The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
You know there's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
Oh, but do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Whoa
His name is
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, other, other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
(Then one foggy Christmas Eve)
You know (Santa came to say)
(Hey Rudolph)
You, with your nose so bright
Come on, come on, come on
Come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee (hey Rudolph)
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history
(Then one foggy Christmas Eve)
Santa came to say
(Hey Rudolph)
You, with your nose so bright
Come on, come on, come on, come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeers loved him
As they shouted out with glee (hey Rudolph)
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history
Hey, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh
Ooh, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh
Hey, hey, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Hey, hey, Rudolph, won't you guide my sleigh
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
Oh, but do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Whoa
His name is
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, other, other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
(Then one foggy Christmas Eve)
You know (Santa came to say)
(Hey Rudolph)
You, with your nose so bright
Come on, come on, come on
Come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee (hey Rudolph)
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history
(Then one foggy Christmas Eve)
Santa came to say
(Hey Rudolph)
You, with your nose so bright
Come on, come on, come on, come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeers loved him
As they shouted out with glee (hey Rudolph)
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history
Hey, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh
Ooh, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh
Hey, hey, Rudolph, come on and guide my sleigh tonight
Hey, hey, Rudolph, won't you guide my sleigh
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Lyrics as written by Johnny Marks
Lyrics © ST. NICHOLAS MUSIC INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.