T21:29:47Z")
> [@Abner\_Ravenwood](#): > > We used to sing the Beverly Hillbillies one. I never heard that, but my younger brother picked up this one somewhere: Let me tell you all a story 'bout a man named Jed A poor mountaineer, really kept ‘em all in bed Down went the covers and up went the worm, And up you-know-where went bubblin’ sperm! ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518/38 "2015-12-04T21:34:24Z")
At my school, the naughtier kids always sang “Santa came to say (in his underwear!)” Well, at the _time_ it seemed like cutting-edge satire. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-came-up-with-extra-lyrics-of-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/476518.md?page=1)